[intro music playing]
[The Rock] If you smell…
-[Triple H] The king of kings… -[Cena] You can't see me…
[Pat] The most incredible live event on earth.
[Cole] The road to WrestleMania starts now.
[announcer] Let's do this.
-[man 1] It's time… -[man 2] It is now time…
[man 3] For the 35th consecutive year…
[announcers] The Royal Rumble!
[man] Who's gonna main event WrestleMania?
[announcer] Tonight, the Gateway City opens the path to WrestleMania.
So get ready to run.
[man 1] This is the Royal Rumble.
[announcer] All the dreams…
[man 2] History in the making tonight!
…all the opportunity…
[man 3] It's every man and woman for themselves.
…all the chaos…
[man 4] Light 'em up, throw 'em over!
…the Royal Rumble is what it is…
[Austin] You gotta be kidding me.
[man 5] Oh my!
…and man is it.
So come on, there's only one thing left to do.
And that's ball.
["Ballin" playing]
♪ I came from nothing To something like it's nothing… ♪
[Reigns] I'm the greatest of this generation, no questions asked.
♪ Turn these zeros into tens and commas… ♪
[Rollins] Do you really understand who the greatest is here?
Everything you've done, the Usos made possible.
[Cole] The Usos are barred from ringside.
[Corey] Reigns is gonna have to do it alone.
♪ Stack it 'cause you never know… ♪
[Lynch] There's only one Becky Lynch.
Doudrop is never gonna be a champion, not as long as I run this industry.
♪ Yeah, we be ballin, ballin Closing million-dollar deals ♪
♪ Catch me swerving Burning hundred dollar bills ♪
♪ How it feel… ♪
[Miz] The Grit Couple versus the It Couple. What do you say?
[Edge] We accept!
[laughing]
[Heyman] It's impossible to beat Brock Lesnar.
[Cole] The two most physically dominant forces for the first time ever!
The Almighty! The Beast Incarnate! The WrestleMania-caliber match!
♪ Never broke ♪
♪ It ain't all about the money But I stack it 'cause you never know… ♪
[Cole] We kick off the road to WrestleMania.
-[announcer] The Royal Rumble starts now. -[timer buzzes]
[announcer] And now DoorDash and Cricket present WWE Royal Rumble.
[crowd cheering]
♪ I came from nothing To something like it's nothing ♪
♪ Yeah, you know I done it Now there's no discussion… ♪
[Cole] We are officially on the road to WrestleMania.
You are looking live at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis.
Forty-four thousand-390 WWE fans are here tonight.
As we welcome you to the 2022 Royal Rumble.
Hello, everybody. At ringside, Michael Cole,
Pat McAfee, from Friday Night SmackDown on Fox.
Pat's first Rumble. How psyched are you?
When I woke up this morning in beautiful St. Louis,
the air smelled better, food tasted better.
Tonight dreams come true, surprises are in abundance.
It's Royal Rumble, let's go!
["I Am Greatness" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] There is no better way to start an evening of magic!
Than with this man.
[Cole] For 516 days,
Roman Reigns has been Universal Champion.
Only four men in WWE history have held a major championship longer.
Those names, Pedro Morales, Bob Backlund,
Hulk Hogan, and Bruno Sammartino.
The question is, will Roman survive tonight?
["I Am Greatness" continues playing]
[Pat] Those four names you mentioned
will be etched in the history books of sports entertainment
as absolute icons.
And the man that's walking down the aisle,
here in front of 44,000 folks,
is the greatest Universal Champion of all time.
He's a man that's transcending this business,
he's on a different level, and tonight it's personal.
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, DraftKings is an official partner of WWE,
and tonight anyone can play free for over $25,000 in cash
for the men's and women's Rumble matches.
Just answer prop questions on who will win, total eliminations,
will the winner's entry number be odd or even, and more.
Download the DraftKings app, and play free for over $25,000.
For 17 months, Roman Reigns has dominated everyone.
He had a special council and cousins to help him stay under control.
To keep his cool. To concentrate on the business at hand.
But now Paul Heyman is gone and the Usos are barred from ringside.
And without those calming forces, Pat,
cracks started to show last night in Roman's armor.
Seth Rollins touched on the one thing Roman Reigns hasn't been able to get over.
The dissolution of The Shield at the hands of Seth Rollins.
[Pat] Roman Reigns is a loyal man.
A family man.
And what Seth Rollins did to his family
was cowardly in the eyes of the Head of the Table.
The Tribal Chief.
The man that is etched from the gods of sports entertainment.
[fireworks exploding]
[Cole] Pat, the one thing we saw last night
that we haven't seen out of Roman Reigns as of late,
is he actually lost his cool.
[Pat] Every once is a while,
GOATs are gonna have a little bit of a flustering situation.
Seth Rollins took Roman back to a place
he hasn't been to in a long time.
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] I can't wait for this.
["Special Op" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] Wait…
Look at this
joker!
[Cole] Reigns cannot believe it.
Seth Rollins marching through the crowd.
The same way the hounds of justice,
The Shield, did for so many years.
Pat, once again, the cerebral Seth Rollins
pushing Roman Reigns' buttons, getting in his head.
[Pat] Has this rattled Roman? You can't help but ask yourself.
We haven't seen Roman have this type of look, confusion,
in 500-some days.
As soon as we heard that music pop right there, The Shield,
you can't help but have a little nostalgia,
you can't help but think back to the glory days.
When Mox, Seth, and Roman would go town to town, beating everybody's ass.
That man right there, Seth "Freakin" Rollins,
decided to tear it apart.
[Cole] Seth Rollins says he knows Roman Reigns so well,
he knows how to prey on the insecurities of the Universal Champion.
He knew there was one thing that Roman Reigns could never get over.
And that is that Seth Rollins chose to end The Shield.
The blow to the back of Roman Reigns with a steel chair many years ago.
Which broke up perhaps the greatest faction in WWE history.
Tonight, Rollins hopes to use all of that to get in the head of the champ
and win the Universal Title.
[Pat] Post-Shield life for both of these men has been very fruitful.
It feels like we're at a family reunion.
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the Universal Championship!
[crowd cheering]
[Irvin] Introducing the challenger, from Davenport, Iowa,
weighing in at 217 pounds,
Seth "Freakin" Rollins!
[crowd cheering]
[Irvin] And his opponent, from Pensacola, Florida,
weighing in at 265 pounds,
he is the Universal Champion,
Roman Reigns!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] It has been interesting watching the body language of Roman Reigns
throughout those introductions.
Muttering to himself at times.
Honestly, Rollins seems to be in Roman's head.
[Pat] I think this is certainly a different Roman
than we're used to seeing over his reign of dominance.
[Cole] So we kick off the 2022 Royal Rumble
with a match between two former brothers.
Roman Reigns and his record 516 day reign
as Universal Champion.
And Seth Rollins…
[bell rings]
…in the old gear they used to wear together in The Shield, set to do battle.
[Pat] It's a little awkward without the Usos out here.
[Cole] Barred from ringside.
It still fits! I still look good, baby.
Oh!
[Cole] Roman Reigns quickly went after Rollins in the waist lock.
Then the standing switch by Roman.
Seth Rollins quickly escapes.
[Pat] Seth Rollins has been doing this the last couple weeks to Roman.
Trying to get into Roman's head, saying, "I'm quicker, I'm faster."
[Cole] And again, draw Roman Reigns out of his comfort zone.
Maybe Roman Reigns will make a mistake that Rollins can capitalize on.
[yells]
[Cole] Roman Reigns pounding away on Rollins in the corner.
But again the quickness of Seth Rollins.
The rights and lefts and boots to the midsection,
and Rollins taking control.
[yells]
[Pat] Seth Rollins finding the groove here early.
[Cole] Seth Rollins-- Oh!
With a Sling Blade, takes down Roman Reigns.
[Pat] Gotta wonder if Seth Rollins feels comfortable back in the vest.
[Cole] Roman up over the top and into the barricade.
Remember, Rollins must pin or submit the champion to win the title.
Count-outs, disqualifications do no good for Seth Rollins.
Here comes Seth Rollins with a Suicide Dive!
Reigns into the barricade.
[Pat] Seth Rollins saying there's more where that came from.
How about a two-piece?
[Cole] Rollins pulling out all the stops early.
Roman Reigns has not been able to get out of the blocks in this matchup.
[Pat] On the flip side, Seth Rollins has come out storming.
[Cole] Incoming Rollins driving Reigns into the barricade.
Hit both of those Suicide Dives flush on our champion.
[Cole] Rollins, confidence just oozing out of his pores.
He's got the champ on the ropes early.
[Pat] No stress at all.
[Cole] Rollins off the top rope! Runs into a right hand!
[Reigns] That's what we came for!
[Cole] The five-time World Champion drops Rollins.
Remember, Roman Reigns has not been able to knock off Rollins
in a big-time matchup in his career.
[Pat] Roman might have been playing possum, setting Seth Rollins up.
He got very comfortable. Now it's time for--
Roman with a Drive-By to Rollins.
Just like that, the Universal Champion has turned the match around.
[Pat] Taking a page out of the great Undertaker's book.
Drive-By, boots to Seth Rollins.
[Cole] The impact by Roman Reigns.
Rollins stumbling around out here at ringside.
After getting the boots to the face.
[Pat] Big right hand, boots to the mouth, Roman Reigns is finding his happy place.
[Cole] Roman Reigns off the steps.
Rollins caught him with a boot to the midsection.
Seth Rollins with Roman Reigns up high!
[Pat] Whoa!
[Cole] With a Shield Bomb!
A Shield Bomb through the table!
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] Out of nowhere!
[Cole] Rollins and Ambrose and Reigns used to do that to so many opponents.
And Seth Rollins does it to the champ tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] The pure destruction!
[Cole] Rollins realizes count-out doesn't help him.
Gotta get Reigns back in the ring, and that's what he does.
[Pat] This table exploded upon impact.
Now Seth's on the top rope, looking for the Universal Champion!
[Cole] For Rollins! Cover for the title!
Can he do it? Reigns has got a kick at two.
[Pat] This thing took a turn quick.
[Cole] No Usos out here to encourage Reigns.
No Paul Heyman to give counsel to the Universal Champion.
Roman does it alone here tonight, and he's in trouble against Rollins.
[Pat] Seth Rollins countering everything Roman has to throw at him.
Seth Rollins knows Roman better than Roman knows himself,
is what Seth is saying.
Seth's on the top. What the hell is Seth thinking about doing now?
[Cole] Rollins with a-- Oh!
Had to roll through.
Roman Reigns went for a spear and got caught with a boot in the face.
[yells]
[Pat] A big right from Seth.
Swinging neckbreaker. No!
[Cole] Blow right to the back of the neck.
Middle of the ring, Seth Rollins now.
Roman Reigns up top.
Continues the assault with a Buckle Bomb.
[crowd cheering]
Now Rollins looking for the stomp!
Rollins hit the stomp!
He's gonna beat the champ!
[Pat] He got him. He-- No!
I thought he had him.
That was so damn close.
No prognosticator could have expected
Seth Rollins to not only do a Shield Bomb, a Buckle Bomb, then a stomp!
[Cole] Watch this.
[Pat] To the back of Roman's head!
[Cole] Check this out. Shoulders are down for one, for two.
At two and a half, almost two and three-quarters,
Roman Reigns got the shoulder up.
[Pat] I'd be lying if I said I didn't worry
that Reigns' reign was about to come to a crashing end.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Rollins!
[Pat] That grit, that resiliency of Roman, is what has made him the champion
for so long.
[Cole] Now the cerebral Rollins,
the calculating architect decides what to do next.
-[Pat] The Visionary. -Come on, Big Dog!
[Pat] Everything's been going to plan thus far.
[Cole] Rollins measuring his opponent. Reigns slow to his feet.
Seth Rollins out of the corner, runs into a clothesline!
Which turns him inside out.
And now the champion has an opportunity
to regroup, to refocus.
[Pat] For how great Seth Rollins is,
it's moments like these where Roman Reigns displays his dominance.
Baited Seth into thinking another stomp was available.
Instead, a clothesline from hell.
[Cole] Now Roman Reigns realizing it's a desperate time.
Critical turning point in this matchup as Roman Reigns mounts Rollins.
And now unloads with the rights.
[Pat] Years of angst in these blows to the head from Roman Reigns.
[Cole] Reigns found the opening he needed.
[Pat] Charles Robinson trying to find a little bit of… sanity
in the middle of this battle.
Roman Reigns has snapped.
[Cole] Up top, and down with a powerbomb!
Cover by Roman to retain-- And a kickout.
[groans]
[Pat] Groans coming out of Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
After this incredible display.
[Cole] Watch the impact.
Spine-jarring powerbomb.
Now listen to Roman.
Is this a game to you?
You're gonna shit on everything we did, huh?
It's funny to you, huh?
You're gonna laugh at me, huh?
[laughs]
[Cole] Rollins continuing to mock and laugh at Reigns.
Continuing to infuriate the champion.
[Pat] Look at this, going for a triangle!
[laughs]
[Cole] Rollins trying to maybe get the champ to tap.
[man] Come on, Roman!
-Say it! -[Cole] Arm is locked!
Center of the ring.
Reigns has nowhere to go.
[Reigns groans]
[Cole] The only chance Roman may have is to power out of this, if he can.
[Pat] That's what the Tribal Chief does!
[Cole] The Head of the Table.
[Pat] He's in god mode now.
[Cole] You noticed the expression chance, didn't you?
That expression doesn't look like God to me, however, Pat.
It looks like something else.
[Pat] Seth's face is no longer laughing, is it?
[Cole] Roman driving Rollins into the post shoulder-first.
And Rollins collapses.
[Pat] Rollins' bones like a carcass falling outside of the ring.
[Cole] Yeah, and Roman Reigns, the alpha.
[Pat] Stalking.
[Cole] Sending Rollins into the timekeepers area.
[Pat] That vest was as sign of great days for these two men.
It's also a detriment when Roman Reigns says get your ass through the stairs!
[Cole] Roman Reigns is on the hunt.
[groaning]
[Pat] Years of comeuppance.
Payback for the coward move from Seth "Freakin" Rollins years ago.
Laughing in Roman's face. You're in Roman's world now, Seth!
[Rollins groans]
[crowd booing]
[Pat] Acknowledge him, St. Louis.
[Cole] As Pat mentioned, Roman wants to be acknowledged.
Locked and loaded. Superman Punch on the jaw!
Cover for the win!
To retain. The reign continues-- No!
Kick at two by Rollins.
[Pat] Seth lost a tooth on that one.
Picture perfect Superman Punch.
[Cole] Watch this, Pat.
-[Pat] This could've been… -[Cole] Right on the jaw.
[Pat] That could've been curtains.
-Two! -[yells]
[Pat] Somehow Seth finds a way to kick out.
[Cole] Rollins just rolling out of the ring to buy himself some time.
[Pat] Welcome to the Royal Rumble.
Match one, instant classic, watching the GOAT versus the Visionary.
[Cole] Both of these men, great success in this event.
They both have each won a Royal Rumble match in their careers.
Better be kidding me on that, boy.
[Cole] Now this is the pace Roman likes, Pat.
Methodical, taking his time.
Measuring his man.
Spear!
Right in front of us.
Reigns quickly dragging his former partner,
tossing him into the ring.
[Pat] He's methodical 'til he needs to be.
[crowd cheering and booing]
I'm number one!
-[yells] -[crowd yells]
[Cole] Went for the spear. Caught, Pedigree!
A Pedigree counter by Rollins!
Off an attempted spear!
Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship!
And a big upset tonight-- A kickout at two by Roman.
[Pat] Holy…
What a counter by Seth Rollins.
[Cole] These two superstars
have already been called among the greats of this generation.
This match is one of the reasons why.
Look at the counter into the Pedigree.
[Pat] We all know whose move the Pedigree is.
Who's a part of this entire story line from the beginning.
[Cole] Exactly. Triple H.
The man who manipulated Rollins into turning on The Shield.
[yells]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] This is now Seth Rollins' chance
to end the historic title reign of Roman.
[crowd chanting] Burn it down!
[Cole] The "burn it down" chants ringing through The Dome.
Went for the stomp, sidestep by Roman.
Countered.
Rollins fighting back again.
[Pat] Kick to the head.
Setting Roman up with more and more.
[Cole] But Roman fires out of it.
Spear by Reigns!
Reigns almost cut Rollins in half.
Now Roman dragging himself.
[laughs]
[Cole] Rollins still laughing at the champ!
[Pat] This dude is delirious right now in St. Louis.
Come on, brother.
-I'll always love you. -[Pat] Asking for a fist bump.
I'll always love you. [laughs]
[Cole] The fist bump made famous by The Shield.
Rollins continues to mock the champion.
[Pat] Stay focused, Roman.
So many thoughts have to be running through Roman's head.
[Rollins] Come on!
[Pat] What could've been. What is.
And why is this dude laughing in my face right now?
Come on! [laughs]
[laughing continues]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Roman Reigns now looking for the guillotine.
The guillotine in the center of the ring.
Put out so many men during his historic title reign.
Seth Rollins is in trouble.
Roman's got the guillotine locked. Will Rollins tap?
Roman's got that thing locked in deep!
[Cole] The only chance Rollins has is to somehow drag himself to the rope
and force a break.
But Roman's got it locked in good.
-[Pat] Seth reaching. -[Cole] Rollins a fingertip away!
Fingertip away! But Rollins is fading!
Rollins may be down and out.
The official, Charles Robinson, is gonna check on the challenger.
Rollins though, his hand lands on the rope!
Reigns has gotta break.
[Pat] What happened, Michael Cole?
One! Break it!
[Cole] Reigns has gotta break.
He's got a five-count to break. Guillotine locked in.
Roman Reigns is not gonna break!
-Reigns is gonna be disqualified. -[bell rings]
-[Pat] What?! -[crowd booing]
-Let him go! What the hell? -Bar me, I want you to. Bar me!
He deserves this!
-He deserves this! -Let go of him, man!
-Let go of him! That's enough! -No. I'll never let go.
He won't allow me to let go.
-He won't allow me! -Let go, please!
Come on!
[Cole] Roman Reigns refusing to break the guillotine.
-[groans] -Damn it!
[Cole] Finally does after Seth Rollins pushed Roman over the edge.
[crowd booing]
[Pat] Charles Robinson picks up the lifeless hand of Seth Rollins.
Puts it on the rope, then the five-count happens.
Roman was just doing what Roman does!
[Cole] Roman still…
This is his fault.
[crowd booing]
Roman trying to regain control.
Claiming it was Rollins that pushed him to that point.
[crowd yelling indistinctly]
[Pat] Onlookers screaming that Roman can't beat Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[Cole] He had him beat!
[crowd chanting] Roman sucks!
[continues chanting] Roman sucks!
[Pat] Seth Rollins made this personal.
Years ago, and then again in the lead up to tonight.
[Cole] Seth Rollins almost beat the Universal Champion tonight.
-[man 1] Easy there now, Roman. -[man 2] You suck!
-Yo, that's what I'm saying. -Stand still!
He may have survived the guillotine, but Roman Reigns snapped.
Get him. You can do it.
-Yeah! -[crowd cheering]
He's not done yet.
Seth was laughing in his face.
Seth disrespected his entire bloodline.
His entire family.
You can't blame Roman Reigns for saying let's end this right now!
You made me like this.
-You made me like this. -[crowd cheering]
You made me.
[Cole] Chair to the spine!
[yelling]
-[Pat] How do you like it, Seth? -[Cole] Again and again!
And Rollins being laid out by Reigns and a chair.
[Rollins grunting and groaning]
[Pat] Somebody's gotta stop this.
[crowd booing]
[Pat] Nobody…
can stop…
what's happening…
to Seth Rollins.
[scattered cheering in crowd]
[man] Roman sucks!
[crowd chanting] Roman sucks!
[Cole] Well, Roman Reigns…
[crowd booing]
[Reigns yells]
[crowd yelling indistinctly]
[Pat] I don't think he's done yet.
[Cole] I don't either, he's talking to himself.
You took a piece of me.
You took a piece of me that I'm never gonna get back.
But now I have to take it.
You can't take from the Tribal Chief.
[Cole] And again!
A heinous, vicious… a mugging by Reigns!
Look at the chair!
[crowd booing]
[Pat] Roman Reigns is proud of the destruction
he has laid upon Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] For Roman Reigns, Pat, that attack had to be cathartic.
-To end this tonight with a steel chair. -He deserved it.
[Cole] The same way that Seth Rollins ended The Shield.
-[Pat] He's still talking to himself. -I had to do that.
[crowd booing]
[Pat] What is Roman speaking to himself about?
He walks out of here as Universal Champion yet again.
But that was nowhere near the same Roman Reigns we have seen
for 500-plus days.
-[crowd jeering] -Yeah! I feel better now.
Now I can move forward. Now I can move forward.
[Cole] Roman's historic grip on the championship will continue.
[crowd booing]
[dramatic music playing]
[announcer] They're bold.
Inspiring.
Powerful.
WWE Official Championships.
Feel like a champion.
And so much more.
["Ballin" playing]
♪ Ballin, I came from nothing… ♪
[Jimmy] Welcome to St. Louis.
The Royal Rumble underneath the Arch here in St. Louis.
The Gateway to the West.
The arc of someone's career is about to change.
The best way to change it is at the Royal Rumble.
That's right. Jimmy Smith alongside Corey Graves, Byron Saxton.
If you can't see the carnage in front, our table in pieces,
just like the spine of Seth "Freakin" Rollins.
The Royal Rumble is about opportunities.
Thirty superstars, all you have to do is be the last woman standing.
And a main event and title opportunity at WrestleMania is yours.
It changes lives, does it not?
We're only one match in,
and look at the carnage in the wake of the Tribal Chief doing his work.
Let's find out who takes that next massive step to WrestleMania.
♪ We burning it up Step in the building, we turning it up… ♪
[bell rings]
The following is the 30-woman Royal Rumble match!
[crowd cheering]
[Rome] In this match, two superstars will start 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 remaining superstar will be declared the winner
and will receive a championship match
at WrestleMania!
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Let's find out who drew unlucky number one.
["Sky's The Limit" playing]
-[announcers laughing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Someone who I think can handle it, if anyone can.
The Boss herself.
♪ 'Cause I gon' gon' Pushed it all out the way… ♪
[Rome] Introducing first, from Boston, Massachusetts,
Sasha Banks!
[Jimmy] This is really interesting, we just found out,
twenty-four hours ago on SmackDown,
that Sasha Banks was going to be part of the Royal Rumble match.
A bit of a curveball for Sasha Banks, now number one.
If Sasha Banks wants to go to WrestleMania she's gotta run the gauntlet.
[Corey] Sasha Banks had better be in full-on Boss mode tonight,
because 29 other women want the same opportunity
that Sasha herself tasted last year.
To headline WrestleMania.
Can Banks do it again? We're about to find out.
But it will not be easy.
[Jimmy] You talk about last year's WrestleMania, Corey,
you know Sasha Banks still has to have a bitter taste in her mouth
because she lost the SmackDown Women's Championship
in the main event of WrestleMania.
She wants to make good on that, and to do so she'll win the Royal Rumble.
[Corey] Think about this, Bianca Belair did it from spot number three.
Earliest spot before that, gentlemen, 17.
It's not easy to do.
The Royal Rumble is brought to you in part by WWE 2K22.
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♪ Hell yeah, hell yeah ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Let's find out who else shares in The Boss' unfortunate luck.
Number two not a whole lot better.
["Paparazzi" playing]
-[Corey] Whoa! Gentlemen! -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Look who's back!
[Corey] Roll out the red carpet.
A true WWE legend.
[Rome] Entering in at number two, from Los Angeles, California,
Melina!
[Jimmy] Remember the swagger in the walk? It is back.
[Corey] Think about this right now, you're Sasha Banks,
you're already digesting the fact that you drew number one in the Royal Rumble match.
Now you know you gotta go one-on-one
with the five-time former champion in Melina.
[Corey] No walk in the park tonight for Sasha Banks.
Great to see Melina back within the hallowed halls of WWE.
What can Melina do with this opportunity?
Can Melina defy all of the odds
and outlast 29 other women,
and headline WrestleMania?
Never say never.
[Jimmy] And what does it take to do that? Experience.
Who has more than Melina?
[Corey] Listen, I'm sure Melina's sat back all these years,
she's watched these various Royal Rumble matches,
and thought to herself, one day I'm gonna be there.
That day is tonight, and that night could be Melina's night.
[Jimmy] One thing I don't see on the face of Sasha Banks right now is stress.
[Corey] Sasha Banks certainly no stranger to high pressure situations.
But even The Boss has to be ill-prepared to deal with someone such as Melina.
-[Byron] I missed that entrance. -[Jimmy] Hasn't lost flexibility.
[Corey] Not at all.
What a reaction from the 44,390 strong
here at The Dome at America's Center.
[Jimmy] It has been deafening since we walked through the door.
Let's see how they react to this.
The gamesmanship starting early.
[Corey] Look at the face of Melina.
The emotion written all over the face of the former Women's Champion.
Melina best not let herself be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment.
[Jimmy] We saw it from Sasha Banks,
and it came at the expense of The Boss at WrestleMania.
Don't let those tears fool you.
-[crowd cheering] -I'm The Boss.
[Corey] The Boss never short on confidence.
WrestleMania, I'm taking the title.
[Corey] Letting Melina know exactly what her intentions are.
-But so am I. -[crowd chanting] Let's go, Sasha!
[Corey] Melina doing the same to The Boss.
[Byron] Melina saying, I wanna go to WrestleMania.
[Corey] No one taking a backward step yet. Oh!
Catching the kick. Oof!
[Jimmy] Boss answers with one of her own.
[Corey] The Royal Rumble match is such a unique entity.
[announcers exclaiming]
[Byron] That didn't last long!
[Jimmy] First elimination is our second entrant.
Melina came back for a good time but certainly not a long time.
And continuing to mock Melina after her elimination.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Sasha Banks has to be feeling great. One up, one down.
[Corey] This is incredibly valuable for any superstar
in the situation Sasha Banks finds herself in.
Valuable time to recover.
It's gonna be a long night for Sasha Banks
if she wants to win this thing.
[Jimmy] We're gonna find out in five seconds who's next.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["What You Think" playing]
[announcers laugh]
[Jimmy] What do you like saying, Corey, no one 'Mina?"
[Corey] Ain't nobody 'Mina!
[Byron] A lot of history here between Tamina and Sasha Banks.
One time tag team partners and closest of friends,
but that does not matter here tonight.
[Jimmy] China shop get ready for the bull.
We talk about experiences, about aggression and strength,
And that-- Oh!
--Tamina certainly has.
[Byron] Sasha Banks being the aggressor now.
-[Byron] What is she doing? -That's right!
[Corey] Banks didn't go over the top rope so The Boss is still a legal competitor.
Tamina hasn't even made it in the ring yet.
[Jimmy] Attacking before she even gets in.
-Not letting the match get started. -[Corey] Brilliant strategy by Banks.
You need to take any opportunity you have with someone as dangerous at Tamina.
[Jimmy] Can she make it two for two?
[Byron] Tamina trying to hold on to that top rope.
[Corey] Half way-- Oh!
[Corey] Big hammer fist saves Tamina's spot in this Royal Rumble matchup for now.
And that's the equalizer for Tamina against anyone.
You can't trade blows with her. Incredibly strong.
Here's the athleticism of Sasha Banks.
-[announcers] Oh! -[Corey] Face-first goes Tamina.
That's right!
[Corey] Tamina crumbles into the corner. Here comes The Boss!
[Jimmy] Oh! Two knees right to the jaw.
[Byron] For a second time.
[Corey] Doubled up on the Meteora.
[Jimmy] Will that be enough to toss Tamina over the top rope?
Underneath the hips.
She's trying to soften her up just a wee bit.
That's gotta be part of the strategy.
You try to lift a little too early, you're gonna run out of gas.
Especially against Tamina. Beautiful headbutt.
[Byron] Both of these competitors know that clock is ticking.
Speaking of which, your timing, for once, impeccable.
[crowd] Five, four…
[Byron] I win here, every now and then.
[crowd] Two, one.
[timer buzzes]
[Jimmy] Right now there are two. For the first time we're gonna see three.
["Holla" playing]
[Jimmy] We saw Melina. How about another blast from the past?
In the form of Kelly Kelly.
[Byron] That's right. First women's 24/7 Champion.
Also Divas Champion.
You're just soaking it up.
[Corey] What you've done in the past can bring you to the dance.
It's something else entirely to outlast the rest of the hungry field.
Right now, Sasha Banks in a position she'd rather not be.
[Smith] That's right. Up on the top rope.
Was she about to be eliminated? No.
Stopping herself on the apron.
[Corey] Two close calls there.
Now Kelly Kelly will enter the fray and target Tamina.
It was a brave decision by Kelly Kelly, if not he wisest.
Yeah, but she had her briefly stunned.
Get on her early. Oh!
[Corey] Tamina sent hard into the turnbuckle.
Kelly Kelly would love to see her name in the bright lights in Dallas.
Oh!
[Byron] Handspring elbow finds a mark on Tamina.
-Kelly Kelly enjoying herself in there. -Come on, you guys! Oh!
[Corey] Don't enjoy yourself too much, Kelly.
-[Jimmy] Don't take your eyes off Tamina. -That's right!
[Jimmy] Her fifth Royal Rumble.
She's been in all of the women's Royal Rumbles.
Never won one.
[Corey] Sasha Banks now rejoining the fray.
Taking the fight to Tamina.
Now this is an instance where you might see an alliance of necessity.
Sasha Banks and Kelly Kelly would be well-advised to work together
to try to eliminate the much more powerful, dangerous Tamina.
[Jimmy] I don't think that would necessarily be an advantage.
[Corey] Temporary alliances.
[Byron] I don't think we'll see any temporary alliances.
[Jimmy] High-risk move here!
Trying to Hurricanrana out of the ring.
[Bryon] Kelly Kelly put herself at risk. She's already halfway out of the ring.
[Corey] High risk! There it is.
-She's out! -[Byron] You called it, Corey.
[Corey] I know what I'm talking about.
[Jimmy] Sometimes you do. Our second elimination.
[crowd] Nine, eight, seven…
[Corey] Banks taking a moment to enjoy her handiwork, catch her breath.
Who will it be next?
[crowd] Two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["It's All Boujee" playing]
[Jimmy] We've had veterans. It's now time for the young buck.
The upstart, the one with momentum on her side.
I think that all applies to Aliyah right now.
[Byron] the owner of the fastest victory in WWE history.
Aliyah perhaps could add to that momentum.
Obviously, if she can find a way to win this Royal Rumble match.
Gentlemen, I would say, however, if you're Aliyah,
getting the fastest pin in WWE history
isn't a good thing right before Royal Rumble.
-You're not surprising anyone. -[Byron] Oh!
-[Jimmy] Everyone's ready for you. -Aliyah teeing off on the boss right now.
[Byron] Aliyah's doing a great job of surprising Sasha Banks at the moment.
[Corey] Aliyah is all fired up.
-[Byron] Uh, well… -[Corey] Here comes Tamina.
-[Jimmy] Oh! -[Corey] To extinguish the flame.
[Jimmy] She does not take disrespect kindly.
Oh! Beautiful kick over the top.
[Byron] Aliyah responding with some attitude now.
Here comes Sasha Banks.
-Uh… -[Corey] Aliyah now…
Caught the attention of Sasha Banks.
For the moment, Banks unable to dispose of Aliyah yet.
[Byron] That's the thing about-- Oh!
Over the top rope, but not quite to the floor.
-A nasty shot. -[Jimmy] Aliyah answering back.
Beautiful reentry into the ring. Oh!
[Corey] Big knee right to the sternum.
Stopped the upstart dead in her tracks.
[Byron] Aliyah certainly came in impressive,
and, gentlemen, the countdown is once again on.
Who's gonna enter next?
[Corey] This ring fills up in a hurry.
-It's already beginning to get crowded. -[timer buzzes]
["Liv Gone Mad" playing]
-[Jimmy] Wow. -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] An early number for Liv Morgan.
She is fired up.
[Corey] Morgan sprinting to the ring.
Liv Morgan anxious for another opportunity
to capture what she feels is her destiny, a Women's Championship in WWE.
[Jimmy] I would say trying to recapture the momentum she had end of last year.
A valiant effort at Day 1 against Becky Lynch.
She came up short, she wants that momentum back.
[Byron] Mindset is so valuable right now for Liv Morgan,
the last couple years in the Royal Rumble match, she did not last very long.
[announcers] Oh!
-[Corey] Sasha Banks in trouble! -[Byron] This would be huge!
[Jimmy] Tamina just in time.
[Corey] Tamina once again playing spoiler.
[Jimmy] To your point, Byron, of the five fastest eliminations
in women's Royal Rumble history,
Liv Morgan has two of them.
Eight seconds and 44 seconds.
-She wants some longevity tonight. -[Corey] It's learning from the past.
[Byron] Liv Morgan will tell you she has done plenty of that.
[Corey] Morgan now with opponents double stacked in the corner.
Banks and Aliyah being stomped.
[Jimmy] Impressive two-on-one.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Constant motivator right there.
The sign to WrestleMania.
[Byron] A little too early to take a bow, Ms. Liv.
[Jimmy] Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
Aliyah going right at Liv Morgan.
Sasha Banks taking advantage.
Beautiful suplex.
-[Corey] Not done yet. -[Byron] Make it two.
[Jimmy] Uno más.
Could it be three in a row? It is!
Softening up Aliyah.
-Homage to her hero Eddie Guerrero. -[timer buzzes]
♪ All hail the queen, Queen Zelina ♪
-["Royal Doll" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Momentum this year on the side of this woman.
Queen Zelina.
Queen's Crown champion.
She carries all of that swagger, all that confidence
into the Royal Rumble tonight.
[Corey] We've learned over the past several weeks
just how resourceful Zelina Vega can be inside of the ring.
What Zelina lacks in size,
she more than compensates for in ring awareness.
And being, uh, conniving.
-[Byron] To say the least. -[Corey] Opportunistic, tenacious.
[Byron] All of those words apply. Just like this.
[Corey] Interesting strategy here.
Queen Zelina would love to punch her ticket to WrestleMania.
[announcers] Oh!
[Corey] Big knee by The Boss.
-Zelina now in danger of being eliminated. -[Byron] Going over the top!
[Jimmy] Tamina kinda returning the favor here.
I thought Queen Zelina sort of rescued her.
[Byron] Tamina wants to be the one to get rid of The Boss.
[Corey] Bragging rights at stake, Byron.
Whether you win or not, if you're the woman-- Oh!
[announcers] Oh!
[Byron] You were saying?
[Corey] Queen Zelina has eliminated The Boss!
[Jimmy] Did we say opportunistic?
-What's up, Boss? Who's the Queen? -[Jimmy] The speed of that kick.
[Byron] I'll admit, I'm a bit shocked.
[Corey] I don't know if anyone's as shocked as Sasha Banks in this moment.
[Jimmy] A little bit of an alliance, Tamina and Queen Zelina.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Right now they're going to town on Liv Morgan and Aliyah.
-Oh! Great counter. -[Corey] Anyone's match at this moment.
At this juncture.
But Aliyah now in danger of being launched over the top rope by Tamina.
Nine seconds, we'll have a new competitor.
Can Aliyah hang on.
Kicking for dear life.
We'll find out, who is number eight?
[timer buzzes]
["Watch Me Shine" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Byron laughs] Oh!
[Jimmy] Here we go. Third last year.
Eight this year.
Put me in early, I don't care.
That's the attitude of Bianca Belair.
Changed her career, did she not last year?
[Byron] Absolutely. Bianca Belair lasted nearly an hour last year.
[Corey] There's arguably nobody else in this matchup,
save for Sasha Banks, who knows what's at stake.
Bianca Belair won the women's Royal Rumble match one year ago.
Went on to headline WrestleMania with Sasha Banks.
And capture the SmackDown Women's Championship.
-[Byron] Oh! -[Corey] And crushed Tamina's skull
[Byron] Belair said, tonight my road to redemption begins.
[Jimmy] Fifty-six minutes, 52 seconds last year.
She ties the record for eliminations in a single Royal Rumble with eight.
[announcers] Whoa!
[Jimmy] Because of strength like that.
[Byron] Yes!
[Corey] The strongest.
This is why Bianca's gotta be the odds-on favorite--
Oh! Amongst the WWE Universe.
[Byron] She gets you up, she puts you down.
No love lost between her and Liv Morgan.
[Corey] Morgan… no, no, no.
[Jimmy] Hanging on for dear life,
but she is in the sights of Bianca Belair.
-Uh-oh. Uh-oh! -[Byron] Morgan still holds on.
[Corey] Two for one. Morgan held on,
but Queen Zelina ate the splash.
[Jimmy] Splitting her attention between those two superstars
may have saved Liv Morgan.
Queen Zelina hanging on for dear life.
And again, the game changer, the X-factor, Tamina.
With one strike, stopped Bianca's momentum.
[Jimmy] But we got a fresh competitor coming in to change the game.
-Who might it be? -[crowd] Two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["See You" playing]
[Jimmy] Speaking of athletes. Speaking of people with strength.
With confidence and momentum.
How about the 24/7 champion, Dana Brooke.
[Byron] This could be your sleeper pick, if you will, for the Royal Rumble match.
Dana Brooke won her first championship in WWE being the 24/7 Champion.
Maybe this could be a night where Dana Brooke truly shocks the world.
[Jimmy] You saw it with Carmella a couple years ago.
Reggie can catch the occasional person coming over that top rope.
[Byron] Last minute support from Reggie. Now Dana Brooke targeting Aliyah.
[Corey] Trying to make an impact early on in her entrance into this match.
[screams]
-[Corey] Now Dana Brooke… -[Jimmy] The strength we alluded to.
Queen Zelina almost over the top rope. Nope.
Can she trade shots with Tamina?
That's a big question.
[Byron] Not always the wisest strategy.
But right now it's working for Dana Brooke.
[Jimmy] Oh! Beautiful dropkick right to the chest.
[yells]
[Corey] As the ring fills up with competitors,
it's gonna become increasingly difficult to execute maneuvers like this.
[Byron] Get them out of the way now.
Use the real estate while you have it.
[Jimmy] Also use that energy while you have it.
You see the early entrants like Tamina starting to wear down just a bit.
[Corey] Now Zelina and Dana fighting each other, fighting Tamina.
It is truly every woman for herself.
[Byron] Doesn't have to be pretty.
[Corey] What on earth is Bianca trying to do?
Other than eliminate Aliyah.
[Jimmy] Body slam carried her over the top rope.
Hammering away. Now Liv Morgan!
Might she get a two-for-one?
-[crowd cheering] -[screams]
[Byron] As we count down, Belair in serious peril.
[Corey] One more push.
[crowd] Two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Not Enough For Me" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Oh! Michelle McCool!
This could be a game changer.
[Byron] Former four-time champion.
Said she was motivated to enter the Royal Rumble match
to inspire her kids to overcome challenges.
[Jimmy] And a Hall of Famer,
so she has her credentials, she has the experience.
Also has the superkick as well. Oh!
What did we say about Reg's catches?
[Jimmy] Were you talking strategy with Dana Brooke?
[Byron] I thought Reggie left.
[Corey] Big Belly-to-Belly by McCool.
[Jimmy] Pay attention, Byron. Still here, still ready to catch.
[Byron] What a good man.
Did it for Carmella a few years back.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
-Thinking Hurricanrana. No! -Oh!
[Byron] Dana Brooke perched on the top rope!
[Corey] Oh, McCool!
-[Jimmy] Right to the face! -[Byron] Goodness gracious!
[Jimmy] Dana Brooke is over the top and eliminated!
[Corey] Tamina just crushed Michelle McCool from behind.
Come on! That's working every time! All these people here!
[Byron] Every time anyone gets any semblance of momentum in this match,
Tamina's right there to steal it away.
[Jimmy] Smart strategy, however.
Just eliminated somebody, you're not paying attention.
Free shot for me, a veteran move.
[Byron] Your point, Tamina's competed in every women's Royal Rumble.
She knows the lay of the land in this environment.
[Jimmy] McCool getting a little revenge.
With a boot to the neck for that sneak attack.
Looks like Aliyah, once again dangling on the top rope.
On the verge of elimination.
[Corey] Bianca Belair will turn her attention to Aliyah.
[crowd] Four, three…
[Jimmy] Will she get an elimination before we have a new competitor?
-Doesn't look like it's gonna happen! -[timer buzzes]
-["Pride Fighter" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Corey laughs] Whoa.
[Byron] I don't agree with this at all.
[Corey] Why, Saxton, what's wrong?
[Byron] You know, Corey. Sonya Deville is a WWE official, okay?
And many would say she has abused her power by--
[Corey] Well, guess what, Saxton. I'm not one of those people
that believe whatever drivel was about to spill past your lips.
Sonya Deville is a WWE superstar first and foremost.
And Sonya Deville, just like the rest of the field,
would love to headline the most stupendous two-night WrestleMania is history.
[Jimmy] She said, "Jacket on, I'm an official."
"Jacket off, I'm just a competitor."
We saw her there.
Jacket's still on. She did not take it off.
[Byron] Yeah. We all know her entry was a direct result
of Naomi defeating her last night.
Please. She's a WWE official.
If Sonya wants to join commentary, we're going to accommodate that.
[Jimmy] Isn't she competing?
[Corey] Sonya, it's a pleasure, it's an honor.
[Sonya] My man, Corey Graves.
Sonya, I thought you were gonna compete in the Royal Rumble?
I will. But you see my jacket's on?
-Jacket, official, off, not official. -Do I have to explain it to you?
-[Byron] Why not take it off-- -[Sonya] When I take it off,
when I decide it's time, I'll get inside the match. Thank you.
[Corey] This is perfectly within the rules, Saxton.
-[Byron sighs] -[Sonya] I make the rules, so yeah, it is.
Thank you, Corey.
[Corey] Sonya, I'm curious, while you're out here,
how about lending some of your--
[Jimmy] You are in the Rumble?
[Corey] Jimmy, I'm trying to talk to somebody right now.
I have a question. Sonya, in your expert opinion,
who have you seen that's impressed you thus far in the women's Royal Rumble?
I'm a fan of Bianca Belair.
I would love to see a two-time Royal Rumble winner in her.
Also, Liv Morgan, I love Royal Rumble surprises.
She's someone that always surprises us.
Is always bringing her game to the next level.
Those are my two right now.
We're about to find out who's gonna join the fray here
in about six seconds.
[crowd] Five, four…
This is a brilliant strategy, by the way, Sonya.
You can sit out here as long as you want.
[Sonya] Thank you.
[Jimmy] Look at the exhausted field in the ring.
["New Foundation" playing]
[Jimmy] We talked about experience.
We talked about superstars who have been there before.
Natalya has to be at the top of the experience list.
[Corey] If you're talking about superstars
who have seen and done practically everything there is to do,
and we're talking about Guinness World Record holder in Natalya,
but Natalya has never had the opportunity to headline WrestleMania.
And that makes Natayla lose sleep at night.
[Jimmy] The last entrance last year, she came in thirtieth,
was in the final four, that stings, when you're that close and don't make it.
[Sonya] She may have won two Guinness records.
[Corey] I believe you're right.
[Byron] Well, it's four, Natalya would tell you.
[Sonya] Four? Wow. Impressive.
[Jimmy] Liv Morgan over the top rope.
But no, not all the way down.
As you said, Sonya, always surprising you.
-[Sonya] What did I say? -[Jimmy] Over top.
-Oh! -[Byron] Oh!
[Corey] That speaks to the unfamiliarity to the situation.
In a singles matchup, the maneuver Liv executed could've been beneficial.
But instead, not so much.
[Jimmy] Once again, it is Tamina taking advantage.
You take your eyes off the ball, she's always there with the attack.
Can she eliminate Bianca Belair?
-[Corey] Natalya from behind! -[Sonya] Both!
-[Corey] Wow! -[Byron] No, no, no!
Bianca Belair hanging on to that top rope!
[Corey] For now!
[Sonya] Wow!
[Jimmy] She back in!
The athleticism and balance of Bianca Belair!
[Corey] How impressive was that?
[Sonya] That is the EST. Wow.
[Corey] Tremendous perseverance,
one of the many reasons why Bianca won this exact matchup last year.
[Jimmy] Natalya hanging on for dear life.
Here comes Bianca Belair to help with the push.
It's three on one!
[Sonya] Someone needs to come tip this whole bunch right here.
-[Byron] That could be you, Sonya. -[Sonya] When I'm ready.
[Byron] Got it.
-["Somebody Call My Momma" playing] -[Byron laughs] Oh!
[Jimmy] Wow!
[Byron] It has been a long time since we've seen the former Funkadactyl.
Cameron, welcome back!
[Jimmy] Ready to dance her way to the ring.
[Corey] Sonya, you gotta be as surprised as anybody.
We know anybody can show up…
[Jimmy] This one we didn't expect.
…in the women's Royal Rumble.
But this is Cameron, former tag team partner of Naomi.
[Corey] Someone you're rather familiar with on Friday Night SmackDown.
What did you just say?
[Corey] Cameron, when she arrived in WWE, she was Naomi's tag team partner.
-Very close. -So they're friends?
[Corey] I dare say better than friends.
-[Sonya] They… -[Corey] They broke into WWE together.
[Sonya] So Naomi would be upset if something happened to her?
[Corey] I would imagine so.
[Byron] Sonya, I don't…
[Corey] Oh my, Sonya just left the announce desk.
[Jimmy] Looks as though the jacket is coming off.
[Corey] What did you say, Saxton?
[Byron] What did you say, Corey? You're at fault for this.
-[Corey] I was informing our official-- -[Byron] You know. You were instigating.
-[Corey] Oh! -[Jimmy] Going right at Cameron!
-[Sonya] You want Naomi? -[Jimmy] A potential ally of Naomi.
[Byron] No "potential" obviously.
Cameron is a good friend of Naomi.
Sonya Deville taking offense to that.
[Corey] We obviously know that Sonya Deville and Naomi
not fans of one another.
That's saying it lightly.
Right now Cameron is incurring the wrath of Sonya Deville.
[Jimmy] Trying to send her over the top rope.
Cameron hanging on, battling her way back.
[Cameron screams]
[announcers] Oh!
[Jimmy] Vicious elimination by Sonya Deville.
[Byron] Look how proud Sonya Deville is of her actions.
[Corey] Why wouldn't Sonya be proud?
Sonya chose her spot
waited for the perfect opportunity.
[Byron] This is petty, Corey. That's what it is. It's petty, okay?
Sonya Deville decided to wait out here
and when she knew she could get a little dig into Naomi,
oh, that's when she enters the Royal Rumble match.
[Jimmy] Yeah, but knowing she'll have to go face-to-face with Naomi at some point,
eliminating a potential ally,
good strategic move.
-["Amazing" playing] -[Jimmy] Oh!
Speaking of, what did we just say?
-Are you feeling it, Byron? -[Byron] I cannot wait-- I--
It's glow time, Jimmy!
It's gonna be a bad time for Sonya Deville.
[Corey] Naomi running to the ring with purpose.
And we all know exactly what that purpose is!
[Byron] Naomi wants to get her hands on Sonya Deville.
[Jimmy] Last night on SmackDown they battled one-on-one.
And after Naomi won, Sonya Deville declared for the Royal Rumble!
But there is venom, there is animosity in this matchup!
[Corey] It's looking like a Tony Twist hockey fight right now.
[Jimmy] Forget the Rumble, gentlemen, this is one-on-one, this is personal.
[Byron] Naomi thought she was done with Sonya last night.
After she finally got her revenge,
but Sonya Deville just couldn't stomach the loss.
[Jimmy] Look at that beautiful leaping kick off the second rope!
[Corey] Sonya Deville is rocked.
[Jimmy] Can she send her flying?
[Sonya grunting]
[Corey] This would be a measure of revenge.
[announcers] Oh!
[Jimmy] And she's out!
-[Corey] Sweet revenge! -[Jimmy] Beautiful elimination!
[Byron] Now Natalya from behind!
Trying to get rid of Naomi.
[Corey] That's gotta be humiliating for Sonya Deville.
[Jimmy] Oh! Look at the athleticism, the creativity of Naomi.
We talk about the athleticism of Bianca Belair all the time,
the strength of Rhea Ripley,
you gotta put Naomi in that category. She doesn't get enough respect.
[Corey] Without question.
[crowd] Seven, six…
[Corey] Naomi now trying to return the favor.
As we're gonna find out who is the next superstar to enter the Royal Rumble.
[timer buzzes]
["Princess of Staten Island" playing]
-[Corey] Oh, baby! -[Byron] I know you're thrilled.
[Corey] This has gotta be the odds-on favorite,
unanimous pick of the WWE Universe--
[Byron] What? That means everyone.
-[Corey] Everyone. -[Byron] You're joking, right?
[Corey] Everyone that can see--
[Byron] Who? I can see, and I don't believe she's the favorite.
[Corey] You're not the brightest star in the sky, Saxton.
You're not even the brightest guy in your seat right now.
Carmella, the most beautiful woman in all of WWE.
Custom made for WrestleMania.
[Jimmy] But also she is half of the Tag Team Champions,
with Queen Zelina.
She is experienced, she is dangerous.
-She is tricky, opportunistic. -[Byron] Whoa! Belair!
[Corey] Bianca in jeopardy of being eliminated.
[Jimmy] That's right, it's two-on-one in the corner!
[Byron] And how smart is this?
-Carmella just taking her time. -[Jimmy] Back in again.
[Byron] Maybe Carmella's afraid to actually enter the Royal Rumble match.
she's trying to stall.
[Corey] What would she be afraid of, Saxton?
-[Byron] Getting eliminated? -[Corey] Hi.
Hi, Carmella. How are you doing?
You tell them. I tell them all the time.
-Tell them how beautiful I am. -Why don't you go compete?
[Carmella] Oh, I'm just out here being beautiful.
[Corey] She's just out here being beautiful.
[Byron] This is ridiculous.
[Corey] Do you disagree?
[Jimmy] As we're seeing some potential eliminations.
Liv Morgan right now fighting for her life.
[Corey] Queen Zelina in trouble.
[Jimmy] And she's almost over!
[Corey] Now Natalya trying to eliminate Michelle McCool.
[Jimmy] She has her upper body out, just gotta push those legs--
And she's back in.
Oh my God, so much of the field right now laid out, exhausted.
Liv Morgan on the attack.
[Byron] This is where you really get tested physically and mentally, Jimmy.
How much can you handle the grind, the pressure of the Royal Rumble match?
[Jimmy] It's about who's done their training.
We'll find out who's gonna be fresh right now!
-["Demon In Your Dreams" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] None other than, that's right!
[Byron] Now this is who you call an odds-on favorite.
This is The Nightmare, this is Rhea Ripley!
[Jimmy] Finalist last year, the last one eliminated by Bianca Belair.
She wants it back in a big way.
[Corey] Tonight, The Nightmare with an opportunity
to jump in the express lane
to WrestleMania.
[Byron] Rhea Ripley had seven eliminations last year.
-You said it, Jimmy, one of the final two. -Absolutely not!
[Corey] Where is Rhea going?
[Jimmy] She said, "Absolutely not."
-[Jimmy] Going after Carmella! -[Byron] Get her!
[Jimmy] I'm not entering that ring
before the superstar who came before me.
[Corey] Rhea is paying for it right now.
At the hands of the reigning WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
Queen Zelina and Carmella.
[Jimmy] Good teamwork. Right now trying to send Rhea Ripley maybe over the top.
Oh!
[Corey] Big clothesline by Natalya.
It was like Rhea walked headfirst into a hurricane.
[Jimmy] Rhea right now getting beat up.
And I understand why.
Maybe the strongest competitor in the field right now.
[Corey] Historically speaking, in a match like a Royal Rumble,
the bigger you are, the stronger you are, the bigger the target on your back.
[Byron] Queen Zelina and Carmella having trouble trying to get Ripley off.
-No! -Going for the switch.
She might lift both of them, and she does!
[Corey] No, there's still hope.
[Jimmy] Out on the ring apron.
-No more! -[Byron] Hope has dissipated.
[Corey] Tag Team Champions eliminated together!
Carmella and Queen Zelina!
[Byron] So sorry, Corey. What a statement by Rhea Ripley.
[Morgan screaming]
[Byron] Takes out Morgan.
[Jimmy] Beautiful dropkick on Bianca Belair.
Right now Rhea Ripley cleaning house!
[Corey] Headbutt rocks the jaw of Natalya.
[crowd] Five, four…
[Jimmy] The former Raw Women's Champion in control.
-[Byron] Oh! -[timer buzzes]
-["Recognition" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] We talked about odds-on favorites, gentlemen.
I gotta say this has to be one of those.
Right near the top, The Queen.
[Byron] Number 17.
The SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair.
[Corey] Can you even fathom the confidence it must take
to be the reigning SmackDown Women's Champion,
as Charlotte Flair is,
and voluntarily enter the women's Royal Rumble match
just for the chance to guarantee
your main event spot at WrestleMania?
[Byron] This is Charlotte Flair protecting her investment.
Protecting the SmackDown Women's Championship.
'Cause we know if Charlotte wins the Royal Rumble match,
she will choose who she defends that championship against.
[Jimmy] It looks like Natayla close to being eliminated.
She went over the top rope, now clinging to the apron.
Clinging to that second rope.
It's now three-on-one!
[Byron] Not sure Natalya's gonna last much longer.
[Corey] Natalya with a vice grip on the middle rope right now.
[Byron] Bianca Belair continuing her focus--
[Corey] And Charlotte Flair has entered the equation.
[Jimmy] Leveling her old rival Rhea Ripley.
Right in the middle of the ring.
[Byron] Got Aliyah.
[Corey] There goes Aliyah.
[Jimmy] She's eliminated!
At the hands of Charlotte Flair.
Will the same happen to Liv Morgan?
[Byron] Fallaway slam delivered by Charlotte Flair.
[Corey] Diamonds are forever and so is Charlotte Flair.
[Jimmy] She has wagered so much on this match.
Bet everything on herself.
But that's when Charlotte Flair is at her best.
Respect to Aliyah for hanging nearly 23 minutes
into this women's Royal Rumble matchup.
Only to be unceremoniously eliminated By Ms. Flair.
[Charlotte yells]
-[Corey] Naomi… -[Jimmy] Uh-oh, in powerbomb position.
Exactly where she didn't want to be.
-Over the top. -[Byron] That's it!
[Corey] Naomi still not eliminated.
[Byron] Both feet have to touch the floor.
[Jimmy] Sonya!
[Byron] Get out of there, Sonya.
[Jimmy] Sonya Deville, who is eliminated,
has just pulled Naomi out of the match.
[Byron] Come on!
-[crowd booing] -What?
[Corey] How far does Sonya have to keep going here?
-No, you're eliminated. -[Jimmy] How vindictive can you be?
[referee] You're eliminated.
[Byron] Sonya Deville completely spoiling Naomi's chance to win the Royal Rumble.
[Corey] Right now Charlotte Flair looks intent on spoiling Liv Morgan's dream
of heading to WrestleMania.
Natalya still hanging on on the apron.
Liv trying to fight back into this thing.
[Jimmy] On the attack, trying to put Charlotte Flair on her heels.
As we get another competitor in moments.
[Corey] A little bit of help coming in against Flair.
[Jimmy] Can Charlotte Flair hang on
as Ivory--
[Corey] Wait just a second.
Oh my gosh.
Bite your tongue, mind your manners, Jimmy.
It's about time we had somebody clean up WWE.
[Jimmy] Microphone in hand, she's got something to say.
It has been an awful long time.
[man] Yeah, it has!
[crowd cheering]
But I can see that nothing has changed.
It's hard for me to look at you girls.
What I see
are a lot of wayward, lost little girls.
Lost little girls.
[crowd cheering]
-What I wanna see are women-- -[Corey] Oh no!
Women taking care of their families!
[Jimmy] Moralizing Rhea Ripley not generally a good idea.
Not their Facebook followers!
Don't you touch me. [screams]
[announcers] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
How dare you?!
[Byron] How dare you, Rhea?
[Ivory] Help me!
[Corey] Ivory was out here to right the ship
Of all the wayward members of the WWE Universe.
That's the big picture. I think Ivory is exactly what we need.
[Byron] Why don't you talk to her after the show, Corey?
She didn't lecture you about your mustache which is weird.
Kind of expected that.
[Corey] Resume, uh, back to our regularly schedule action here.
[Jimmy] The countdown has returned.
And Charlotte Flair's almost eliminated.
[Corey] What a feather in the cap of Michelle McCool it would be.
to be the one to eliminated the SmackDown Women's Champion.
["Beautiful Life" playing]
-[announcers] Oh! -[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Bella Army rejoice!
[Jimmy] One half of the Bella twins, a Hall of Famer.
Divas Champion.
She was in her first Royal Rumble 2018.
Talk about not having friends,
eliminated by her sister, if you remember.
Trust no one in the Royal Rumble.
[Corey] One half of the Bella reality empire.
Brie Bella in full-blown Brie mode.
[Byron] How awesome is it to see Brie Bella back?
[crowd chanting] Yes!
[Jimmy] This crowd here in St. Louis loving it.
[crowd chanting] Yes!
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] 44,390 chanting along.
[Byron] Brie mode in full swing.
Maybe an impending elimination of Natalya.
Looks like Natalya over the top rope.
Good luck breaking that grip.
No one's been able to do it yet.
[Corey] Natalya's been the proverbial iron woman here tonight.
-In this Royal Rumble. -[Jimmy] Sliding underneath, veteran move.
[Corey] Natalya could bring an early exit to Brie Bella's WrestleMania dream.
[Jimmy] Gotta get those hips over the top.
[Byron] She's got that left arm hooked, hanging on for dear life with the other.
Fighting her way out.
[Corey] Brie with some well-placed kicks to the back of Natalya's neck.
-Brie still not out of harm's way. -[Byron] That was close.
[Jimmy] Feet not touching the ground.
Charlotte Flair outnumbered two-to-one.
No love lost here.
[Byron] Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley targeting Flair,.
Showing off their dominance.
[Jimmy] The last three last year in the Royal Rumble.
Will they make it two?
[Byron] Flair's on the apron.
[crowd] Eight, seven…
[Jimmy] Have to push Charlotte Flair off. Can they do it?
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
[Jimmy] As we get a brand-new competitor, she's hanging on.
["Hardcore Country" playing]
[Jimmy] Legends are entering the Royal Rumble tonight.
Mickie James!
Impact Women's Champion.
Nothing she hasn't done.
Nothing she hasn't accomplished in the WWE.
[Corey] No stranger to the high stakes and the high pressure of the Royal Rumble.
Or WrestleMania for that matter.
Mickie James knows full well what's at stake right now.
And listen to this place!
[Byron] The WWE Universe-- Oh!
[Corey] Mickie hasn't officially made entry.
[Byron] Remember, there's a lot of history here, Corey,
between Michelle McCool and Mickie James.
[Corey] That's reopened some old wounds.
[Jimmy] Time does not heal all wounds, ladies and gentlemen.
Long memories in the WWE. Look at that!
Beautiful spinning kick right to the ribs.
-This one to the head of Rhea Ripley. -[Byron] One for Ripley.
Liv Morgan goes face-first.
Mickie James looking good.
[Jimmy] Six-time WWE Women's Champion.
[Corey] Mickie would love to carve a path to Dallas, to WrestleMania.
But as this ring fills up, it's not getting any easier.
-[Jimmy] Thinking about the Hurricanrana! -[Byron] Oh my!
-Is it enough? -[Corey] Michelle McCool!
-[Jimmy] She's out! -[Byron] Both feet down!
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Veteran eliminates veteran. No surprise there.
[Byron] Another page written in the rivalry
between Mickie James and Michelle McCool.
-[crowd chanting] Mickie! -[Mickie] I can't hear you!
[Corey] Mickie James all fired up tonight.
[Jimmy] The double-team right now on Rhea Ripley.
[Byron] Watch the back of your screen.
Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair.
[Jimmy] On the ring apron.
Able to counter Bianca Belair just in time.
["Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Party" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[Corey] You wanna get nuts? -[Byron] Oh!
A little awkward, a little erratic.
-[Corey] That's putting it mildly. -[Jimmy] That is a kind way to put it.
As Alicia Fox makes her way to the ring as only she can.
Look at those steps. That is pure confidence, Byron.
[Corey] Former Divas Champion.
[Byron] First African American Divas champion
in WWE history, Alicia Fox.
-Oh! -Wow!
[Jimmy] Look at the height on that kick.
Another one.
[Corey] Foxy bringing the thunder with these early dropkicks.
An axe kick to the back of Mickie's neck.
[Byron] Alicia Fox sporting some new ink, but same attitude.
And same aggression.
-The eye of the tiger! -[Corey] Oh!
Natalya and Alicia both with similar ideas.
[Jimmy] Hurts them both at the same time.
[Corey] Face full of canvas for their troubles.
Charlotte Flair's been on the ring apron, finally back in the ring.
You don't wanna be vulnerable in front of Bianca Belair.
This is where it gets really tough for every competitor,
because you no longer have the real estate of the full ring to operate within.
You have to find your little corner of the ring
and maximize your output.
[Jimmy] Gotta have eyes in the back of your head.
[Corey] Natalya right now.
Almost over. Natalya hanging on again for dear life.
Her grip has been her saving grace so far.
[Byron] Natalya tried to counter to get Charlotte out, to no avail.
[Jimmy] One hand on the rope.
She's barely hanging on.
[Corey] When you're a Superstar like Natalya, like Liv Morgan,
you've been in this ring for so long, endurance truly plays a key.
[timer buzzes]
-["Spirit to Win" playing] -[Jimmy] We'll see who's next.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] The almost-superhero, Nikki A.S.H.
[Jimmy] The recently unpredictable, I guess the best way to say it?
I don't know, I'm looking for the right phrase.
[Corey] Look at Rhea Ripley.
[Byron] Rhea Ripley is waiting for her former partner, Nikki A.S.H.
[Jimmy] The worst thing you could do, takes your eyes off the ball,
when you have a ring full of Superstars--
-[Corey] Whoa! -[Jimmy] She came from next to us!
She didn't go down the ramp!
[Corey] Nikki A.S.H. from behind!
Gonna dump Rhea Ripley over the top!
[Jimmy] She came from timekeepers.
[Byron] Nikki trying to use the element of surprise to eliminated Rhea Ripley.
Gentlemen, I don't think it's gonna work.
Oh! [laughs]
You got nowhere to run now, you little twerp!
[Corey] Rhea telling Nikki, "You got nowhere to run."
Calm down.
-No! -[Corey] Good try, Nikki.
Your game plan backfired.
[Jimmy] The definition of biting off more than you can chew.
She's out the bottom rope.
[Corey] Nikki still not eliminated.
You wanna run?
[Jimmy] Rhea Ripley can't do this.
[Corey] Charlotte Flair from behind.
Charlotte has mixed it up with Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania.
Charlotte Flair knows what Rhea Ripley is all about and is truly capable of.
[Jimmy] Liv Morgan barely hanging on.
Legs tangled around the top rope.
[Byron] Liv Morgan has been in this match over 30 minutes now.
Incredibly performance thus far for Liv Morgan.
[Corey] At this point in a matchup your legs begin to get heavy.
It's tough to catch your breath. Your lungs burn.
It's all about passion and who wants it most.
[Jimmy] Speaking of passion, Rhea Ripley going after Charlotte Flair.
Oh!
-[Rhea] Woooo! -[Corey] Almost blasphemous.
You don't chop Charlotte Flair.
[Jimmy] But if you do, you do it like that.
[Byron] Remember when Charlotte won Royal Rumble a couple years ago?
Challenged Rhea Ripley to the NXT Women's Championship.
-[Jimmy] Lungs burning. -[crowd] Five, four, three…
[Jimmy] Muscles throbbing, aching.
-[timer buzzes] -You get a fresh competitor now.
-["Rush of Power" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Corey] The legends continue, Summer Rae!
[Byron] A fresh competitor who's been out of action for over five years from WWE.
Summer Rae, you know who she's thinking about!
[Jimmy] Exactly. A long, long history
with Natalya-- Going right after her!
No absence of malice between Summer Rae and Natalya.
Summer looks to be in great physical condition.
Gotta wonder how long the layoff from the ring is gonna affect Summer.
[Jimmy] That'll slap the enthusiasm right out of your mouth.
[Corey] That'll slap the features off your face.
[screams]
[Byron] Good grief.
LeRae and Natalya just trying to tear each other apart.
[Jimmy] Step over the wheelkick right to the face.
[screams] What do you think now?
[Corey] In the past, Summer Rae utilized her--
[announcers] Oh!
--legs to great effect.
-As Charlotte Flair has no time for it. -[Byron] How many times have we seen that?
You take time to celebrate, you showboat, and you pay for it in the Royal Rumble.
[Jimmy] Especially from Charlotte Flair. Nobody showboats but me, is her attitude.
And Summer Rae is gone!
-[Corey] Thanks for coming, Summer. -Kiss my ass!
[Corey] Natalya will brag about this for a long time.
[Jimmy] Goodbye, love.
Good send off from Natalya,
but took her eyes off Charlotte Flair.
You can never do that!
[Byron] Natalya may join Summer Rae.
Natalya hanging on with everything in her being.
Charlotte Flair doing her best to break Natalya's grip.
[Jimmy] Something no one's done yet.
Once again her hand save her.
[Corey] Alicia Fox on the top rope for a moment.
[crowd] Two, one.
-[timer buzzes] -[Byron] Who's next?
["You Can Look, But You Can't Touch" playing]
♪ You can look, but you can't touch… ♪
[Byron] The Bella Army is gonna be on their feet now!
[Jimmy] You can't have just one twin.
Nikki Bella making her entrance.
[Byron] Hall of Famer. Longest reigning Divas champion in history.
[Corey] This is sight many thought we would never, ever see again.
Nikki Bella making her entrance into the women's Royal Rumble match.
[Jimmy] Normally, twins, sisters, you'd imagine they would be allies.
I would throw that right out the window now.
We just saw Nikki come to the aid of her sister,
going after Bianca Belair.
Now Natalya!
[Corey] Unfortunately for the Bella twins,
there can only be one winner of the Royal Rumble match.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Nikki Bella bringing her power to the table tonight.
-In great physical condition. -[Jimmy] Something about power?
Something about physical condition? Bianca Belair, oh!
Sisters helping each other out.
-[Byron] Oh! -[Jimmy] Alicia Fox!
[Byron] Not quite.
[Jimmy] Oh! And took her eyes off the Bella twins.
[Byron] Offense--
-Oh! -Oh! Facedown goes Bianca Belair.
That's right!
At this juncture of the Royal Rumble match,
the Bellas could be--
The Three Bellas!
[Jimmy] Oh!
-Yeah, we'll be friends later. -[Corey] Yeah, no.
See you. Bye, Alicia.
[Jimmy] Alicia Fox eliminated by both Bella twins.
Oh!
Thrashing Liv Morgan.
[Byron] A prime opportunity for the Bellas to be fresh at a later stage of the match.
[Superstars grunting]
It's almost like, we'll be a team now…
[crowd] Six, five…
…when we're not a team, we'll work that out later.
Liv Morgan about to go over the top as well.
-Who's next? -[timer buzzes]
-["Blood Wolf" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Byron] What?! -[Corey] Wow.
[Byron] Fresh from the hunting trail.
-Back to the Royal Rumble match. -[Jimmy] That's right!
[Byron] Sarah Logan, number 25.
[Corey] If you talk about powerhouse, you've got to mention Sarah Logan.
Certainly a surprise entry into the women's Royal Rumble match.
[Jimmy] Making a savage entry to the ring.
[Byron] How about this?
Going to the aid of her former Riott Squad partner in Liv Morgan.
Looking for more skins to wear, apparently.
Oh!
[Corey] Double knees takes down Brie Bella.
[Jimmy] Talk about the powerhouse ability that's on display now.
[Byron] Big headbutt right to the forehead of Nikki Bella.
Mickie James trying to eliminate Bianca Belair.
[Corey] This is a blast from the past for Liv Morgan.
[Jimmy] Emotional reunion.
But it doesn't last!
Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan made their arrivals simultaneously
in WWE.
[Byron] Logan!
[Corey] And Sarah makes a--
[Jimmy] As soon as she's in, she is out.
The Bella twins claim another victim.
[Byron] This alliance between Nikki and Brie--
[Jimmy] Trying to go crossbody on the Bella twins.
Will Liv Morgan go as well?
Liv hanging on to Nikki.
-She's taking Nikki with her! -[Byron] Uh-oh!
Brie trying to figure out what to do. Liv Morgan still on the apron.
-[Jimmy] Liv Morgan is out! -[crowd cheering]
[Byron] The heartbreaking moment for Liv Morgan.
This is what it's all about.
[Jimmy] Nothing like the Bella twins rubbing it in.
Liv Morgan survived 37 minutes in the Royal Rumble.
[Jimmy] Valiant effort.
[crowd] Nine, eight…
Oh my God, the ups and down, the twists and turns.
[Byron] I'm starting to sweat over here.
[Jimmy] I'm dying.
[timer buzzes]
-["LoveFuryPassionEnery" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Jimmy] Legends! Icons! -[Byron] Yes! Yes!
[Jimmy] Innovators! Trailblazers!
That is Lita. All of those words, all of those descriptors.
[Byron] Remember a couple of weeks ago on Friday Night SmackDown, Lita--
[Jimmy] Broke the roof off!
[Byron] "I believe in my heart, I've got one more run left in me."
That run would be winning the Royal Rumble and heading to WrestleMania.
[Corey] The roof just came off The Dome at America's Center.
And the women's Royal Rumble match just got taken to the extreme.
[Jimmy] Four-time Women's WWE Champion.
Oh!
WWE Hall of Famer.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Lita is a woman who most of the women competing tonight
looked up to and cited as reasons for why they got into this business.
[Jimmy] She inspired an entire generation.
She's carrying all of that energy with her tonight.
[Corey] Certainly places a huge target on the back of Lita.
Now Lita with an opportunity to break a few more hearts.
[Jimmy] She has Mickie James over the top rope.
Gotta get her off the apron.
[Corey] Mickie and Lita--
[announcers] Oh!
[Jimmy] Beautiful DDT, she's out!
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] That is it.
[Byron] Just like that.
[Corey] Tonight it's Lita making an impact.
[Jimmy] Waving goodbye to Mickie James.
[Byron] Valiant effort by Mickie James.
Lita now coming face to face with the SmackDown Women's Champion.
[crowd cheering]
I'm ready for you.
-No way. -Bring it on.
[Corey] The tension is palpable.
[crowd] Woooo!
[Jimmy] No respect for the trailblazer.
Charlotte Flair going right at her.
It's the greatest of modern times versus one of the greatest of all time.
In the middle of the Royal Rumble match.
Both of these women want to head to WrestleMania.
There's Flair who said that she would retire Lita's dreams.
[timer buzzes]
["Eye of the Hurricane" playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[Byron laughs] Oh! -[Jimmy] Yeah!
♪ It's Mighty Molly… ♪
[Byron] A real superhero!
[Jimmy] I hope Nikki A.S.H. brought her notebook.
[Byron] Mighty Molly!
Tiny and fierce, making her way to the ring.
I feel inspired all of a sudden.
[Corey] Another WWE Hall of Famer entering the fray.
-Grinning from ear to ear-- -[announcers] Oh!
[Corey] Damn it, Nikki!
[Byron] What is wrong with you, Nikki?
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Attacked by Nikki A.S.H.
[Byron] Yeah, jealous much?
[Jimmy] Wow. Once again a cowardly attack.
[Corey] And Mighty Molly driven into the steel rings there.
[Jimmy] She might not be able to even get in the ring.
[Byron] Look how proud of herself Nikki A.S.H. is.
[Corey] Keep an eye on Lita and Charlotte Flair on the top turnbuckle.
Not somewhere anybody wants to be in a matchup like this.
You don't deserve this!
Look at how nobody wants this for you!
[Byron] Nikki A.S.H. incensed.
[Jimmy] Absolutely furious, out of her mind.
[Corey] But Lita now in danger of being sent to the other side.
-There goes Molly officially. -[Jimmy] Molly Holly out!
[crowd booing]
[Jimmy] Attacked and then eliminated by Nikki A.S.H.
[Byron] Just look at the smile on the face of Nikki A.S.H.
[Jimmy] I don't know if that's a smile. I don't know what you call that.
-[Byron] Some sort of satisfaction. -[Jimmy] Ugh.
Bianca Belair.
Limping, favoring that left leg.
But trying to eliminate Rhea Ripley…
[crowd] Nine, eight…
…who is trying to eliminate Brie Bella.
[crowd] Five, four, three…
[Corey] Who shall enter the fray next?
[timer buzzes]
-["Bad Reputation" playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[Byron] Oh! -[Jimmy] Yes!
The icon of combat sports!
[crowd cheering]
The Rowdy One is back!
[Corey] The Baddest Woman on the Planet is back!
[Byron] Are you kidding me?
[Jimmy] The only woman to hold WWE and UFC gold,
and look at the field, they can't believe it either!
[Byron] Ronda Rousey is in the Royal Rumble!
[Jimmy] A look I've seen walk to the cage and the ring so many times.
[Byron] I can't believe what I'm seeing right now, guys!
[Jimmy] This place is rocking!
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] The former Raw Women's Champion, Ronda Rousey--
-[grunts] -[Corey] Oh!
[Jimmy] She's picking up right where she left off.
Combination punches to Nikki A.S.H.
Has her up and over!
But can she get her out?
[Byron] Here comes Brie Bella!
Catches herself on the apron.
[Jimmy] Potential eliminations right in front of her.
[Byron] Oh my.
-Oh my. -[Jimmy] Oh yes!
[grunting] Huh? You wanna listen to me now?
[Corey] Ronda with a modified guillotine on both Nikki Bella and Nikki A.S.H.
[Jimmy] Never seen a double guillotine before.
Superkick, Nikki A.S.H. is done…
[crowd cheering]
…at the hands, at the wrath of Ronda Rousey.
No, please.
-[Byron] 231 day win-- -[Corey] Oh no!
[Jimmy] Oh yes!
-Oh!] -[Corey] What the hell?
[Jimmy] History repeats itself.
Now Ronda Rousey teeing off.
[Corey] Rousey treating Brie Bella like a heavy bag in the corner.
[Jimmy] Nikki Bella eliminated by her sister.
Now Ronda Rousey looking to get rid of the other half of the Bella twins.
[Byron] Now it's about survival for Brie Bella.
[Jimmy] She can't wait for somebody else to come in and maybe be a distraction.
[Byron] Maybe? That's a big maybe, Jimmy.
[crowd] Two, one.
[timer buzzes]
-["I Am A Psycho" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] The X-factor.
The unpredictable.
[Corey] You gotta like Shotzi's opportunity this deep into the matchup.
Number 29.
[Byron] The untamed spirit that is Shotzi.
I agree with you, Corey.
[Jimmy] An edge we've seen in SmackDown
since coming up from NXT, she's been a new kind of competitor.
Oh!
One that doesn't care about making friends, am I wrong?
-[Byron] That attitude served Shotzi well. -[Corey] Oh! Enzuigiri.
[Byron] Taking out Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley,
and now going after Lita.
[Corey] Could you imagine if Shotzi eliminated Lita?
Shotzi has gone on the record many times--
-Oh! -[Jimmy] Both Bella twins gone!
[Corey] At the hands of the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
[Jimmy] Brie Bella finished just after her sister.
Now Ronda Rousey has a new body to beat up in the corner.
[Corey] Rousey has been like a machine.
Constantly moving forward. Rights, lefts.
Knees, elbows.
[Byron] Bianca Belair, guys, has been in the Royal Rumble for now over 40 minutes.
Over 40 minutes!
[Jimmy] She was having trouble breathing before.
When your ribs get pulverized in the corner--
Tie drills, she can do this all night.
[Byron] Bianca Belair on the top rope trying to survive this onslaught.
[Jimmy] Rhea Ripley taking advantage to slug away.
Wouldn't surprise me if it's a two-on-one against Ronda Rousey.
Can't take her on one-on-one.
[Rhea grunts]
[Jimmy] Remember, when she lost last,
her only loss in WWE a triple-threat match.
It is now time to find out who drew number 30!
[timer buzzes]
-["Limb by Limb" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] The submission specialist!
The sadist.
Incredibly experienced in the Royal Rumble.
And a history with Ronda Rousey. An old friend, an old teammate.
[Byron] See the smile right there
on the face of Ronda Rousey at the sight of Shayna Baszler.
[Corey] Big pumpkick knocks Rhea Ripley.
[grunting]
This is a--
Oh! A dynamic duo of pain.
[Byron] A frightening duo.
Shayna Baszler, Ronda Rousey could have their way at this point.
She's tied for the record,
most eliminations in a single Royal Rumble,
with eight, tied with Bianca Belair.
[Corey] But most importantly,
Shayna Baszler is the freshest woman in the ring right now.
She would've been vicious coming in first or second, Corey.
And she came in thirtieth.
[Byron] Baszler was a part of the final two
just two years ago in the Royal Rumble.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Got the smiles on them.
No friends in Royal Rumble.
[Corey] Are we gonna see it now?
[Jimmy] Oh! Charlotte Flair interrupting.
Shiver shot to the jaw.
Oh!
Natalya regretting that one.
[Byron] That was almost disrespectful.
[Jimmy] Fireman's carry of the top.
If anyone can break that grip--
[Byron] Seen Natalya in this position countless times here in this Royal Rumble.
-Shotzi trying to apologize! -[Jimmy] Oh!
[Byron] No apologies needed, Shotzi.
[Corey] Shotzi doing her best to hang on.
[screams]
[Jimmy] Feet haven't touched yet!
And they have now!
Shotzi eliminated by Ronda Rousey.
Can she do the same thing?
-How dare you? -[Jimmy] Modified Americana.
-I'm not gonna put you out that easy. -[Jimmy] Keylock.
[Byron] Belair now from behind.
-[Jimmy] Oh! -[Corey] And Bianca!
[Jimmy] A valiant effort.
[Corey] Bianca gets credit for eliminating Natalya.
But now the EST in trouble.
In the clutches of the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
[Byron] Belair squirming, trying to find some way out of this.
Firing off elbows.
[Jimmy] Natalya? She was just eliminated.
[Corey] Natalya's eliminated.
[Jimmy] Trying to get revenge. Ronda Rousey, "I'll eliminate you twice."
[Corey] Maybe Natalya's looking for the Guinness world record
of most times eliminated in one women's Royal Rumble.
[Byron] That's really interesting, Corey.
[Corey] A record's a record.
[Jimmy] Well, she's got two now.
[Corey] Uh-oh!
-[Jimmy] Yep. Oh! -[Byron] Twist of Fate!
[Corey] A familiar sight for Charlotte Flair.
[Jimmy] But can Lita get Charlotte Flair over the top?
-Has her laid out. -[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Jimmy] Rhea Ripley taking advantage, double-leg into the corner.
What we have left, gentlemen, are the best of the best
in women's WWE--
Look at this! Hurricanrana off the top rope!
[Corey] Cue the "you still got it" chants.
[Byron laughs]
Lita with the running start.
[Corey] Uh-oh. Look at this.
[Jimmy] Rhea Ripley has a legend on her shoulders.
[Byron] Able to kick off Rhea Ripley.
Lita now-- What is Lita thinking?
[Corey] We know exactly what Lita's thinking, Saxton!
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] All the way to the top!
[Jimmy] Will we see-- No!
[Corey] Rhea thwarting Lita's plans for the moment.
[Jimmy] Oh! Beautiful kick right to the jaw!
And out goes Lita, courtesy of Charlotte Flair.
The new generation eliminating the old.
[Byron] True to her words,
Charlotte Flair eliminating Lita from the Royal Rumble match.
[Corey] The field beginning to thin.
Ronda Rousey, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Shayna Baszler.
[Jimmy] Ronda Rousey elevated, exactly where she doesn't wanna be.
[Corey] Rousey very desperately, almost, using her toes to stay inside the ring.
-Look at this! -[Jimmy] Triangle position.
She knows it well!
[Corey] Ronda trying to muscle Rhea over the top rope from the outside.
Almost an omoplata position there.
-[Byron] Flair! Flair! Flair! -[Jimmy] Flair!
Taking advantage.
Rhea Ripley over the top, but feet not down yet.
-They're fighting on the ring apron. -[Byron] If you're still on the apron--
[announcers] Oh!
[Corey] Out goes Rhea Ripley!
[Jimmy] Charlotte Flair on a roll!
Can't deny it.
[Corey] Charlotte Flair sees daylight right now.
Charlotte Flair is about ready-- Oh no!
She sees Bianca Belair lifting her over the top rope!
[Byron] Belair trying to catch Flair off guard.
She got eyes in the back of her head.
[Byron] We are down to the final four, ladies and gentlemen.
Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Shayna Baszler, and Ronda Rousey.
[Jimmy] Every time you think
someone has taken Charlotte Flair's place on the roster,
she fights back and shows them who is number one.
[Byron] Shoulder driven to the gut, boot to Shayna Baszler.
Flair fighting from the apron.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Looks like her eyes are set on Ronda Rousey.
Hurt in the corner-- Oh!
Bianca looked to take Flair out
[Jimmy] Just saved Ronda Rousey.
-[Corey] Uh-oh. -[Jimmy] Kirifuda Clutch!
She's used that before to eliminate competitors.
Belair able to shake Baszler off and muscle Baszler up for a spinebuster.
Off the rope to the backflip.
-Into the Kirifuda Clutch again. -[Byron] Uh-oh. Kirifuda Clutch.
[Corey] It is very difficult if you're Shayna Baszler
to throw an unconscious opponent all the way over the top rope.
[Jimmy] Lifting dead weight is tough. Has her legs over.
[Byron] Trying to build some momentum from the top rope.
Successfully escapes.
[Jimmy] KOD!
[Jimmy] She's got her!
[Corey] Baszler knows what Bianca wants.
And Charlotte Flair…
[Jimmy] Eliminates them both!
[Corey] And then there were two!
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair.
[Byron] Think about this, guys.
Did you think, when this Royal Rumble match started,
the final two would be the SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair,
and Ronda Rousey?
[Corey] Bianca Belair's gotta be heartbroken.
Lasted over 47 minutes.
But it has come down to this.
Two women with a laundry list of history.
Two thirds of a women's main event at WrestleMania.
Rousey, Flair, gonna do it again
at the Royal Rumble.
[Jimmy] Forget history, this is now.
History starts now.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] You can feel the disdain between these two Superstars.
[Jimmy] Who will take their place at WrestleMania?
[Corey] Oh no.
Charlotte Flair has seen that look in Rousey's eyes before.
And it does not end well.
[Byron] Charlotte Flair charging, getting caught by Rousey!
Little too aggressive.
-Ronda Rousey underneath! -[Byron] Oh!
-[Jimmy] She's eliminated! -[bell rings]
Ronda Rousey reigns supreme!
["Bad Reputation" playing]
[Rome] The winner of the Royal Rumble match,
and the person who will main event WrestleMania,
is "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey!
[Corey] We knew she was the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
And now, once again,
she's the baddest woman to headline WrestleMania.
[Byron] We had not seen Ronda Rousey in action
since she lost the Raw Women's Championship
at WrestleMania a couple years ago.
Now what a way to make your return.
Ronda Rousey has punched her ticket to the main event.
[Corey] Charlotte Flair did everything in her power
to eliminate Ronda Rousey earlier in the matchup.
Bianca Belair thwarted that attempt for Flair.
But here are the closing moments.
An overzealous Charlotte Flair would pay
at the hands of the Baddest Woman on the Planet,
as Ronda Rousey shocks the world once again.
[Byron] A jaw-dropping, headline-grabbing moment.
Ronda Rousey enters the Royal Rumble match
and Ronda Rousey wins the Royal Rumble match.
[Corey] We know everything's bigger in Texas.
But this year, when it comes to WrestleMania,
it just got a whole lot badder too.
["Bad Reputation" continues playing]
[Byron] Ronda Rousey came here with a mission.
And now it is the main event of WrestleMania that awaits
the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
[Jimmy] She's smiling now.
But I'm telling you, that smile will not last.
She is all business.
♪ I only feel good when I got no pain ♪
♪ And that's how I'm gonna stay ♪
♪ And I don't give a damn About my bad reputation ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ Oh, no ♪
♪ Not me ♪
[Corey] Congratulations to "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey.
[crowd cheering]
Royal Rumble week here in St. Louis.
We went around the St. Louis area to honor so many great organizations
that are doing tremendous work for their communities.
We went over the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club
for an inspiration "Be A Star" rally.
Be a star!
[Titus] And finally, we got to partake in a powerlifting event
with our friends from the Special Olympics.
WWE, when they come into a community,
they truly leave a lasting legacy.
[upbeat music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] As stunned as we are, we're not finished yet at Royal Rumble.
We gotta regroup, get our energy back.
We got an incredible title fight coming up.
["I Does It" playing]
[Jimmy] We know Doudrop, we know her well, Byron.
[Byron] Incredible opportunity, to say the least, for Doudrop.
Who has spent weeks complaining,
"I'm tired of seeing the same ladies
getting the same opportunity at a championship."
"This is my night for my championship."
[Jimmy] One thing Becky Lynch can't say is she hasn't felt the power of Doudrop.
[Corey] Doudrop has wasted no time
making sure that Becky Lynch knows exactly what Doudrop is capable of.
And that Doudrop fully intends to leave St. Louis
as the Raw women's champion tonight.
Nobody's been able to beat me for this title
for nearly three years--
-I'm telling you. -Don't you--
[both grunting]
[referee] Hey, hey!
-Come on! -Knock it off!
[all yelling]
-[referee 1] Hey! Come on. -[referee 2] Back it up.
[Corey] This opportunity is deeply personal for Doudrop.
Doudrop's actually cited Becky Lynch
as one of her inspirations in this business.
Doudrop has walked a very similar path
without all of the glitz, glamor and glory as Lynch.
Tonight Doudrop has a chance to change that.
[Byron] WWE Royal Rumble is delivered with DoorDash.
Get more from your neighborhood.
And present by
Cricket, everything you want, including the price.
[Corey] Everything Doudrop wants is right in front of her.
Tonight a golden opportunity.
But the Royal Rumble about to be sent to the stratosphere.
["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[Corey] WWE Universe, welcome to the big time!
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
[Jimmy] When the lights are brightest, that's when Becky Lynch shines the most.
Let me list it off for you.
Day 1, Liv Morgan.
Survivor Series, Charlotte Flair.
Crown Jewel, Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks.
SummerSlam, Bianca Belair.
Big event, big performance, that's what she does.
[Corey] Here's the difference.
While it may be an inspirational tale
of what Doudrop had to go through to get to this point,
Becky Lynch has walked the same exact path.
Becky Lynch found her way to the top of the mountain
by scratching, by clawing, by occasionally taking a shortcut.
But Becky Lynch will be damned if she allows any woman on the planet
to knock her off the top of the mountain.
[Byron] The stats are amazing no matter how you feel about Becky Lynch.
Every day as an active competitor since WrestleMania 35,
that's nearly three years that Becky Lynch has been a champion.
[Jimmy] One thing you gotta remember, as this kicks off,
Becky Lynch essentially chose Doudrop.
She interfered in a triple-threat
that had Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, and Doudrop.
She chose this match.
I don't know if she regrets it now.
[Corey] Pressure can make a competitor crumble or make a diamond.
Look at Becky Lynch.
-Like the Hope Diamond. -[bell rings]
The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the Raw Women's Championship!
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger,
Doudrop!
[crowd booing]
[Rome] And her opponent,
she is the Raw Women's Champion,
Becky Lynch!
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Confident smirk on the face of the champion.
Tells you everything you need to know.
[Byron] I wanna touch on a point you brought up earlier, Jimmy.
Becky Lynch wanted Doudrop.
I think Becky Lynch looked at Doudrop,
she's still a rookie here on Raw,
I can outsmart her, I can defeat her psychologically.
But I think Doudrop has forced a little bit of pause for Becky Lynch.
[Jimmy] Byron, let me crush that narrative for you.
Doudrop may be new to WWE,
but this isn't Doudrop's first time around the block.
Doudrop has been in some battles all over the globe
to earn this opportunity.
[Jimmy] Finalist in the Queen's Crown tournament.
Was at Crown Jewel, of course, coming up short to Queen Zelina.
She's an incredible athlete.
Strong, fast, technical.
But to your point, Byron,
I thought Becky Lynch thought
she would have the psychological advantage over Doudrop.
And Doudrop so far has shown no fear.
[Byron] Doudrop has proved Becky Lynch wrong.
Doudrop has shown her willingness to play dirty
when it comes to Becky Lynch.
[Jimmy] Every now and then it's been a source of frustration to Becky Lynch.
She hasn't been able to break the mentality of Doudrop.
[Byron] Not a smart strategy for Lynch.
-You're not going to overpower Doudrop. -[announcers] Oh!
[Corey] Look out.
She loves the crossbody from this position.
We've seen this over and over, when confronted by Doudrop,
she takes a walk.
She composes herself.
[Corey] This is the strategy of a champion.
This is what Becky Lynch does.
When the lights are the brightest, Becky Lynch outshines them all.
[Byron] She needs some time to mentally--
[announcers] Oh!
[Corey] Big kick to the back of the ear.
Becky Lynch headed up top.
Oh, and a nasty shot from Doudrop.
[Jimmy] Doudrop fast enough to get there.
This is the power side of Doudrop.
She's a wrecking machine in there.
Doudrop, come on. In the center.
[Jimmy] Doudrop picking up speed!
Oh, great move just in time by Becky Lynch.
[Corey] And a headbutt sends the champion down.
I do not like the position right now.
-That Becky Lynch is in. -[Corey] Uh-oh!
[Byron] "Uh-oh" is right!
[Jimmy] Once again, a bit of a time out by Becky Lynch.
She wants none of that position underneath Doudrop.
[Corey] Every time Becky Lynch takes a walk to the outside,
it throws Doudrop off of her own game.
[Byron] What were you saying?
[Jimmy] Doudrop able to come back.
I think she knows the magnitude of this match,
Royal Rumble title opportunity.
[Corey] Running forearm. Doudrop staggers, but answers.
[Jimmy] Just for a second.
Normally that move would send you out of the ring.
[Byron] Doudrop has been able to maintain
significant control over the Raw Women's Champion.
[Jimmy] Third time she's taken a break.
[referee] One!
[Byron] Becky Lynch once again left to kind of wonder, "What do I do?"
-"How do I overcome--" -[Jimmy] You can't hide any-- Oh!
-Yikes! -[referee] One!
[Jimmy] Smashing right into the steel steps.
[Corey] Tremendous impact.
Doudrop's entire body.
You see Doudrop clutching at her knee.
[Jimmy] Count is now halfway.
[Corey] Let's take another look at this.
Lynch out of the way in the nick of time.
And that could be the turning point in this matchup.
[Jimmy] Becky Lynch trying to make it the turning point.
[Byron] This is the biggest opening
Becky Lynch has had in this match against Doudrop.
Better take advantage of it.
[Jimmy] Starting to fire up, starting to get upset.
[Corey] If you're Doudrop, you have to realize
you're likely only gonna get one strike.
You usually only have the chance to make one mistake
when you're dealing with a Superstar the caliber of Becky Lynch.
And I think the impact with the stairs on the outside
was the one mistake Doudrop could afford to make.
Because right now the Raw Women's Champion is making the challenger pay.
[Jimmy] Yeah, Becky Lynch making the most of it.
You have a bigger, stronger opponent in front of you.
Slow them down, use the chin lock,
take the energy out of them.
But don't get into a tug of war with Doudrop.
[Byron] Keeping Doudrop grounded was the best opportunity for Becky Lynch.
[Corey] Lynch, I believe, wanted a crossbody--
[Jimmy] Whatever she wanted, she's in a horrible position now.
Good transition by Becky Lynch to the back of Doudrop.
[Byron] Sleeper hold applied on Doudrop
in the center of the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Doudrop has to keep moving.
You don't wanna go to the floor in this position.
Don't wanna get flattened out belly down.
[Corey] Doudrop slowly, slowly could be fading.
-You say it, Doudrop? Do you give up? -She's not allowed.
[Jimmy] Can she get the tap or will Doudrop go out?
[Byron] Doudrop, I think she is going out, Jimmy.
[Jimmy] It's that left arm, she's still holding herself up.
But she is suffering in there.
[both grunting]
[Corey] Smart move by the veteran Lynch.
Obstructing the official's view to
to rake at the face and forehead of Doudrop.
[Jimmy] Going after the eyes.
Doudrop, are you staying?
[Corey] Becky Lynch…
[Byron] Can you imagine if Becky Lynch were able defeat Doudrop?
With a sleeper hold? Never mind.
Change those plans.
Doudrop back to her feet.
[Jimmy] You can get choked out standing up.
I've seen it happen pretty recently. Oh!
Look at that. Nice escape by Doudrop.
[Byron] Not much was taken out of Doudrop.
[Jimmy] Once again a great escape by Becky Lynch.
[Corey] Now it's Lynch who's wasting no time.
[Jimmy] Eyes targeted on the challenger.
Oh! Drop kick off the top rope. Doudrop laid out.
-Shoulders down. -[Byron] Only a one count.
Barely got even that.
[Corey] The psychological turbulence that's gotta cause for the champ.
Missile dropkick delivered.
And only able to get a count of one on to Doudrop.
I'm the fricking champion.
I set that sign on fire!
'Cause I am straight fire!
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] You talk about what she went through to get here.
Becky Lynch, she's drawing on all of that right now
when she's looking at Doudrop.
You don't know who you're in here with!
Do you understand me?
-Back it up. -Do you understand me?!
-[Corey] Uh-oh. -You don't understand.
You've been waiting for this for 15 years.
I've been waiting my whole life.
-[grunts] -[Corey] Oh!
[Byron] You know what happened last time Becky Lynch disrespected Doudrop.
[Jimmy] Oh! Up in the air.
[Corey] In a match like this it's brilliant strategy.
Becky Lynch is trying to get under Doudrop's skin.
Because there's a thing called champion's advantage.
[Byron] That was a brilliant strategy, but--
[Corey] If you would shut up and let me finish a thought.
If Becky Lynch gets Doudrop to disqualify herself,
or get counted out, guess what happens.
Becky Lynch is still champion.
-[Byron] Or Becky gets pinned. -[Jimmy] Cover!
Forget disqualifications. Looking for the one, two, three.
Can't get it.
[Byron] Credit Doudrop.
She came into this match not only physically prepared for Becky Lynch,
but mentally prepared.
Watch the devastating impact.
[Corey] I don't know how Becky Lynch doesn't have a fractured rib or two
after this sort of impact.
I would be willing to bet Lynch probably has.
[Jimmy] Absolutely crushed her.
And she is still down.
Doudrop, if she can recover a little bit quicker,
this might be hers.
[Byron] The wheels are turning for Doudrop.
Trying to figure out her next form of attack.
[Corey] Look at this impact once again.
All of Doudrop connecting with the champion.
[Jimmy] Right now, top of your screen, dis-arm-her is in.
Doudrop's in trouble.
[Byron] And it is deep!
[Jimmy] Looking to get the submission on Doudrop.
It's in.
[Corey] Doudrop in serious trouble here with the dis-arm-her cinched in.
[Jimmy] This is something you can't just power your way out of.
-[Byron] Or is it? -[Corey] What was that, Jimmy?
-Nice move. -[Jimmy] Good transition.
[Corey] Great move by Lynch, and look at this.
Battering Doudrop.
[Jimmy] Trying to get that arm straight.
It's in. Keep the thumb up and she can finish right here.
[Byron] Doudrop still a distance away from that rope.
Doudrop once again repositioning herself.
[Corey] Lynch's shoulders down.
-[Jimmy] Right into the triangle. -[Byron] Whoa!
[Jimmy] Rampaging her way out of that one.
-Shoulders down! -One, two--
[Jimmy] Almost three.
[Byron] Last possible second, Becky Lynch escapes.
[Corey] This is the difference between being good and great.
We look at the impact.
Look at the fear on the face of the champion in this instance.
Thunderous powerbomb.
But Becky Lynch simply knows how to survive.
[Byron] I don't know. I'm starting to feel something, Corey.
I'm almost starting to feel like Becky Lynch is on her last legs here.
You almost feel like the championship starting to fade away
from Becky Lynch.
[Jimmy] If Doudrop is gonna take that championship,
she has to be aggressive now.
[Byron] Lynch just crumpled in the corner.
[Jimmy] Look at that momentum. That might be it, to your point, Byron.
Off the ropes, cover!
One, two--
[Jimmy] Kickout once again.
-Come on! -[Jimmy] Just in time for Becky Lynch.
But not a lot of energy on that kickout.
[Byron] Not at all.
Quite frankly, I'm shocked Becky Lynch was even able to kick out.
[Corey] Take a look at this. Doudrop utilizing her weight.
Crushing the champion in the corner.
Watch this!
[Byron] Oh.
[Corey] Doudrop's hip right in the side of the champ's face.
And now Doudrop looking to inflict a little more damage.
Headed to the middle rope!
This could do it!
Oh! Great counter just in time by Becky Lynch.
[Byron] Lynch having the wherewithal to get both knees up,
but what does Lynch have left now to will herself on?
[Corey] The Raw Women's Championship.
The same reason Becky Lynch wakes up every morning.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] She's on the top rope. Doudrop in her sights!
Lynch ready to fly.
-Oh! -[Corey] And she does!
On target!
Two!
[Jimmy] Oh! Almost retaining.
[Corey] Lynch having to reach deep into her arsenal.
In fact, borrowing someone else's.
Little homage.
The Molly-go-round from the top rope.
Pinning the challenger's shoulders.
But Doudrop able to escape before the count of three.
[Byron] Look at what's happening. Becky Lynch almost in disbelief.
Almost shaking that she wasn't able to put Doudrop away.
-[Becky grunts] -That's enough, Becky.
[Jimmy] Emotions getting the better of her.
She is absolutely furious, but taking it out on Doudrop.
Let's go.
[Corey] Again, if Becky gets herself disqualified,
she's still the champion.
Lynch is playing with house money right now.
[Jimmy] Has to finish that attack in five seconds.
You heard the referee counting. That one was close.
[Byron] Doudrop draped over the middle rope!
[Jimmy] Out of the way just in time. Brutal headbutt.
-Did I say "headbutt"? -[Byron] Yeah. Completely unleashing.
Three.
[Corey] Becky Lynch's brains certainly well-scrambled at the moment.
But Doudrop needs to get back inside the ring
and somehow figure out a way to pin Becky Lynch
or make Becky Lynch submit to become Raw Women's Champion.
[Jimmy] Oh boy.
[Byron] Doudrop trying to suplex Becky Lynch to the outside.
Lynch desperately trying to fight off the challenger.
[Jimmy] Using those hips. Great reversal!
Bouncing her throat off the top rope.
-[screaming] -[referee] Off the hair.
[Corey] Oh no. Doudrop with a fistful of hair from the outside.
One, two!
[Byron] Lynch now trying to muscle-- Oh!
Able to do it.
[Corey] Oh my goodness.
[Jimmy] Laid up over the top rope.
Leg drop from the top.
Down goes Doudrop. Cover by the champion.
[Byron] Pulls her off the rope. One, two!
[Jimmy] Just in time, a kickout by Doudrop.
Once again, Becky Lynch just can't believe what Doudrop can take. Look at this.
[Corey] Lynch with a legdrop right across the challenger's neck.
Doudrop spilling down the hard way.
But not enough to end this just yet.
You have to imagine, gentlemen,
the deeper this matchup goes, the more it favors Becky Lynch.
Get up!
[Corey] Seems like Becky Lynch has found another level of determination
against Doudrop.
Trying to go for the manhandle slam.
[Jimmy] This has never worked before.
Every time, Doudrop has countered. She does it again.
[announcers] Oh!
[Jimmy] That might be it.
Cover by Doudrop!
Will we have a new champion?
-No! -[wails]
-[crowd cheering] -[yells]
[Corey] Take a look at this. Doudrop hoisting up the champ.
Driving Lynch down to the mat.
And very nearly becoming the new Raw Women's Champion.
[Byron] A pendulum of momentum swinging back and forth
between challenger and champion.
[Jimmy] She's tried it several times before.
[Corey] This'll stop the pendulum and smash the damn clock.
[Byron] Able to kick Becky Lynch off. Becky Lynch again.
[Corey] Chop block.
-[Corey] This is… -[Jimmy] Yeah.
-No… -[Corey] From the second--
-Oh! -[Jimmy] Manhandle slam!
[Corey] That's gotta do it.
-[Jimmy] One, two, three! -[crowd] One, two, three!
-[Jimmy] Still the champion! -[bell rings]
-["Celtic Invasion" playing]
[Rome] Here is your winner, and still the Raw Women's Champion,
Becky Lynch!
[Jimmy] She digs, she perseveres,
and she always finds more, that's why she's the champion.
[Corey] I tell you what, gentlemen, I am impressed.
I am impressed with the performance of the Raw Women's Champion tonight.
Becky Lynch still-- Oh! --your champion.
[Jimmy] And delivering this, a manhandle slam
from the middle rope.
Absolutely remarkable.
[Corey] When the lights are the brightest, Becky Lynch is at her absolute best.
Month after month,
year after year.
The Raw Women's Championship isn't going anywhere.
[Byron] A game effort from Doudrop.
[Byron] Certain moments there
where I thought we were gonna have a new Raw Women's Champion.
-But Becky Lynch does it again. -My next one will be against you!
[Jimmy] Becky Lynch saying Doudrop my be the future,
but I'm the present of this division.
-["Celtic Invasion" continues playing] -You shut it too! I'll beat you up too!
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
-[dramatic music playing] -[narrator] They're bold.
Inspiring.
Powerful.
WWE Official Championships.
Feel like a champion.
And so much more.
[crowd cheering]
[Rome] Ladies and gentlemen,
we are proud to announce tonight's attendance,
here at The Dome at America's Center for Royal Rumble.
-Forty-four thousand-390! -[crowd cheering]
["Ballin" playing]
[Corey] WWE Universe out in full effect here at The Dome
at America's Center.
[Rome] St. Louis and the WWE Universe,
we thank you!
♪ Catch me swervin' Burning hundred dollar bills… ♪
[Corey] Absolutely incredible night it has been thus far
here at the Royal Rumble.
We still got a lot more to go.
But before we get there we want to send a special thank you to Logic for "Ballin."
An official theme song of the Royal Rumble.
It's from the album YS Collection, Volume 1.
And it's available right now on Apple Music and Spotify.
["Ballin" continues playing]
[Corey] But coming up next, it is a battle two decades in the making.
A collision with consequences.
As The Almighty, Bobby Lashley,
challenges The Beast Incarnate for the WWE Championship.
[dramatic music playing]
[narrator] All great warriors are born of the forge.
Shaped by the heat of the fire.
And tried in the brutality of combat.
Here begins the story of two such warriors.
The Great Plains often invoke idyllic dreams
of an unending cascade of crops and green pastures.
But in the winter,
these dreams are overtaken by the harsh reality
of desolation and decay.
It is here that the heart of a beast was forged
and a conqueror was born.
Brock Lesnar.
A two-time NCAA All-American in wrestling.
With over 100 victories.
And the NCCA Division 1 heavyweight champion.
[man] The Next Big Thing!
[narrator] And in a mere five months after his debut…
[announcer] An F-5 to The Rock!
…WWE champion.
After ravaging every challenger WWE placed in front of him,
The Beast would head to the UFC,
where just three fights into his career,
he would reign supreme as the UFC heavyweight champion.
Upon returning to WWE,
The Beast's path of devastation continued to grow.
Taking 16-time WWE champion John Cena
on a one-way ticket to suplex city.
Ending The Undertaker's hallowed WrestleMania undefeated streak…
You did it!
…and cementing his dominance as a three-time Universal
and current six-time WWE champion.
Quite simply, Brock Lesnar is a beast without limits,
without remorse,
without fear.
[dramatic music playing]
[man] Bobby Lashley is the single most terrifying man
in the entire WWE.
[narrator] Discipline,
restraint,
control.
It is from these fires that The Almighty was forged.
Son of a U.S. Army drill sergeant,
Bobby Lashley learned from an early age
that only by rigorously harnessing his natural ability
would he achieve the greatness that he sought.
A three-time NAIA national wrestling champion,
Lashley would follow his father's footsteps into the Army,
and continue to hone his craft
on his way to winning gold in the Armed Forces Championship.
Lashley would emerge in WWE a peak physical specimen.
Capable of unleashing a torrent of power and ferocity.
But while Lashley would find championship gold,
he couldn't quite find that next level.
A sojourn into mixed martial arts would reignite Lashley's flame,
as he racked up a 15 and two record.
Including an undefeated run in Bellator.
Lashley would return to WWE
and this time The Almighty would unleash absolute havoc.
Opponent after opponent cut down by a vicious arsenal of high-impact moves,
headlined by the devastating Hurt Lock,
en route to Lashley becoming a two-time United States Champion,
two-time Intercontinental Champion,
and ultimately WWE Champion.
And now The Almighty is ready for the one challenge that has eluded him.
The one battle we thought we may never see.
With all due respect,
for 20 years
you have been ducking and running from me.
[laughs]
[Brock] With all due respect,
I must apologize, Bobby.
Because if we had met,
I would've already beaten you.
And we wouldn't be here right now.
[narrator] Tonight, at Royal Rumble,
The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis
bares witness to Brock Lesnar, an unbeatable beast…
[Brock] It's impossible to beat Brock Lesnar
when you're a Brock Lesnar wannabe.
…versus Bobby Lashley,
an almighty challenger.
This will be the shortest title run of your entire career.
And that's not a prediction.
That's a spoiler.
[narrator] In two decades,
the paths of The Beast and The Almighty have never crossed.
But now each of these warriors,
forged in flame, forged in battle,
forged in gold,
will fight with the ultimate prize on the line,
but only one will emerge from the forge WWE Champion.
[crowd cheering]
["Titan" playing]
[Jimmy] This is the one we've been waiting for.
Every fan I have talked to
says, "I cannot wait to see "The Almighty" Bobby Lashley
taking on The Beast Incarnate."
[Corey] If you're not excited right now, you'd better check your pulse.
There are very few dream matches left in this industry.
And we are moments away from perhaps the biggest.
[Byron] We've seen the training videos.
We have seen the effort
this man, Bobby Lashley, has put forth for this night.
And I guarantee you, without hesitation,
Bobby Lashley will tell you
that this is the most important night of his professional career.
[Corey] There is zero fear in the heart of The Almighty.
Bobby Lashley views himself as the yin to Brock Lesnar's yang.
Two modern day juggernauts
about to collide for the richest prize on Monday Night Raw.
[Jimmy] I fear the champion Bobby Lashley,
I am terrified of the challenger Bobby Lashley.
The only thing that's ever stopped him has been himself.
The focus that Brock Lesnar has given him,
I think, has taken him to another level.
[Byron] It's as simple as this,
Bobby Lashley has been disrespected for weeks
by Brock Lesnar.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Bobby Lashley himself said,
"To be able to look in Brock Lesnar's eyes and realize that Brock has no soul,
that excites Bobby Lashley."
Lashley is a different breed of human being.
[Jimmy] I was there for his undefeated run in Bellator.
I saw him shred opponents,
destroy them, put them through the canvas,
shatter their legs with one takedown.
That's what this guy is capable of.
[Corey] But Lashley himself will admit
he has never stepped in the ring with anyone quite like The Beast.
[crowd cheering]
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Watching Bobby Lashley pace around the ring,
who would possibly want to get in there with him?
Who would be smiling about it? Who would be joking about it?
Who can't wait to do it?
This man, the WWE Champion,
Brock Lesnar, that's who.
[Corey] Accompanied by his advocate, Paul Heyman.
Lesnar staring a hole through his challenger.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Why is he scarier when he's smiling?
Scarier when he's joking.
[Corey] I can assure you, Jimmy,
Brock Lesnar is in a sanguinist mood tonight in St. Louis,
no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
And while verbally Brock Lesnar may have disrespected Bobby Lashley,
I promise you, the WWE champion, Brock Lesnar,
knows exactly what he is in store for tonight.
This is gonna be a battle.
This is gonna be a war.
[Byron] Think about this though.
This is a situation Brock Lesnar has never been in.
Lesnar has never dealt with an opponent who has literally spent years
publicly campaigning to fight him.
[Jimmy] Because there has never been a Superstar crazy or stupid enough
to want to fight Brock Lesnar under and circumstance.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] That is battle number one.
These are men who are used to being feared, not feeling fear.
The one who takes a backwards step,
that's the one that's gonna be on their back heels the entire time.
[Corey] I fully expect this to be a quick fight.
Someone's going to sleep in a hurry.
One way or another.
[bell rings]
The following contest, scheduled for one fall,
is for the WWE championship!
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger,
accompanied to the ring by MVP,
"The Almighty"
Bobby Lashley!
[crowd cheering]
And his opponent, from--
[crowd cheering]
Ladies and gentlemen,
my name is Paul Heyman.
Introducing tonight,
at 286 pounds,
the Bobby-Bashing "Beast,"
the mauler of "The Almighty,"
the reigning, defending,
undisputed WWE heavyweight champion
of the world,
Brock Lesnar!
[crowd cheering]
[speaking indistinctly]
[Jimmy] As if Brock Lesnar needed more hype, more confidence,
he just got it from Paul Heyman.
[Corey] It's a match that is no longer a fantasy.
No longer a figment of your imagination.
It's about to get real.
In about a second or two, the WWE Championship on the line.
-Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley. -[bell rings]
[Jimmy] This is the Ali-Frazier of sports entertainment right now.
[Corey] I got to speak to MVP earlier today.
MVP assured me that Lashley is more than prepared for The Beast Incarnate.
Lashley added several pounds of muscle over the past several weeks,
and Lashley feels confident that the longer this matchup goes,
the more it benefits The Almighty.
Look for Lashley to drag Lesnar into the deep waters,
which is something I never thought I'd say.
[Jimmy] Yeah, Heath Herring thought that, Shane Carwin thought that.
I've seen a lot of guys think, "This big guy will run out of gas soon."
And he doesn't.
Surprising gas tank for Brock.
[Byron] Look at this situation.
Both these men jockeying for position.
Trying to overpower the other.
[Corey] Pummeling one another in center ring, and a clean break.
[Jimmy] His NCAA championship against Wes Hand of Iowa.
Overtime, long match, Brock won that too.
[Corey] Notice how the expression on the champion's face
has shifted in a matter of moments.
Lesnar realizing what this is about.
This is for the WWE Championship.
This is for supremacy.
[Jimmy] How often does Brock Lesnar lock up with somebody and not--
[announcers] Oh!
[Jimmy] Immediately getting advantage.
[Corey] And how often has Bobby Lashley been German suplexed with that much ease?
[Byron] Lashley right back to his feet.
And the expression has not changed.
[Corey] Yeah, Lashley right back to his feet almost instantly.
[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] Yeah, but message sent.
You lock up with me,
I'm gonna throw you in a way you've never been thrown in your life.
[Byron] After his debut at Minnesota, I said, "What do you bench?"
He said, "Whatever I want."
[announcers] Oh!
-[Byron] Goodness! -[Jimmy] Suplexing Bobby Lashley!
[Corey] Wow.
German suplex all the way across the ring.
[Byron] Brock's gotta respect that.
Take a look at the strength.
Hoisting up 286 pounds of The Beast Incarnate.
[Corey] High across the back of Lesnar's neck.
Brock has recovered,
but what a warning shot that was from The Almighty.
[Jimmy] Five-point throw.
[Corey] Remember at WWE Day 1
Lashley managed to put the Hurt Lock on Lesnar.
Oh! Lesnar hangs on.
[Jimmy] Held on, put his shoulders to the canvas for a sec.
Oh! Number two!
[Corey] Lashley's gonna be lucky if he didn't dislocate a shoulder.
[Byron] Are you kidding me?
Lashley back to his feet again.
[Jimmy] German suplex contest.
Lashley just looks irritated more than anything.
Also his pride is wounded.
It's the whole point of moves like this.
[Corey] Kick to the midsection by Lashley. Lashley delivering the first right hands.
Lesnar on the ropes, Lashley continuing to soldier forward.
[Jimmy] Bobby Lashley saying, "I'm through grappling."
Time to put your head throw the ropes.
Looking for the F-5 early!
It only takes one.
[Byron] Lashley able to slip behind.
-Spear! -Spear!
Right to the guts of Bobby Lashley.
[Corey] And Lashley not even going for the cover.
Bobby Lashley has that much respect,
knowing it's gonna take more to keep Lesnar down.
[Jimmy] More like this!
Second spear!
[Byron] And that'll send Lesnar all the way to the outside of the ring.
[Jimmy] He is hurt.
[Corey] The unfamiliar sight of The Beast Incarnate in retreat.
Let's take a look at this.
First, Lashley able to escape the F-5,
and then boom!
Massive spear to the rib cage of the champion.
[Jimmy] Lashley on the outside.
[Corey] Little déjà vu!
-[Jimmy] Hunting down Lesnar! -[Byron] Oh!
[Jimmy] Brock Lesnar learned his lesson!
And Bobby Lashley solo into the timekeeper's area.
[Byron] Was that a game-changing mistake in this matchup for Bobby Lashley?
[Corey] It might be. He is definitely hurt.
Let's take a look at this impact.
You're right, Lashley managed to spear Lesnar through the barricade at Day 1.
Tonight, the champion a step ahead.
And that could make all the difference.
Lesnar wants to end this.
[Jimmy] It's Bobby Lashley sending Brock
right into the ring post.
Bobby Lashley just went through a barricade.
-Bobby Lashley is back on the offensive. -[Jimmy] Sprang right back up.
[Corey] Two terminators doing battle for the WWE Championship.
[Jimmy] Slick move by Brock.
Deceptively fast.
Everybody who takes him on says the same thing.
[Corey] Lesnar now with an opening to capitalize upon.
[Byron] Has him right where he wants him.
[Corey] Lashley trying to hook those arms.
Brock wants to take Lashley to suplex city once again.
[Jimmy] The one place you don't wanna visit. Oh!
[Corey] Now Lashley down for a little longer.
Lashley slow to get up.
[Byron] This is where Brock Lesnar thrives.
[Jimmy] Getting his second, with another.
Beautiful German suplex.
[Corey] Each one worse than the prior.
[Byron] Lesnar begins to smell blood.
Begins to sense the vulnerability in his opponent.
[MVP] Bobby, get back in this fight!
[Byron] Smiling now.
-All business is the WWE Champion. -[Byron] Oh! Jeez.
[Corey] As the confidence of the champion grows,
the bleaker the odds for the challenger.
[Byron] We've seen this scene so many times.
[Jimmy] For Bobby Lashley, when an intimidator fails to intimidate,
he becomes intimidated.
Bobby Lashley not used to being on the receiving end of this kind of throw.
[Corey] Lesnar trying to muscle up Lashley.
[Jimmy] Does it again!
If he covered, this might be over now.
Bobby Lashley definitely hurt.
[Corey] Is this where Bobby Lashley's championship aspirations
begin to dissipate?
[Jimmy] Look a the sneer on the face of Brock Lesnar.
You thought you were on my level?
He called him a wannabe, somebody that wants to be me.
You're not someone who can beat me, there's a difference.
[Corey] The scary part right now is Brock Lesnar is operating on his watch.
-His-- -[announcers] Oh!
[Byron] Striking at will.
German suplex after German suplex
on Bobby Lashley.
[Jimmy] I'm worried about the strength of our ring canvas.
[Corey] Lesnar promised to maul The Almighty.
Right now the WWE Champion is living up to the promise.
Let's look at this again.
Massive German suplex on the shoulder to The Almighty.
[Byron] Takes so much out of you to take a throw like that.
Now looking to finish it with the F-5.
-[Jimmy] Lashley just having-- -[Corey] Uh-oh!
Into the Hurt Lock!
It's locked in!
The Hurt Lock, middle of the ring!
The Beast is in trouble!
[Byron] How in the world did Lashley get the Hurt Lock cinched in to Lesnar?
[Byron] What could it mean if he could make Brock Lesnar submit?
Middle of the ring, nowhere near the ropes!
[Corey] The Conqueror is fading.
[Byron] Brock Lesnar could be moments away from losing!
[Jimmy] Agony on the face of Brock Lesnar.
He's gotta do something to get out of this.
[Corey] Beast is trapped!
There is desperation on the face of Brock Lesnar.
The Almighty cranking with everything in his being.
[Jimmy] Brock might be out, he is fading fast.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Lashley is holding on for dear life.
-[Jimmy] Trying to get to the rope. -Do you tap?
[Jimmy] He sees it but he can't get to it.
Are you good, Brock?
[Byron] Lesnar trying to--
[Jimmy] Oh! Beautiful reversal.
Our official caught beneath the mass of humanity in the turnbuckle.
[Jimmy] Referee looks out right now.
[Corey] Lashley doing the wise thing.
Going right back to the Hurt Lock.
[Jimmy] Counter to the F-5!
[Corey] Uh-oh. Uh-oh!
[announcers] Oh!
[Jimmy] He got it, but referee is absolutely laid out.
-[Corey] Three, four, five. -[crowd] Three, four, five.
[Jimmy] You can keep counting, our referee is laid out outside.
[crowd] Eight, nine, ten…
[Jimmy] Brock Lesnar cannot believe what he's seeing.
[Byron] Lesnar finally able to deliver the F-5.
[Jimmy] This should be over right now.
[Byron] By all accounts, you're right, Jimmy.
But you have no official, you have no count.
The match doesn't end.
[Corey] Take a look at this. Lesnar, in delivering the F-5,
unintentionally makes contact with our official.
Lashley is down, Lesnar with a decisive count.
Unfortunately, no official to make it so.
[Jimmy] Right now, Bobby Lashley completely helpless.
Still recovering from the F-5 in the ring.
-[Byron] That could mean-- -What the hell?!
[Jimmy] Roman Reigns,
out of absolutely nowhere,
just speared Brock Lesnar!
[crowd booing]
[crowd yelling]
[Jimmy] If looks could kill, Paul Heyman would be a dead man.
[Corey] No.
-What in the hell? -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] What did I just see?
[Byron] Roman Reigns with the WWE Championship in hand.
[Jimmy] Both Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley
at the mercy of the Tribal Chief.
[Byron] What kind of devious thoughts are circulating in the mind--
-I don't believe-- -[Jimmy] Oh!
[Corey] Lesnar is down.
The WWE Championship
delivered by the Universal Champion.
The Head of the Table.
[Jimmy] Then tossed aside with disrespect, like garbage.
Bobby Lashley with the cover!
-[crowd] One, two, three! -[Jimmy] And we have a new champion!
-[crowd cheering] -["Titan" playing]
[Rome] Here is your winner,
and the new WWE Champion,
The Almighty,
Bobby Lashley!
[Jimmy] Hand delivered by Paul Heyman.
[Byron] And Paul Heyman is leaving with the Universal Champion.
[Jimmy] Brock Lesnar was just stabbed in the back and then pinned!
But listen, the result remains the same.
We have been thrust back into the era of The Almighty!
[Corey] Bobby Lashley is WWE Champion.
[Jimmy] Gold around his waist yet again.
But with a ton of controversy.
[Byron] Without question, Jimmy.
But the headline will indeed read,
"Bobby Lashley Defeats Brock Lesnar
for the WWE Championship."
[Corey] Look at this.
Here's the incidental contact with the official.
While the referee was down and out,
who would show up?
A blast from Lesnar's recent past.
The Universal Champion.
The Head of the Table.
Roman Reigns delivering one thunderous spear to The Beast Incarnate.
[Jimmy] This is what I can't believe.
Paul Heyman handing the WWE title to Roman Reigns,
who would then strike Brock Lesnar,
thus costing Lesnar the WWE Championship.
[Corey] It would open the door for The Almighty
to deliver the three-count,
and recapture, reclaim the WWE Championship.
[Jimmy] Absolute turmoil.
[Corey] Paul Heyman certainly has a lot of explaining to do.
[Byron] I cannot imagine the mood Brock Lesnar is gonna be in
when he comes to here.
"The Almighty" Bobby Lashley
celebrating the accomplishment of a lifetime.
[crowd chanting] Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!
[Corey] The new WWE Champion
is "The Almighty" Bobby Lashley.
["Titan" continues playing]
[yells]
-[dramatic music playing] -[narrator] They're bold.
Inspiring.
Powerful.
WWE Official Championships.
Feel like a champion.
And so much more.
[Jimmy] Welcome back to Royal Rumble.
Where we are in absolute shock
over Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley.
But that is not the only surprise of the evening.
Shocks have been coming rapid-fire.
[Corey] No one in The Dome at America's Center
or around the world watching
was ready for what we witnessed.
The return of the Baddest Woman on the Planet.
Ronda Rousey
making her presence felt in the women's Royal Rumble match
in a big, big way.
[Byron] We hadn't seen Rousey since a couple years ago.
Losing the Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania.
And Rousey made a major statement.
Getting rid of Nikki A.S.H, getting rid of Brie Bella.
[Corey] And it would come down to Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair,
and Ronda Rousey,
who would launch Charlotte over the top rope to the floor.
The SmackDown Women's Champion the final elimination
for the Baddest Woman on the Planet,
who is once again to headline WrestleMania.
-["Bad Reputation" playing] -[Rome] Will main event WrestleMania!
[Corey] Just confirmed for this Monday night,
eight, seven central, USA Network,
the winner of the 2022 women's Royal Rumble match,
the Baddest Woman on the Planet, Ronda Rousey returns to Raw.
[Jimmy] I absolutely cannot wait to hear
what Ronda Rousey has to say on Monday Night Raw.
One person we've heard a lot of on Monday Night Raw, of course,
is The Miz along with Maryse.
And the victim of their words a lot of the time, Edge
and of course Beth Phoenix.
Will this finally get settled tonight? That's what we're all looking forward to.
Who will reign supreme?
The It Couple or the Grit Couple?
["Ballin" playing]
-[Byron] And here comes… -[crowd cheering]
[Jimmy] I know you love hearing this talk, Byron.
But now you'll see it in action.
[narrator] Miz and Maryse.
WWE's resident "it" couple.
The Miz, WWE's most must-see Superstar.
A two-time former WWE Champion
with an aptitude for agitation.
When my hand goes up, your mouths go shut.
[narrator] And Maryse, a paragon of posh and epitome of elegance.
[Maryse] Are you watching me? Of course you are!
[narrator] Together they've built a multimedia empire.
Headlined by their hit USA reality series
Miz and Mrs.
But with their great success has come great ego.
And that ego has put them directly at odds with the Grit Couple,
Edge and Beth Phoenix,
WWE Hall of Famers
with a combined 15 World Championship reigns between them.
The Rated-R Superstar, Edge,
shocked the world at Royal Rumble two years ago.
[Corey] Oh my! Edge is here!
[narrator] Returning from a career-ending neck injury with passion fully reignited.
The Glamazon, Beth Phoenix,
the ultimate combination of strength and beauty.
[Edge] Beth smashes things.
Mostly people.
[narrator] And not one to stand idly by…
[Jimmy] Maryse just hit him over the head!
…when someone messes with her man.
[Jimmy] Beth Phoenix is in the house!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] One, two, three!
[bell rings]
[narrator] What started as a battle between Edge and Miz
has now developed into a full-on family feud.
And nothing is off -limits.
Brood baths…
[Byron] Oh my God! Miz and Maryse drenched!
…bricks…
[Jimmy] Right to the back of the head, laid out Beth Phoenix.
…even birthday party beatdowns.
[Corey] The Grit Couple is obliterating the line of defense.
[narrator] All leading to tonight at Royal Rumble.
For the first time ever,
Miz and Maryse
versus Edge and Beth Phoenix,
the It Couple versus the Grit Couple.
[dramatic music playing]
-[Corey] Now the time for talk is over. -[Miz] Awesome!
["I Came to Play" playing]
♪ There's a price to pay ♪
♪ Time for you to get down On your knees and pray ♪
♪ I came to play… ♪
♪ Say goodbye to the good old days ♪
♪ They're never coming back Watch your future fade… ♪
[bell rings]
[Rome] The following contest is a mixed tag team match,
scheduled for one fall,
introducing first, the team of Maryse and The Miz!
[Corey] What an amazingly talented, beautiful couple.
If Miz and Maryse don't restore your faith in love
and the institution of marriage,
nothing will.
-These two are "couples goals." -[Byron] I beg to differ--
[Corey] Of course you do!
-You've never been a couple. -[Byron] Has nothing to do with it.
-[Corey] You're not qualified to talk. -[Byron] I will talk.
What I see is a devious couple,
an underhanded couple,
who truly were made for each other.
But I think that couple is in a little too deep here
with their opponents.
[Jimmy] They've done a great job getting under the skin of Edge
and, I would argue, Beth Phoenix.
But now in the ring is where you pay the price
for the words you've said up to this point.
[Byron] No more public birthday celebrations, no excessive PDA.
Now it's time to step up.
The talking is over as you said, Jimmy.
Now the It Couple has to answer the challenge of the Grit Couple.
[Corey] Enough already.
["Metalingus" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ On this day… ♪
[Rome] And their opponents, WWE Hall of Famers
Beth Phoenix and the Rated-R Superstar,
Edge!
[Jimmy] I cannot hear myself think right now.
This crowd here in St. Louis
is behind Edge and Beth Phoenix in a huge way.
[Byron] What a moment it's gotta be
For the first time, Edge teaming up with this Hall of Fame wife.
The "Glamazon" Beth Phoenix.
[Corey] Check out the guns on the "Glamazon" Beth Phoenix.
Looking jacked, stacked, and ready to break someone's back.
And no one on the WWE roster
feeds off of the energy of the WWE Universe
quite like Edge does.
And Edge has 44,390 people at his back right now.
[Byron] If I'm Maryse, let's be honest, Corey,
think of how crazy,
how outlandishly out of control her nerves have gotta be right now
looking at Beth Phoenix.
[Corey] Why on earth would Maryse be nervous
just because Beth Phoenix is present?
Maryse is a former champion in WWE.
Maryse is an incredibly talented competitor.
Maryse has a reality television show.
Maryse is married to the Edge.
I'm sorry, Miz.
[Byron laughs] You can't even…
[Corey] Listen, I'm a little nervous, Saxton, you got me thrown off.
[Byron] You feel like Maryse right now.
[Jimmy] Let's not forget Maryse also carries a brick in her purse,
which has been an issue before.
[Corey] No brick in the purse tonight.
-That is merely speculation. -[Byron] What do you mean?
-We saw the brick, Corey. -[bell rings]
You were there.
[Jimmy] Start out with Maryse taking a powder!
[Byron] What did I tell you? Maryse wants no part of Beth Phoenix.
[Jimmy] This has turned into a track meet.
[Byron] Maryse is about to lose that track meet.
Come on! Get up there, let's go! I need you up on that rope.
[Corey] Tug of war over Maryse.
[Byron] Gotta pull her out.
[Corey] Oh, they're okay. They're okay.
Best case scenario for Miz, it's fine.
[Jimmy] Successfully catching his wife outside, that helps.
Unfortunately, the match still continues.
You think you're funny?
-You trying to make a joke? -Maryse is mine, let's go.
-[crowd chanting] Edge! Edge! Edge! -Get me in. Get me in.
-[referee] Tag! -Get out of the ring!
[Byron] In comes The Miz, that means an automatic tag for Edge.
I'm gonna retire him just like he was last time!
-You hear me? -[Jimmy] Not going anywhere. Oh!
The Rated-R Superstar has had enough of Miz.
[Corey] Big mistake by The Miz, jaw-jacking to Beth Phoenix.
[Jimmy] So much success here at Royal Rumble.
[Byron] This all stems from Day 1.
This stems from The Miz losing to Edge at Day 1.
Not being able to digest that loss.
So Edge said, listen, let's up the ante.
Let's get our wives involved, let's get our partners involved here.
[Jimmy] Shot by Maryse on the outside!
[Corey] A true ride or die.
That's what Maryse is all about,
being a fantastic wife to The Miz.
[Jimmy] It's a momentum changer, whatever you call it.
[Byron] Fantastic cheater alongside The Miz.
[Corey] Take a look at this.
Maryse with the wherewithal to cause the distraction.
And now Miz completely in control.
[Jimmy] Miz one of those Superstars who has survived being overlooked.
You think about what he says, about his mouth, his fashion sense.
You forget how good he is.
[Corey] You think they got his or hers beds
here at the local medical facility for the losing team?
[Byron] That would be Miz and Maryse?
[Corey] Don't put the cart before the horse, Saxton.
Just make sure everybody's taken care of.
-[Byron] I got a feeling about things. -[Miz] Do not touch my wife!
-[grunts] -[announcers] Oh!
[Corey] The world famous It Kick delivered by The Miz!
[Jimmy] Two in a row, and he is feeling it now, confident.
[Byron] Miz dancing around in there.
Really feeling himself.
Sugar Ray Mizanin in there.
-So light on his feet. -[Corey] Sugar Ray Mizanin?
[Jimmy] Right now it's Edge feeling those kicks right to the chest.
Beautiful duck. Roll up, shoulders down.
Kickout by The Miz.
[Byron] Oh!
-[Jimmy] Neckbreaker to the cover. -[referee] One, two!
[Jimmy] Kickout by Edge.
[Beth] Come on! Come on!
[Jimmy] See that glass look in his eyes?
Taken a lot of damage early in this match.
Tag her in!
[Corey] I think Edge is finally realizing he's bitten off more than he can chew.
Miz enjoying this.
[Byron] Staring down Beth Phoenix the entire time.
Running his mouth.
Hey, look at me. Look what I'm doing to your husband.
-[Corey] Miz only has eyes for one woman. -[Byron] Watch Maryse!
Maryse on the outside, a running slap!
[Byron] Second time now, underhanded trick.
[Jimmy] Beth Phoenix has had enough of this.
Once again trying to chase down Maryse.
-And what-- -[Byron] Uh-oh. Uh-oh!
You better get out of here, Maryse.
[Corey] I think Beth Phoenix is simply jealous
that she has never experienced the type of love that Miz and Maryse have.
[Byron] You are out of your mind! You should rescind those absurd comments.
[Jimmy] The referee making it very clear, use that chair, you're disqualified.
Come on!
[Jimmy] A frustrated Beth Phoenix.
But Edge now on the warpath.
Beautiful DDT to get himself back in this match.
[Corey] DDT takes down Miz.
Both wives now eager to join the fray.
-[Jimmy] No, I would say one wife. -[Byron] Yeah, exactly.
-One wife, Beth Phoenix, is eager. -[Corey] It's mind games.
Maryse is anxious to get in.
[Byron] You seeing the body language? Mind games too?
No, no, no, don't tag me.
[Corey] She wants to make sure her man's at 100% for the celebration.
-[Byron] Might not be a celebration. -[Jimmy] Kicking Miz out of the ring.
Uh, let's see. So, Maryse…
[Jimmy] Look how brave-- What a woman!
[Corey] Oh! And here is Beth Phoenix.
[Jimmy] Now Maryse is legal.
[Byron] Let's see how brave Maryse looks now.
As she gets chopped down by the Glamazon.
[Jimmy] Glamazon on the warpath now.
[Byron] How do you say "pinfall" in French?
[Jimmy] The Glamazon just dribbling Maryse.
Oh, brutal!
[Corey] How many weeks has Beth Phoenix dreamt about this moment?
-Getting her hands on Maryse. -[Maryse screams]
[Jimmy] Crowd here in St. Louis loving it!
[Corey] This is no way to treat someone's mother.
[Byron] Beth Phoenix is also a mother.
[Corey] Well, this is no example to set for your children.
[Byron] Around and around we go!
[Jimmy] Planted right to the canvas!
Hook of the leg, this might be over.
One, two!
Oh, Miz just in time!
[Corey] How chivalrous.
Let's go!
-[Byron] Desperate means by Miz. -[Corey] Like a knight in shining armor.
[Byron] Miz knew Maryse was about to get beat.
[Corey] Uh-oh, Miz.
[Byron] Don't celebrate too long!
[Jimmy] Beth Phoenix…
Is she really gonna take on The Miz?
[Byron] I recall Beth saying she was going to kick Miz's teeth in.
[Jimmy] She did make that claim on Monday Night Raw,
we were there.
[crowd cheering]
You want me?
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Beth wants you, all right, Miz.
Beth Phoenix is seething.
No backward steps from the Glamazon.
I'm gonna kick his ass! She's gonna kick your ass!
-[Byron] No taking-- -[Jimmy] Oh! What?!
-Doubling right into the corner! -[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Phoenix is putting a whupping on The Miz.
[Corey] The Glamazon teeing off on the A-lister!
[referee] You gotta get out of the ring.
[Byron] Look out from behind!
[Jimmy] The purse right to the back once again!
[Byron] Got it!
[Jimmy] She has laid out the Glamazon.
Trying to get her over.
[Corey] Not like this.
-Not like this! -[Jimmy] Looks like it is, shoulders down.
One, two!
Oh, just in time!
-Going for it again! -One, two!
[Jimmy] And another kickout from Beth Phoenix.
She's gotta be hurting after that shot.
[Byron] Is that the master plan?
Was that the master plan by Maryse and The Miz?
To use that loaded purse, perhaps?
[Corey] How do you know it's loaded, Saxton?
A lot of designers use bricks as standard now.
Look at this. To the back of Beth Phoenix's neck once again.
[Byron] Whatever was in there wasn't enough to keep Beth Phoenix down.
-I got her! -[crowd clapping rhythmically]
[Jimmy] Now can Maryse take advantage
and put this one away?
She seemed surprised it worked, but…
Now trying to stomp Beth Phoenix right through the canvas.
[Corey] Raining down shots onto Phoenix.
Oh no, did Maryse break a nail?
[Byron sarcastically] Oh no, heaven forbid.
[Jimmy] Oh1
[Corey] This is what everyone came to see.
[Byron] This is a waste of time.
[Corey] Why The Miz is the luckiest guy in WWE.
[Jimmy] Enjoying, for once, having Beth Phoenix laid out.
-[yelling] -[Jimmy] Under the chin, under the nose!
[Beth yelling]
[Jimmy] Broken nail or not, they're going in Beth Phoenix's nostrils.
[Corey] All Miz can do is look on.
[Beth groans] No!
No!
[Jimmy] Yeah, but Beth Phoenix has to hold out here.
[crowd chanting] Let's go, Beth!
[Corey] Edge trying to get the WWE Universe…
[Jimmy] Chants of "let's go, Beth."
Gotta power her way up, and she is.
You don't want an angry Glamazon.
But that's what Maryse is dealing with.
[Byron] This will not end well for Maryse.
-[Corey] Uh-oh. Uh-oh! -[Byron] Oh!
[Corey] Late counter by Maryse.
[Jimmy] No, no, no!
Oh! Double clothesline.
[Corey] Both women are down.
[Jimmy] Who can recover fastest?
Right now Edge desperate for a tag.
[Byron] Panic in the eyes of The Miz.
[Edge] We gotta go!
[Byron] As Beth Phoenix makes the crawl…
Who's gonna make the tag first?
[Jimmy] Right now it's The Miz.
Which means Edge is legal!
Oh!
[Byron] Down goes Miz.
Make it twice!
[Jimmy] Full-sprint, clothesline after clothesline.
Look at that! Right across the forehead of The Miz.
[Corey] Miz is down, cover by Edge.
One, two!
[Jimmy] Right before three, the kickout from The Miz.
Fire in the eyes of Edge.
The Rated-R Superstar, he's tired of the mouth of The Miz.
Trying to shut it.
Maryse with a distraction just in time.
[Corey] Can we nominate Maryse for a Slammy?
Woman of the year, wife of the year.
[Byron] What were you saying?
[Jimmy] Target right now.
[Byron] My vote goes to Beth Phoenix.
-[Corey] Oh no. -[Jimmy] Oh yes!
[Corey] No way!
[Jimmy] She has Miz up!
[Byron] The power of Beth Phoenix!
[Jimmy] Powerbomb on The Miz by Beth Phoenix!
[Byron] And now Edge perched on the top rope!
[Jimmy] High flying with the elbow!
This has gotta be it.
-Hooking the leg! -[referee and crowd] One, two!
[Jimmy] Oh! Desperation kickout from The Miz.
That powerbomb took everything out of Beth Phoenix.
[Byron] I thought it took everything out of The Miz.
[Corey] Take a look at this. Edge from the very top.
Watch the precision on this elbow.
Right to the heart of The Miz.
But not enough to stop the It Couple.
[Jimmy] The Miz right now devastated.
-He's gotta dig deep-- -[Corey] Maryse!
-Where did Maryse come from? -[Jimmy] Oh!
[screams]
[Jimmy] Oh! Right into the steps. And out goes Beth Phoenix.
[Corey] Flapjack, face first goes The Miz.
-But now Edge without a partner. -[Jimmy] Yeah, but he's the legal man.
If he can stay focused here,
he might be able to put Miz away.
[Byron] I think all of Edge's focus is right where it needs to be.
[Jimmy] Completely honed in on The Miz.
We know what this looks means, we know what this position means.
He just kind of had his foot grabbed my Maryse.
Oh!
[Byron] Edge wanted spear Miz out of the way.
Might have tweaked his knee in the process.
What is-- Maryse Is climbing to the top rope now.
[Jimmy] Referee distracted on the other side,
and Maryse on the top rope!
-Wow! -[Byron] Hurricanrana!
-Edge is laid out! Les magnifique! -[Corey] What just-- Whoa!
[Jimmy] I do not believe it! All Miz has to do is get over and cover.
[Byron] Maryse almost couldn't believe it herself.
-[Jimmy] Beth Phoenix's turn! -[Corey] DDT!
[Byron] And the Grit Couple--
[Jimmy] Oh, skullcrushing finale!
-To the cover, hook of the leg! -[crowd and referee] One, two!
-[Jimmy] Oh! -[Byron] Oh! No, no, no!
[Jimmy] Where did that kickout come from?
[Byron] Miz in absolute shock.
[Corey] Let's look at this again.
I can watch this all night.
Maryse perhaps the most surprised person in the entire stadium.
[Jimmy] The referee right now allowing a lot of latitude
about who's in this ring right now.
[Byron] Understanding the states here in this matchup.
-Don't even think about doing it. -Let's go.
Right now-- Oh, no, no, no.
Oh, this is romance.
[Jimmy] Double skullcrushing finale.
-If they can get it out. -[Corey] Couples that--
-Oh no! -[Jimmy] Oh!
Beth Phoenix running interference, Edge escapes!
[Jimmy] Double spear by the Grit Couple!
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] And how quickly things change!
Double spear.
Now it's The Miz who is in serious peril,
alongside his wife Maryse.
[Jimmy] He needs to get back to his feet, he needs to get back now.
No more tags.
No more inspiration.
-[Byron] No way. No way. -[Jimmy] Yes!
Glamazon Slam coming!
For both of the It Couple!
-Shoulders down! -One, two, three!
-[Jimmy] The Grit Couple takes it home! -[bell rings]
-["Metalingus" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Rome] Here are you winners,
the team of Beth Phoenix and the Rated-R Superstar,
Edge!
[Jimmy] Look at that smile from Edge.
Come at me, come at my wife, disrespect us,
this is the price you pay.
Despite their best underhanded efforts,
it is the Grit Couple that defeats the It Couple.
[Corey] You know what they say,
couples that spear together stay together.
And I'm sure nobody's more excited than Edge,
that he doesn't have to sleep in the guest house tonight.
After Glam Slams in stereo
breaking the hearts of millions.
Particularly Miz and Maryse.
[Byron] There you go, Corey. Some marriage goals for you.
[Jimmy] As a man who appreciates romance,
you gotta love this scene, Corey.
[Byron] I see a little tear there.
-[crowd cheering] -[Byron] I'll get you a tissue later.
[Corey] I'm just happy I don't have to work with Saxton any more tonight.
[Byron] That wasn't very nice.
[Jimmy] I feel the love from the Grit Couple,
Edge and Beth Phoenix.
This crowd here in St. Louis loving it.
[Byron] Incredible moment for the Glamazon and the Rated-R Superstar!
["Metalingus" continues playing]
♪ On this day… ♪
[Corey] A moment that will last forever
for the Hall of Fame Grit Couple.
Congratulations, Edge and Beth Phoenix.
♪ A bitter place and a broken dream ♪
♪ And we'll leave it all Leave it all behind ♪
-["Fire, Fire, Fire" playing] -[man] There's a saying in Scotland.
"What's for you will not go by you."
"What's meant to be will be."
[Drew] I was the kid so said
I'm gonna be the first Scottish guy ever signed to the WWE.
And I believed it that much.
♪ Fire, fire, fire ♪
♪ Fire, fire ♪
♪ Oh, hey ♪
[Drew] My entire career, since I was 15 years old,
all I've heard is, "Potential, potential, potential."
♪ Oh, yeah, you're something else… ♪
[man] The Chosen One.
♪ Whoa… ♪
[Drew] I was 21 years old, Mr. McMahon himself proclaimed me as…
[McMahon] A future world champion.
♪ I said I've only got myself to blame ♪
♪ Been down that road And won't get fooled again ♪
[Drew] In the end, I'll be damned
if the world was gonna remember Drew McIntyre
as an idiot playing air guitar.
♪ Fire, fire, fire… ♪
[Corey] The prodigal son has returned.
[Drew] I've been the future for 12 years, it's time to become the present.
♪ Fire, fire, fire, oh, hey ♪
[crowd] Three, two, one!
♪ Do what you want Take what you please ♪
♪ Watching me burn ♪
♪ Fueling the flames ♪
♪ Whoo… ♪
[Corey] Clamore kick! Lesnar eliminated!
Drew McIntyre's going to WrestleMania!
[Drew] Finally, Drew McIntyre fulfills his destiny.
[Cole] McIntyre a WWE Champion!
[man] The first Scottish WWE Champion in history.
♪ Do what you want ♪
♪ Take what you please ♪
♪ Watching me burn ♪
♪ Fueling the flames ♪
♪ Whoo ♪
Give it up for Drew McIntyre!
[man] The first Scottish world champion.
[woman] WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre.
[Drew] When the chips are down, Drew McIntyre steps up and pushes forward.
♪ Fire, fire, fire ♪
[Drew] Everything happens for a reason.
And I wouldn't change one thing about my journey.
It made me the man I am today.
Three weeks from today, the next time we come your way,
is a premium live event on Peacock.
This time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Jeddah Dome for Elimination Chamber.
The final premium live event stop before
-WrestleMania! -WrestleMania!
And WrestleMania's gonna be stupendous!
I can't wait!
The stars are out tonight here in St. Louis
at The Dome at America's Center.
Also we are being joined by a true American hero.
[Obama] Captain Florent Groberg,
we are here to award you our nation's highest military distinction,
the Medal of Honor.
We honor Flo because, on his very worst day,
he managed to summon his very best.
Before the incident happened on August 8, 2012,
I'd been in the military just over four years.
That moment changed who I was and who I would become instantly.
We were going into the Eastern Province of Afghanistan.
That day we were heading for a security meeting to Kunar Province.
[Flo] They came at on motorcycles to create a diversion.
Then an individual came out of a structure to our left,
with a suicide vest.
I saw this guy's eyes were pretty red.
[Flo] I ran towards him, threw him to the ground,
and he landed chest first and he detonated.
The road to recovery was long.
Flo underwent 34 surgeries.
His foot is fused and he's missing tendons and parts of his calf.
[Flo] A lot of survivor's guilt.
He saved a lot of soldiers' lives, Captain Flo.
That caused four of my friends to lose their lives.
Commander Sergeant Major Griffin, Major Gray, Major Kennedy,
and Ragaei Abdelfattah.
Flo will always carry that day and the four men that he lost with him.
[Flo] I got this bracelet. These four guys didn't come home,
and I try, every day, to live now for four individuals.
Not just for myself.
[Carsen] It's a lot about knowing that he can make a difference in this world
on behalf of those four men that we lost that day.
On that day, I did my job.
I'd do it all over again.
That's the beauty of serving.
'Cause when you hear my story, if it can help someone
then that's a good day.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And WWE is proud to be joined by National Medal of Honor recipient
and veteran of the war in Afghanistan,
Captain Flo Groberg,
his wife Carsen,
and National Medal of Honor Museum president and CEO, Chris Cassidy.
Thank you, Captain.
-For your heroic service to our nation. -USA, baby.
[crowd chanting] USA!
[bell rings]
[Irvin] The following is the 30-man Royal Rumble match!
[crowd cheering]
In this match, two Superstars will start inside the ring.
Every 90 seconds another Superstar will enter.
In order to eliminate, a Superstar must be thrown over the top rope,
with both feet hitting the ground.
The last remaining Superstar will be declared the winner,
and will receive a championship match at WrestleMania!
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] Crushed it.
[Cole] Who is going in for the men's Rumble first?
-["Phenomenal" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Pat] It's the Phenomenal One.
Number one.
♪ No, they don't want none ♪
♪ We some Southern boys With the farmer strength… ♪
[Irvin] Introducing first, from Gainesville, Florida,
weighing in at 218 pounds,
the Phenomenal AJ Styles!
[Cole] From Monday Night Raw, Pat McAfee,
if any man can go wire to wire here tonight in the Royal Rumble match,
it would be the Phenomenal AJ Styles.
[Pat] AJ Styles is a man who has been gifted in the sports entertainment realm.
Inside the ring he is nothing short of phenomenal.
But he is one of the toughest sons of bitches walking!
Yes, sir!
[Cole] AJ Styles enters his fourth Royal Rumble tonight.
Remember, he made his WWE debut in this match in 2016.
It was an incredible night, and AJ says, quote,
"It was trial by fire, I had to prove that I belonged."
[Pat] Royal Rumble a blue-collar way to get your name on the marquee.
AJ Styles epitomizes that.
It's an honor to be here.
[Cole] Three Superstars have won the Rumble from the number one position,
including Edge just last year.
Let's find out who's number two.
["Shadows of a Setting Sun" playing]
[Pat] Oh yes!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] ♪ Whoa, oh, ♪
[Cole] It wouldn't be the Rumble without Pat dancing on the table.
[Pat] Let's go!
[Cole] Normally Shinsuke Nakamura is accompanied by Boogs playing guitar.
Boogs is in the Rumble a bit later on.
[Irvin] Entering in at number two,
from Kyoto, Japan, weighing in at 220 pounds,
he is the Intercontinental Champion,
Shinsuke Nakamura!
[Cole] Here is a man who knows what it takes to win the Royal Rumble.
Shinsuke Nakamura won this event back in 2018.
For the fifth time in his career he enters the Rumble here tonight.
He looks good and sounds good!
St. Louis is ready for the Intercontinental Champion!
[Cole] Pat, you'll hurt yourself. We're just getting started.
We have a long way to go in the Rumble.
[Pat] I know. We've been backstage for three and a half hours.
[Cole] How are you gonna get off there?
[Pat] Things have been on fire.
And now Shinsuke Nakamura is number two.
Let's have a Royal Rumble!
-[Cole] These two will start the match. -[bell rings]
You're eliminated over the top rope, both feet hitting the floor.
In 90 seconds another man will enter the Royal Rumble.
[Pat] These two have done battle on a lot of continents.
[Cole] Tremendous rivalry over the past decade or so
between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Battles over the WWE Championship as well.
As Nakamura the "King of Strong Style"
starts to strike at Styles here in the early going.
[Pat] Shinsuke our Intercontinental Champion representing SmackDown.
Getting an opportunity to get in there
and battle it out against the Phenomenal One, AJ Styles.
What a treat here.
-Before anybody else gets in we have-- -[Cole] Oh!
--two absolute technicians going at it.
Yeah, studs Styles and Nakamura kicking off the Royal Rumble match.
Again, congratulations to Ronda Rousey,
who won the women's Royal Rumble earlier on tonight.
Who will join her from the men's side
and punch their ticket to the main event at WrestleMania?
[Pat] Shinsuke's feeling it.
[Cole] AJ Styles…
Oh! And there's that sliding forearm that Styles has become
so well known for.
[Pat] Yeah, he's…
He'll clobber you.
[Cole] In ten seconds, entry number three…
[crowd] Six, five…
…will enter the Royal Rumble match.
[crowd] Two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Sound the Alarm" playing]
[Pat] Okay.
[Cole] Here is a man who's out not only to win the Royal Rumble,
but also to impress Mr. McMahon.
Many have called him Mr. McMahon's, quote, "Pet"
over on Monday Night Raw.
[Pat] Pet, lackey, whatever you wanna call it,
this guy does very well on social media
because he is a walking, talking thirst-trap.
But when you talk about talent,
this is the perfect evening for Austin Theory.
[Cole] Indeed, he's had his issues with AJ Styles as of late,
Finn Bálor as well.
Austin Theory, tremendous athlete.
There's just an example of the skills that Theory possesses.
-Oh! Nakamura dropped by Austin Theory. -A-Town Down!
[Cole] This is his first ever Royal Rumble match.
You gotta wonder how that figures in your mind
when you come in for the very first time.
As he looks to eliminate Nakamura.
[Pat] Austin Theory is a man
who has felt like he has deserved this moment for a long time.
He's been in this in his head numerous times--
AJ Styles!
Trying to eliminate Austin Theory.
[Pat] And--
Could've been a two-fer there.
Nakamura on the apron, and rolls back into the ring.
[Pat] Austin Theory, incredibly powerful.
Quick, athletic, young, and incredibly tough.
[Cole] Nakamura, of course, the current Intercontinental Champion
on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Pat] Looks fantastic in all white leather, doesn't he?
All white everything for Shinsuke.
[Cole] Nakamura entering one, Styles entering two.
Two Superstars have won the Royal Rumble from the number two position.
-Rey Mysterio and Mr. McMahon. -[crowd] Eight, seven, six, five…
[Pat] Vincent Kennedy?
Wow!
-[timer buzzes] -[Cole] Entry number four.
["Glorious Domination" playing]
[Cole] The "Glorious One" Robert Roode.
[Pat] Okay, Bob Roode!
This might be the year
that the "Glorious" Bob Roode
takes this Royal Rumble opportunity, seizes the day,
and main events WrestleMania!
[Cole] If he gets it done, it'll be--
Oh! Spinebuster to Nakamura!
It'll be on his third Rumble appearance.
-A spinebuster to Theory as well. -[yells]
[Pat] Look at Bob Roode, not playing any games.
[Cole] These two knew each other and had quite the rivalry over the years.
I've been waiting, AJ, a long time, So have they! Yeah.
[crowd chanting] Beat AJ!
I've been waiting a long time.
Now AJ with a right to Roode, driving him into the corner.
AJ Styles launched out to the apron.
Remember, both feet have to hit the floor. Styles up over the top.
With that Sunset Flip.
And now looking perhaps for a Styles Clash.
Roode hanging on.
[Pat] Massive impact between these two going after it.
[Cole] Styles with Roode on the apron.
Robert Roode steps back in, still in this matchup.
Roode sent up over the top rope, other side, hanging on however.
But now eliminated!
First elimination of the Rumble, it's Robert Roode.
[Pat] This will not be Roode's year, but AJ Styles gets things off going.
Eliminates one person, who's left?
Starting three here.
[announcers] Oh!
[Cole] What a throw by Nakamura.
[yells]
[Austin grunts]
And now Shin caught by Austin Theory.
And Theory plants Nakamura!
[Pat] So impressive, Austin Theory.
Shinsuke was setting him up for a Kinshasa.
[Cole] Number five will be on his way.
[crowd] Five, four, three, two, one.
-[Cole] Kick to the midsection by Shin. -[timer buzzes]
["Can't Stop Winning" playing]
[Pat] Oh! Big back elbow from Austin Theory.
[Cole] And look who's here.
[Pat] Ridge Holland!
[Cole] Sheamus's protégé, Ridge Holland.
Who is wearing the protective face mask. We saw him on SmackDown last night.
After having his nose shattered by Ricochet.
Ride Holland entering the Rumble for the first time in his career!
[Cole] As Nakamura hangs on!
Staving off elimination.
[Pat] Ridge Holland a powerful man.
-Out of Yorkshire. -[Cole] Oh!
[Pat] Throwing Austin Theory around.
And Shinsuke Nakamura is eliminated!
[Cole] The Intercontinental Champion is out.
Now Ridge Holland with a great throw to AJ Styles.
How impressive is Holland in the early going?
[Pat] He's come in and worried about himself.
I'll throw Austin Theory around.
AJ Styles, get rid of Shinsuke for me.
Then I'll toss you around as well.
Ridge is a fighter.
Just like his mentor, Sheamus.
[Cole] Big uppercut by Holland as well.
Both Sheamus and Ridge love to fight.
Sheamus sees so many similar qualities in Holland
as he does in himself.
And now Styles!
Kick right to the hamstring.
You'd think Styles would maybe wanna help Ridge get rid of Austin Theory.
[AJ] Is the mask legal?
[Pat] Are masks legal, AJ just asked.
[Cole] Number six on his way in seven seconds.
[crowd] Five, four, three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Bring the Swag" playing]
[Pat] Okay!
[Cole] One half of the former Tag Team Champions.
There's Montez Ford of The Street Profits.
I talked to Montez earlier today.
He said he is going to shine here tonight in the Royal Rumble match.
[Pat] Absolutely, as--
[Cole] AJ Styles hanging on!
Now Theory trying to eliminate Montez Ford!
Montez almost comes in and eliminates the Phenomenal One.
Starting quickly, look at him.
Freakshow athlete.
[Cole] Uber-athletic Montez Ford.
[Montez yells]
[Pat] This guy's got it all to main event WrestleMania.
[Cole] And now Theory hanging on.
Ridge Holland with a shot right to the kidneys.
Punishing blow to the… kidney there.
Ford landing on his feet. Kick to the midsection now by Ford.
And Ford with a step-up enzuigiri.
Stunning Ridge Holland.
But Ridge Holland turns it-- Oh!
What a move by Holland.
[Pat] That's Holland's power.
You're building up all the momentum. Big Mo's on your side.
And then Ridge Holland says not anymore.
[Cole] AJ Styles again turns his attention to Holland.
-[Pat] Wow -Number seven on his way.
The heigh on that.
[Cole] Every man for himself in the Royal Rumble match.
["Sinner" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And here comes the current United States Champion.
In his second Rumble appearance, this is Damian Priest.
Very impressive Rumble last year, Pat.
Priest eliminated four men.
[Pat] Then he comes right in and gives Ridge Holland a bigtime shot.
[Cole] Now will Priest eliminate Styles?
Styles in trouble, up over the top rope.
But from behind, Austin Theory goes after Damian Priest.
[Pat] Damian Priest the United States Champion--
[Cole] Oh! And the backbreaker.
[Pat] Nothing like main-eventing WrestleMania.
It's on the line here.
[Cole] Priest said earlier today,
the question is will he be provoked enough for the Damian side to come out tonight?
Now AJ Styles trying to send Priest over the top rope.
That 6'5" frame.
Teetering on the top rope, and now Austin Theory…
We've mentioned before,
the Rumble can make strange partners at times.
But now AJ Styles…
[Pat] Says to hell with Damian. How about you get out, Austin?
Now Damian helping AJ Styles.
And now he punches AJ in the head.
That's Royal Rumble wrestling.
[Cole] Now Priest looking to eliminate Austin Theory, who's hanging on.
Theory had a couple of close calls so far in this match.
[Pat] Damian trying to kick his ass out right now.
[Cole] Theory trying to slide back into the ring.
Priest not allowing it.
[Pat] Ridge Holland working on Montez.
[crowd] Seven. six, five…
[Pat] Number eight on his way.
[Pat] Everybody kinda feeling each other out right now.
-Who's number eight? -[timer buzzes]
["Worlds Apart" playing]
[Pat] Wow, here we go.
[Cole] Well, it is about to get insane.
[Pat] It certainly is.
[Cole] Sami Zayn!
The number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship.
The man with a persecution complex.
Conspiracy theories abound.
He's now entered the Royal Rumble match.
[Pat] It did appear as if he would fight somebody,
but nobody has been found by Sami.
[Cole] But this isn't a strategy, Pat.
You wanna stay away so you're not eliminated.
[Pat] I agree. Then Montez Ford says, how about you not be a coward?
[Cole] Zayn trying to eliminate Montez Ford.
Ford up over the top, trying to hang on.
Lands on the apron.
Able to roll back into the ring.
[Pat] AJ Styles and Sami Zayn locking up.
Welcome to the fight, Sami Zayn.
[Cole] Now the ring beginning to fill up.
Only a couple eliminations thus far, Roode and Nakamura.
[Pat] Bummed for both of those guys.
[Cole] AJ Styles started the Rumble at number one, still in the match.
[Pat] There's be a couple guys that were out and then back in.
Then out, then back in.
It's like Tom Brady on a Saturday.
With Adam Schefter and Darlington in tow.
[crowd] Eight, seven…
[Cole] Number nine about to enter the Royal Rumble match.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Corona" playing]
[Cole] Sami's not gonna like this.
[Pat] A jackass has entered the Royal Rumble!
[Cole] Johnny Knoxville.
Accompanied by the cast of Jackass Forever,
which comes your way February 4th.
That's Jasper, Preston Lacy, and Wee Man. Wee Man had quite the night last night.
[Pat] Yeah, great to see Wee Man is still alive
after Brock Lesnar put him through a Four Seasons table last night.
[Cole] What is Knoxville wearing?
[Pat] He is dressed like a jackass, he is a jackass.
-He's in the Royal Rumble! -[Cole] He takes down Sami!
Double-leg takedown of Zayn!
And look at Knoxville go!
[Pat] Rights and lefts!
Knoxville is looking to win the Royal Rumble!
[Cole] Knoxville told Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday night
that he was gonna toss Sami out near record time.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] He also talked a lot of trash to a bunch of the other Superstars.
I see it.
Come on, just give me a shot.
-Bring it home, so you get one. -Oh, yeah?
-Yeah. -Okay.
[Cole] I'm not sure how wise that was for Mr. Knoxville.
[Pat] Well, Knoxville's made a career out of making non-wise decisions.
Bring it! [grunts]
[Cole] Now AJ Styles. Knoxville said, "Bring it."
And Styles-- Oh my goodness!
He about knocked the head off of Knoxville!
[Pat] AJ Styles hit him with a five piece combo.
Ended with a lariat.
Now what is Montez Ford thinking?
[Cole] This is risky.
Risky for Montez to go up to the top rope at the Royal Rumble.
But Montez Ford…
From the heavens!
Johnny Knoxville flattened like a pancake!
[Pat] It appears as if Johnny Knoxville is in the middle of a bunch of sharks.
[Cole] Now Ridge Holland.
-You're the danger guy, yeah? -[Cole] Placing Knoxville on the apron.
And Sami Zayn with a Helluva Kick!
Eliminates Knoxville.
-What did I tell you? -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Sami said he was gonna do it, and he did it thank to everyone else.
And now Sami Zayn dumped out by Styles!
-No! -You're out too. You're eliminated.
No!
[Cole] Sami was so happy about eliminating Knoxville,
he got himself knocked out of the match.
[crowd] Six, five…
[Cole] This'll be number ten.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Bring the Swag" playing]
[Cole] And Montez Ford…
Now how do you look at this?
This is Angelo Hawkins, Ford's partner in The Street Profits.
Is this good news for Montez or bad news?
[Pat] Great news for Montez.
But inevitably it's every man for themself.
We've seen this time and time again in the Royal Rumble.
I watched along as a fan
as the tightest tag teams turned on each other
for an opportunity at WrestleMania.
But it's nice to have a partner in this thing.
See the year I entered?
[Pat] 1945. That Royal Rumble will never be forgotten.
[Cole] Priest may be eliminated by The Street Profits.
And Ridge Holland from behind.
[Pat] Everybody is jockeying for position still.
Although Sami Zayn beat Johnny Knoxville,
ultimately he lost in the end, again.
[Cole] I'm sure he'll have a lot to say about that.
There'll be some sort of conspiracy.
[Pat] He won't spin it that way, of course.
[Cole] Damian Priest, current US Champ.
Now AJ Styles has been in this since the get go.
[Pat] The first entry here in the Royal Rumble still battling.
[Cole] We're a third of the way through the 2022 men's Royal Rumble match.
Number 11 on his way.
[crowd] Six, five, four, three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Shake the Ground" playing]
[Pat laughs]
[Cole] For the first time,
the man who used to be AJ Styles' personal colossus,
the 7'3", 400-pound Omos
will storm his way to the ring for the Rumble.
[Pat] A giant has entered the Royal Rumble.
A lot of people had Omos as an odds-on favorite,
because who's gonna be able to get his gigantic ass up and over the top rope?
[Cole] Great point.
Everyone realizes the danger and threat that is now entering the Royal Rumble.
Look at the size of this man!
[Pat] Knocking people off like-- Oh!
-[Cole] Oh my goodness! -This is my house!
[Pat] "This is my house."
[Cole] Dawkins is a big man, Pat, and look at how he--
How he looks at-- Oh! Omos eliminates Dawkins!
[Pat] Omos makes everybody look like a small child.
Montez Ford and he are now eye-to-eye.
[Cole] That's not gonna work out well for Montez Ford.
Who's eliminated by Omos!
[Pat] Omos knocks out The Street Profits consecutively.
-[Cole] Austin Theory tried. -What is this?
[Pat] Didn't like that Austin Theory went in there and threw some punches.
What do you want? What do you want?
[Cole] AJ Styles used to be a mentor to Omos.
[Pat] Oh my goodness!
-Tossing him into the ring post! -[roars]
[Cole] Omos wanted to go his separate way.
Now AJ's not out of the match, he didn't go over the top rope.
[Pat] The bottom there.
But Omos is still very much in this match.
So good luck to everybody else.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
-[timer buzzes] -[Pat] Omos is laying people out.
["It's About to Go Down" playing]
♪ One and only… ♪
[Cole] The quickness and speed about to pick up.
Number 12 is Ricochet.
[Pat] Electricity has entered the air!
[Cole] With a missile dropkick!
Omos still on his feet.
Ricochet launched and planted!
[Pat laughs]
[Pat] Ricochet was up at a backboard height.
[Cole] There are bodies strewn everywhere.
[Pat] There's only one person standing.
That person happens to be 7'3".
[Cole] 400 pounds.
[Pat] Stepping on Ridge Holland's throat.
I'm supposed to throw you over the top, but how about this.
You don't breathe anymore.
[Cole] Now Austin Theory, the kid's got guts.
Now Ricochet and Austin Theory trying to double-team Omos.
[Pat] What are you supposed to do?
Ricochet's throwing some big bombs at Omos.
Big Omos.
Oh, those are over.
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh my goodness!
Holy--
What do you want?
[Pat] Just tried to stop Ricochet's heart with his right hand.
[Cole] Did you hear that?
[Pat] I felt that.
[Pat] As did Ricochet, I fear.
[Cole] Number 13 on the way.
[crowd] Five, four, three, two, one.
-[Pat] Omos in control. -[timer buzzes]
["For the Academy" playing]
[Cole] And here comes one half
of the Raw Tag Team Champions
the head of the Alpha Academy, Chad Gable.
[Pat] Chad Gable, Olympian.
Head of the Alpha Academy,
which is all about doing things the right way,
with a high moral standard.
-Excellence. -Hey!
You guys are going about it all wrong.
You gotta listen to me, I got a plan. Up, get up!
Listen.
[Pat] Head of Alpha Academy trying to lead.
[Cole] He has a plan.
[Pat] Everybody does…
You go high.
…until you get punched. Shout out Mike Tyson.
-[Chad] You're the biggest guy-- -Shut up!
I said you're the biggest! Go after him, you first!
-This is the master's plan. -[Omos roars]
[Chad] Get him!
[Pat] It's a good plan.
[Cole] Send Damian Priest, the US Champion, after Omos.
Priest uses his strength and quickness here.
And Omos may be stunned.
This may be a great-- I was gonna say may be a great plan by Gable.
[Pat] Chad Gable definitely had a great plan.
[Cole] How about Theory saying, "What do we do now?"
[Pat] Great question.
[Cole] And Omos, who's already eliminated two men--
Make it three in this match.
Priest is out, and now everybody else ganging up on Omos.
Can they eliminate the big man?
[Pat] This is exactly what Chad Gable wanted to do.
Sacrifice Damian Priest for the good of everybody else.
[Cole] We're awaiting number 14 in the men's Rumble.
[Pat] Omos is three and a half feet over.
["It Is My Time" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Here comes Dominik Mysterio, making his second Royal Rumble appearance.
Dominik gonna join the fray.
Is Dominik enough to tip the scales
and help this group of people eliminate Omos?
AJ Styles! Oh! With a flying Phenomenal Forearm!
-And Omos is eliminated! -Master's plan!
[Pat] Great team effort in the Royal Rumble
in which everybody is fighting for themself.
Out you go, big man.
[Pat] Chad Gable's gotta feel like a hero.
[Cole] Now, on the other side, Austin Theory in trouble again.
Dominik Mysterio looking to eliminate Austin.
Dominik…
AJ Styles, who started this matchup at number one,
has been over 20 minutes so far in the Royal Rumble match.
Dominik learned a very valuable experience
with his dad, Rey Mysterio.
How it's every man for himself.
A couple weeks ago on Raw,
Rey set an example and dumped Dominik over the top rope.
Oh, and Dominik lands on the apron.
[Pat] This isn't Dominik's first Rumble. He was in it last year, no fans.
Now he's back in front of the WWE Universe.
[Cole] Part of the first ever father-son Tag Team Champions
in WWE history.
[crowd] Eight, seven…
[Cole] We're about to the halfway point of the Rumble with number 15.
[Pat] Seems to be a stalemate in the ring.
[timer buzzes]
["The Good Life" playing]
[Pat] Oh yeah, here we go.
[Cole] One half of the Happy Folks.
This is Happy Corbin.
Entering the Rumble for the seventh time in his career.
[Pat] If you haven't seen Happy in a while,
that is the same homeless-looking Corbin from a few months ago.
[Cole] Can you imagine? He goes right after Dominik
'cause he got eliminated by Dominik in the Rumble at one point.
And now a chokeslam to Theory!
Can you imagine how obnoxious and happy Corbin would be if he wins the Rumble?
[Pat] It'd be a level of insufferability that none of us could fathom.
[Cole] Ricochet did a backflip off of his chest!
Oh! Too much.
That's where that daredevil, high-flying style can cost you.
Ricochet made one mistake.
He was eliminated by Happy Corbin.
[Pat] High risk, high reward, obviously.
Happy comes here and…
gets an elimination somehow.
Ricochet used his body as a backflip.
[Cole] That was great analysis. Probably the best you've done tonight.
[Pat] I've been full of it, honestly.
-All evening. -[Cole laughs]
[Cole] And now look at Corbin targeting AJ Styles.
On the other side of the ring, Gable and Dominik going at it.
Ridge Holland's got Austin Theory on the apron again.
Theory's been hanging in here since coming in at number three.
This'll be number 16.
[crowd] Three, two…
[Cole] Oh!
-[Pat] Oh, a shot from Happy. -[timer buzzes]
["Here to Show the World" playing]
[Cole] This is an historic night for this man.
Dolph Ziggler enters his fifteenth Royal Rumble, Pat.
That is second all time to only Kane.
He's eliminated 12 men in his career in the Rumble match.
[Pat] Experience will hopefully bring him some favor tonight.
[Cole] Dolph Ziggler, who lasted well over 20 minutes last year.
Speaking of 20 minutes, Austin Theory, who entered at number three,
he's been in this match well over 20 minutes tonight.
Mr. McMahon has gotta be proud of this performance thus far.
[Pat] I'd assume that Mr. McMahon has very high hopes
for the talent Austin Theory has.
The man he's tangling with, AJ Styles, the first entrant in tonight's Rumble.
[Cole] Dominik in the corner, the quickness.
Again, high risk here.
Going up to the top rope, you gotta be careful.
Dominik to launch himself, leaps up over Corbin.
And now-- Oh, Corbin!
[Pat] Deep-Six'd Dominik Mysterio.
[Cole] Dominik Mysterio sent over the top rope and to the floor.
Happy Corbin has come to fight tonight.
[Pat] Out you go, Dominik Mysterio.
Happy Corbin too.
[Cole] And again Theory--
It seems like Theory has spent this whole match out on the apron.
[Pat] It's been interesting.
[Cole] Looking to eliminate Styles. Styles somehow shifted.
Now Theory's eliminated by Styles!
Impressive performance, however, 22 minutes for Austin Theory
in his inaugural Royal Rumble match.
[Pat] He was living out there on the apron,
inevitably he was gonna get knocked out.
Hell of a performance.
Who is next?
-[Cole] Number 17. -[timer buzzes]
["Hellfire" playing]
[Cole] It's fight night in St. Louis.
He'd fit right in over with the St. Louis Blues, wouldn't he?
[Pat] I think so.
[Cole] The man who, a decade ago in this city,
it was in St. Louis back in 2012,
where Sheamus won the Royal Rumble.
He'd go on to WrestleMania and win the world title.
Now Ridge Holland eliminated right in front of Sheamus!
[Pat] Sheamus was probably hoping for his protégé to be in there with him.
-How are you? I'll get him. -Get him!
[Pat] Right in front of his face.
[Cole] Sheamus is not gonna like that.
Sheamus now goes right after Styles with a punch to the kidney.
Perhaps the most physical man in the Rumble this year, is Sheamus.
[Pat] In the WWE, not just in the Rumble.
Sheamus is all about a good fight.
[Cole] Eight times in his career Sheamus has been in this match.
Oh!
[Pat] Pints and fights.
-[Cole] Oh, what a knee! -[Pat scoffs]
[Cole] Might have dislocated AJ's jaw.
Now Chad Gable taking the fight to Sheamus.
They had an issue at one point.
There's the Irish Curse Backbreaker.
Sheamus has probably had an issue
with everybody that's gonna enter this Royal Rumble.
Been around a long time, doesn't give a damn about anybody.
[Cole] He's accomplished everything.
AJ Styles hanging on, though, on the apron.
Number 18 is on the way.
[crowd] Six, five, four…
[Cole] Ten Beats of the Bodhran from Sheamus.
[Pat] AJ Styles dangling there.
["Solid Ground" playing]
[Pat] Yes!
[Pat cackles]
I didn't know this was his song!
[Cole] Rick Boogs is here.
[Pat] I wish he could play himself in, that's how he gets psyched up!
The yoked Freddie Mercury is now in the Royal Rumble!
[Cole] Partner of the Intercontinental Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura.
And perhaps the most powerful dude on the Friday Night SmackDown roster.
A little bit of an example here.
[Pat] Peacock around, Boogs!
[Cole] Who's going for a ride on the Boogs cruise tonight?
[Pat] That would be Chad…
[Cole] Look at the power of Boogs.
[Pat] Just carrying Chad Gable around like he was an infant.
[Cole] Oh, and Gable now!
[Pat] What's he doing?
-He's gonna break his arm. -[Cole] Trying to hang on as well.
Boogs is yanking Gable.
[Pat] He just curled a Chad Gable.
[Cole] Oh!
Planted him face first as well.
[Superstars yelling]
-Boogs bringing-- -Uh-oh, Corbin's in trouble!
Look at the power of Boogs!
[Pat] Is that one handed?
[Cole] The military press.
-[Pat] He's doing that one handed! -[Cole] On Gable!
And Gable's dumped over the top rope by Boogs.
[crowd chanting] Boogs! Boogs! Boogs!
[Pat] Crowd's chanting, "Boogs." They're not booing that man.
He just picked up Chad Gable with one arm.
[Cole] Dolph Ziggler went over the top rope.
Almost eliminated by Styles, but was able to hang on.
[Pat] Fifteenth time in the Rumble, you're gonna know those tricks.
Hang on like hell to the ropes.
[Cole] Nineteen on the way.
[crowd] Two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Dare Devil" playing]
[Cole] Happy Corbin's got some backup.
[Pat] This is gonna bring a smile to Happy's face.
[Cole] This is Madcap Moss, making his first appearance ever
in a Royal Rumble.
[Pat] Madcap is Happy Corbin's jester, for those that don't know.
He has a ten-pack, he's yoked, but he tells terrible jokes.
And him and Happy are beating the hell out of Sheamus!
[Cole] What happens if it gets down to Happy and Madcap?
-[Pat] I would assume-- -[Cole] Sheamus over the top rope.
Not eliminated.
Back in the ring.
I believe Happy Corbin thought he eliminated him.
Look at Boogs again, with Dolph Ziggler up high!
Military press to Ziggler.
[Pat] The strength on Boogs. He's pressing Dolph Ziggler.
Absolutely incredible.
[Cole] Now Ziggler hanging on!
Boogs trying to dump and eliminate Ziggler.
[Pat] He shouldn't have done five presses of Dolph Ziggler, only four.
[Cole] Now Dolph…
trying to yank Boogs over the top rope.
[Pat] AJ Styles, our first entrant, getting beat up by the Happy Folks.
He turns it around!
Madcap getting ahold of AJ Styles.
[Cole] AJ into the corner.
Madcap Moss.
[Pat] Incredibly talented in the ring.
[Cole] Styles calling for the Phenomenal Forearm.
Off the top rope, caught by Corbin.
Happy Corbin with a chokeslam backbreaker.
And now Madcap Moss eliminates Styles!
Styles, who entered at number one.
Twenty-nine minutes and five seconds for AJ Styles.
Yes!
-[whoops] -[laughs]
[Pat] I mean…
What an incredible run by AJ Styles.
It was gonna have to end some way.
Either champion or tossed out by the scumbag Happy Folks.
[Cole] We are two-thirds of the way through the Rumble as number 20 enters.
Former Tag Team Champion,
McAfee's buddy Riddle.
[Pat] I love the altitudes in which Riddle soars and scoots.
[Cole] Riddle had a breakthrough moment in last year's Royal Rumble.
["We Up" playing]
He had an incredible performance lasting over 30 minutes
before being eliminated by Seth Rollins.
Is this the year Riddle wins the Rumble match?
Oh!
[Pat] Flippy-floppies to the sky!
[Cole] Runs into a German suplex.
[Pat] Bodies getting tossed around. Welcome to the Rumble, Riddle.
[Cole] Now Happy Corbin
and Madcap Moss gonna double team Riddle.
This duo have been very impressive.
Boogs…
[Riddle] No, no, no!
[Pat] Taking Madcap off of Riddle.
[Cole] Gutwrench by Boogs to Madcap.
Happy Corbin saving his partner.
[Pat] Great to have a teammate in the Royal Rumble.
[Cole] At least for now.
As Boogs is sent over the top rope, hangs on, however.
-And Boogs! Oh! Eliminated. -[Pat] These folks.
[Cole] A little bit of payback for the Happy Folks
after what Boogs did to them.
[crowd booing]
[Pat] You don't have to like the humans, I guess, to respect their ability.
They've been cleaning house in here, the Happy Folks.
Stomping away on Riddle.
Madcap and Happy eliminating everybody.
[Cole] Here comes number 21.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Gallantry" playing]
[Cole] The Happy Folks' smile just got turned upside down!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] He's back!
[Pat] The Scottish Warrior!
Back from a neck injury.
[Cole] That was caused by those two men.
Dumped that lighting truss on top of McIntyre's neck
a month ago.
[Pat] We thought he'd be out for a year or so.
Of course this man
is back early!
And ready to do damage at the Rumble.
[Cole] McIntyre, who won the 2020 Royal Rumble,
eliminating Brock Lesnar,
would go on to beat Lesnar at WrestleMania.
[Pat] The Happy Folks just saw a ghost and threw Riddle at it.
-Then Ziggler. -[Cole] Glassgow kiss.
Now goes right after Madcap Moss again.
Moss and Happy Corbin caused the injury to McIntyre.
McIntyre wasn't even sure he'd be able to get back to the Royal Rumble.
[Pat] All those hours--
[Cole] Madcap Moss eliminated!
Now from behind, Corbin!
Corbin eliminated as well!
Welcome back, Drew McIntyre!
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] Hours and hours of rehabilitation on that injured neck.
All for this moment, to kick the Happy Folks' ass!
[Cole] McIntyre not eliminated but out of the ring.
He has a score to settle, an issue to settle
with Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss!
[Pat] Drew McIntyre
choosing violence with the Happy Folks.
[Cole] McIntyre wants to destroy these two men.
And the steps right on the face of Corbin!
-And Madcap! -What are you doing, huh?
[referee] Knock it off, all right? Come on!
[Pat] Oh man!
That is all that Drew McIntyre could think about for the last month.
These two imbeciles, hurting them--
[Cole] Oh no, suplex onto the steps!
Enough, all right?!
[Cole] Through the carnage will wade number 22.
["Fight" playing]
-From Monday Night Raw, KO. -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Kevin Owens.
[Pat] This is the type of dude who does not care about his body one bit.
[Cole] Yeah, the challenger for the United States Championship.
[Pat] He will risk it all at all times!
[Cole] Now McIntyre and Kevin Owens going at one another in the aisle.
[Pat] Both these men have been in the marquee.
Both these men have been world champions.
Both these men wanna main event WrestleMania.
[Cole] Kevin Owens into the ring, probably not the way he expected.
Pop-up powerbomb by Owens!
To McIntyre!
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] Unbelievable.
Kevin Owens isn't done.
[Cole] Oh! Cannonball in the corner to Dolph Ziggler.
-[Kevin] This is my show! -[crowd cheering]
[Pat] "This is my show," Kevin Owens says.
As he rains rights on Sheamus' face.
[Cole] Trying to eliminate Sheamus.
Sheamus hanging on. Riddle now goes right after KO.
And now after Sheamus. Every man for himself.
[Pat] Riddle with his bare foot stomped on by Kevin Owens.
That is a risk whenever you go into a fight barefoot.
[Cole] Stakes could not be higher, as we await number 23.
Who's gonna win the Rumble? Who's gonna headline WrestleMania?
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
-["Booyaka 619" playing] -[Cole] The legendary Rey Mysterio.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Making an appearance in his thirteenth Royal Rumble match.
[Pat] Why not Rey?
[Cole] He's made history here, Pat.
He lasted over one hour
to win the Royal Rumble match back in 2006,
and would become a world champion at WrestleMania.
Mysterio off the second rope!
Flying crossbody to Sheamus.
[Pat] As soon as he gets in the ring, picture perfect crossbody.
Rey Mysterio.
[Cole] On the shoulders of Riddle.
Looking to dump Riddle over the top rope, both men hanging on.
Riddle saves himself.
Now Kevin Owens looks to eliminate Mysterio.
And Rey, that innovative offensive style.
Stunner by Owens!
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] Kevin Owens deciding to go after Drew McIntyre.
Sheamus says, nah, how about me, fella?
[Cole] The ring beginning to fill up once again.
Sheamus and McIntyre, former cohorts.
Teeing off on Owens.
Now Riddle in trouble, Ziggler looking to eliminate Riddle.
As we wait for number 24 to come into this match.
[crowd] Five, four, three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
♪ It's a new day, yes, it is ♪
-["New Day, New Way" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] In my
humble opinion,
the Rumble highlight reel is led by this man.
Kofi Kingston, who enters the Rumble match for the fourteenth time in his career.
Third all-time.
[Pat] When I was thinking about tonight,
and how excited I was to be here,
I couldn't wait to see what Kofi Kingston does.
An innovative--
[Cole] Always has amazing ways to stay alive in the Rumble match.
Out to the apron now.
Kingston the former WWE Champion.
It was great seeing him-- Oh no!
You gotta be kidding me!
Kofi Kingston trying to survive.
Did both feet hit the floor?
[Kevin] He's out!
[Pat] I don't think they did!
[Cole] What's the official's call?
Let's see what happens here.
Kofi came off the top rope, Kevin Owens sent him flying.
-[Pat] Slow-mo. -[Cole] Kofi Kingston--
And I believe he's eliminated. Both feet did hit the floor.
Kofi Kingston was eliminated.
A valiant try by Kofi Kingston tonight, but he is out of the Royal Rumble match.
[Pat] Physics would not allow Kofi Kingston to remain.
Gravity, his ribs being busted.
What an incredible feat that it was attempted.
[Cole] Riddle and Sheamus in the corner, as the Royal Rumble match continues.
Ziggler out to the apron.
Kevin Owens and Rey Mysterio doing battle as well.
[Riddle] Ow! My toe!
[Pat] Think about the futures that could change here
with the men in the ring.
[Cole] Number 25.
[crowd] Four, three, two, one.
-[Pat] Sheamus is busting Riddle's toes. -[timer buzzes]
["For the Academy" playing]
[Cole] Number 25 is the other half of the Raw Tag Team Champions.
Here comes, from the Alpha Academy,
Otis!
[Pat] When you think about good traits for the Royal Rumble,
a low center of gravity is certainly one of them.
Is there any center of gravity lower than Otis?
[Cole] The man who weighs well north of 300 pounds.
[Pat] He is a round mound of muscle.
Who's the man?
[Pat] You're the man, Otis!
[Cole] Otis in his second appearance in the Royal Rumble match.
[Pat] Don't get it twisted, just because-- Oh, whoa, whoa.
He's a ball of muscle.
He has a mindset, a mentality,
ready to main event--
[Cole] Look at the power of Otis,
just picking up the 6'5" McIntyre and delivering the slam.
For the Academy!
[Cole] "For the Academy," Otis says.
[Pat] That's right. Chad Gable's finest pupil right there.
[Cole] I think it's his only pupil.
[Pat] Could be the worst, the best, and all that in the same thing then,
if you're the only one there.
[Cole] Kevin Owens hammering away on Otis in the corner.
McIntyre's down, as is Mysterio.
[Pat] Otis is first in class and last in class in the Alpha Academy,
down to a knee.
Sheamus is standing over top of Rey Mysterio, Drew McIntyre.
Gathering a little oxygen.
Who's gonna be allies? Who's gonna attack who?
All these things to be figured out at the Royal Rumble.
[Cole] Number 26 on his way. Who will it be?
[timer buzzes]
♪ Y'all wanna go big? ♪
-["Feel the Power" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Entering number 26
is the former WWE Champion
♪ Big belts, big rings… ♪
Big E!
♪ Big as big could ever be… ♪
[Pat] You don't think Big E has a massive score to settle with everybody
after losing his WWE Championship?
[Cole] Well, you can gain a championship opportunity by winning the Rumble match.
That's what Big E is setting out to do in his ninth Rumble appearance.
[Pat] Down goes Owens.
[Cole] Now Big E with--
What a throw to Riddle.
[Pat] Catching Riddle and tossing him around.
Not only the power of positivity, just sheer power.
And incredible hip dexterity.
Big E!
[Cole] Big E with a splash!
[crowd chanting] New Day rocks!
[crowd exclaims]
[Pat] New Day certainly rocks, and so do Bro Kicks to the face.
From Sheamus on Big E, now Rey Mysterio piggy-backing.
[Cole] Sheamus driving Rey back into the corner.
It is crunch time. Only a few men left to enter the Royal Rumble match.
Mysterio caught by Sheamus.
[Pat] Every move has to be calculated at this point.
Lot of exhaustion setting in.
Rey Mysterio getting--
[Cole] Who will enter the Rumble match next?
As the ring begins to fill with more and more Superstars.
-[Pat] Riddle backpacked into the corner. -[timer buzzes]
["Chambea" playing]
[Cole] And number 27, Bad Bunny!
Bad Bunny's here!
[Pat] Bad Bunny!
[Cole] Bad Bunny, the Grammy-winning Latin recording artist.
Who made his in-ring appearance at WrestleMania last year
is in the Royal Rumble match!
[Pat yells in Spanish]
[in English] Bad Bunny off the top rope to Sheamus!
Taking out the Celtic Warrior.
[Pat] Bad Bunny, who has sold out two tours already.
[Cole] Another one coming up in August.
Look-- KO misses wildly.
Bad Bunny runs into Kevin Owens and sends KO flying.
Bad Bunny just loves WWE so much,
He wants to be so much a part of it.
-Including the Rumble. -Yeah!
[Pat] He trains his ass off.
[Cole] Riddle wanting to make friends with Bad Bunny,
and Bad Bunny understands the concept that it's every man for himself.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Oh my goodness!
-A destroyer! -[whoops]
[Cole] From Bad Bunny!
As Bad Bunny was celebrating,
he learned a very valuable rule of the Rumble.
Do not turn your back on anyone.
Sheamus now sends Bad Bunny up over the top rope.
Bad Bunny hanging on, still in the matchup.
[Pat] Bad Bunny's watched Royal Rumbles, he knows how to survive.
[Cole] Oh, Sheamus eliminated!
Went for the Brogue Kick, Bad Bunny…
[crowd cheering]
…suckered Sheamus in!
[Pat] Bad Bunny legitimately has one billion fans.
And he's in here eliminated folks in the Royal Rumble.
[Cole] And Sheamus is livid.
[Pat] Sorry about it, Sheamus.
[Cole] Now Dolph Ziggler going after Bad Bunny.
[Pat] Bad Bunny, what a--
I almost said a word I-- Alleged.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio.
[Pat] You see Rey Mysterio recenter the Hurricanrana there.
Helping out Bad Bunny.
[Cole] Dolph into the second rope and in position.
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] An alley-oop from Bad Bunny to Rey Mysterio!
-For the-- -[Cole] 619!
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] This is awesome.
[Cole] Dolph Ziggler sent over the top rope!
An assist by Mysterio!
[Pat] Let's go, dude!
Go win this thing, Bad Bunny!
[speaks in Spanish]
[Pat] Now Rey Mysterio hanging on.
Bad Bunny, well, he gets the concept of the Rumble, doesn't he?
[Cole] Stunner!
[timer buzzes]
["Here Comes the Money" playing]
[Cole] In at 28…
[crowd cheering]
…Shane O'Mac is back!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Rey Mysterio was just eliminated
in the euphoria of Shane O'Mac making his way to the ring.
Rey Mysterio is eliminated from the Rumble!
[Pat] Look at how good Shane O'Mac looks.
[Cole] This is how Mysterio was eliminated by Otis.
[Pat] Shane O'Mac pummeling Kevin Owens.
Remember, they had some major issues.
[Cole] We haven't seen Shane McMahon since WrestleMania last year.
[Pat] By the way,
"You still got it" chants raining down on Shane O'Mac.
[crowd cheering[
[Pat] Otis put that big thang on Rey Mysterio.
[Cole] Kevin Owens with a superkick.
Shane O'Mac with the St. Louis Cardinals type of insignia on his shirt.
Kevin Owens is eliminated!
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] I do believe St. Louis is a bit torn.
They're excited to see Shane O'Mac, not pumped he eliminated Kevin Owens.
But that's how this is gonna go.
Only one person can win.
Shane says, I'm not here just to dance.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Oh, look at Shane. Combination to McIntyre.
I don't know how smart that was.
The Scottish or SmackDown warrior sends McMahon into the corner.
[Pat] He is from Scotland though, that's a good call.
[Cole] Riddle on the other side. Shane's hanging on.
McIntyre trying to eliminate Shane McMahon.
[Pat] Shane McMahon using all the tricks to keep himself inside the ring.
Whoa, Riddle almost eliminated from Big E.
[Cole] Big E and Otis, look at the size of those two men side by side.
They'd be great to run behind if I was a running back,
but I am not in shape enough to do such a thing.
[crowd] Three, two, one.
[timer buzzes]
["Voices" playing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] At number 29!
St. Louis' own!
Randy Orton!
♪ You got your rules and your religion… ♪
[Cole] For the fourteenth time in his career,
he marches to the ring in a Royal Rumble match.
Think about this, Pat.
If Orton can win, and what a spot to enter, at 29.
If Orton can win the Royal Rumble match,
he will have tied "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
as the only men in history with three Royal Rumble victories.
[Pat] Here we go, Randy Orton.
[Cole] RKO!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And now RK-Bro working together.
[Pat] St. Louis is going bananas!
[Cole] KO to Otis!
Little payback there to the team that took the tag champs from Riddle and Orton.
Oh! Wow!
[crowd cheering]
[Pat] RK-Bro has been working on some things!
[Cole] And a little payback coming to the Alpha Academy.
Otis over the top rope and eliminated!
Watch this. This is insane!
[Pat] Riddle off of Otis' back.
With an RKO that Randy was proud of.
[crowd chanting] Randy! Randy! Randy!
[Cole] Shane O'Mac and Riddle, and Bad Bunny is still in this thing.
As is McIntyre.
Bad Bunny's smart. He gets this Rumble. It's incredible.
[Pat] Of course he's smart. He's an incredible businessman.
-Incredible wrestler. -[Cole] Final spot.
Final spot coming.
Last man to enter the Royal Rumble match here in 2022.
-Who's it gonna be? -[timer buzzes]
-["Next Big Thing" playing] -[Cole] Oh no!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] The Beast Incarnate!
Brock Lesnar!
And Brock Lesnar is pissed off after what happened earlier tonight!
When Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman cost him the WWE Championship!
The alpha male of our species
is infuriated!
[Cole] Pat, you wanna get another title opportunity immediately?
Win the Rumble match!
Which Lesnar has done.
[Pat] Wanna poop your pants immediately?
Be in the Royal Rumble when this man is announced!
[Cole] Nineteen years ago Lesnar won his first Rumble.
Can he duplicate the feat here tonight?
[Pat] Ooh!
Everybody can get one!
[Cole] Brock Lesnar is terrifying.
Brock Lesnar is angry.
[Pat] Now Bad Bunny is staring at…
[Cole] Orton eliminated by Lesnar!
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Did you see the look on Bad Bunny's face?
[Pat] Welcome to the WWE, kid.
Jump over the rope, Bad Bunny! You got two tours!
You got fans, you got music to make!
Don't you do this!
[Cole] Oh no! Brock Lesnar…
Bunnies can fly!
An F-5 to Bad Bunny!
[Pat] Wee Man last night.
Bad Bunny tonight!
Brock Lesnar's throwing celebrities around!
[Cole] Shane O'Mac tried to ambush Brock from behind.
That didn't pay off.
Brock Lesnar's beating the hell out of people.
[Pat] Did you see?! He just caught Riddle in mid-air!
[Cole] This is shades of what happened a couple of years ago, Pat.
When Brock Lesnar eliminated 13 straight men
to start the Royal Rumble match.
[Pat] Oh my…
Shane doesn't wanna go.
[Cole] Lesnar knocks out Shane McMahon!
And Brock and McIntyre turn the Rumble back two years!
Bring us back to 2020!
[crowd cheering[
[Cole] That night it was McIntyre.
Will McIntyre do it again?
You remember this? When you came from this side?
A few more people here this time.
I remember.
We'll have the same damn result.
I've been waiting a long time for this moment.
Making you, in front of all these people…
[speaks indistinctly]
[Pat] Nose to nose for these two goliaths.
[Cole] McIntyre, who knocked off Lesnar at WrestleMania
to win the WWE Championship.
Lesnar wants payback here tonight.
Look at the power of Lesnar!
Driving McIntyre into the corner.
And now has Drew McIntyre up on his shoulders!
-[Pat] You see the strength-- -[Cole] Brock Lesnar went for the F-5!
McIntyre, counter with a Glassgow Kiss.
Two men remain. Who's gonna win the Rumble?
[Pat] Claymore blocked by Lesnar!
[Cole] Lesnar with McIntyre up yet again.
Drew McIntyre dumped over the top rope!
-Brock Lesnar's going to WrestleMania! -[bell rings]
["Next Big Thing" playing]
[Irvin] The winner of the Royal Rumble match,
and the person who will main event WrestleMania,
Brock Lesnar!
[Cole] Nineteen years after his first Royal Rumble win,
Brock Lesnar repeats.
And, Pat, if you are Roman Reigns,
and you are Paul Heyman,
what is going through your head right now?
I'm--
[fireworks exploding]
If I'm Paul Heyman and I'm Roman Reigns,
I'm taking a direct trip down to the pharmacy,
I'm buying all of the Depends that they have.
Because Brock Lesnar,
after a brutal fight with Bobby Lashley,
comes into the Royal Rumble and is an absolute ass-kicking machine.
[Cole] Brock Lesnar took out everybody.
Lesnar ticked off after what happened earlier tonight,
when Reigns and Heyman cost him the WWE Championship.
Said, my easiest path back to a title match
at WrestleMania,
is to win the Royal Rumble match, and that's what he did.
[Pat] F-5ing Drew McIntyre.
Quite a staple on this Royal Rumble victory.
Who will Brock choose?
Which champion will he target on the road to WrestleMania?
[Pat] I think it's pretty clear.
[Cole] If I'm Roman Reigns, I'm scared to death.
Thank you for joining us, everybody.
Good night from the Rumble.
We'll see you on the road to WrestleMania! eath.