WWF / WWE Royal Rumble Results
Shown live on the USA Network (8.2); included Vince McMahon & Jesse Ventura on commentary; Gorilla Monsoon was to have been part of the commentary team but was sidelined after suffering a mild heart attack; featured Gene Okerlund conducting a podium interview with Ventura regarding his participation as the spotter for Dino Bravo’s weightlifting exhibition; moments later, Bravo and Frenchy Martin appeared, with Bravo doing repeated lifts as the crowd booed; Ventura protested to McMahon during the segment, alledging McMahon had something to do with the fans booing and trying to break Bravo’s concentration; just before Bravo attempted 715 lbs., a new world record, Bravo stormed off due to the booing but eventually returned; Bravo then lifted the weight but Ventura was clearly shown helping with the weight; included McMahon & Ventura reviewing footage from WrestleMania III in which Andre the Giant seemingly pinned WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan, followed by recent footage of Ted Dibiase claiming he would buy Hogan’s title, Hogan refusing, Andre attacking Hogan on Saturday Night’s Main Event and then saying he would get the WWF Title and give it to Dibiase; featured Okerlund hosting the in-ring contract signing between Hogan and Andre for their rematch Feb. 5 in Indianapolis, IN, televised live on NBC; Andre, who appeared with Dibiase and Virgil, had to be told repeatedly to join Hogan and WWF President Jack Tunney for the singing; before Hogan was able to sign the document, Dibiase berated Hogan, said he was signing his career away and that by Feb. 5 Dibiase would have the title and Hogan would be history; Andre then carefully inspected the contract before eventually signing, with Andre then standing up after being prompted by Dibiase and ramming Hogan’s face into the table, with the table flipping and landing on top of the champion; included Craig DeGeorge conducting a podium interview with Hogan regarding his upcoming title defense against Andre, with Hogan saying the only way Andre could beat him was if he beat all his Hulkamaniacs; the card was to have featured a Demolition vs. Killer Bees match but it was canceled:
Ricky Steamboat defeated Rick Rude via disqualification at 17:41 after Rude pulled referee Dave Hebner in the way of Steamboat’s crossbody off the top; Rude initially thought he won the match as he had Steamboat in the overhead backbreaker when Hebner came to and called for the bell and Rude’s music played until the official decision was announced; upon hearing the decision, Rude returned to the ring and berated Hebner in the corner
The Jumping Bomb Angels defeated WWF Women’s Tag Team Champions Lelani Kai & Judy Martin (w/ Jimmy Hart) in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match at 13:56 to win the titles; fall #1: Lelani Kai scored the first fall at 6:11 with a move that started out as a powerbomb but turned into an over-the-head slam; fall #2: the Jumping Bomb Angels won the second fall at 8:05 by reversing a powerbomb into a sunset flip; fall #3: the challengers won the third fall following a double dropkick off the top rope onto Martin; a replay of the third fall showed Martin’s shoulder was up at 2 but Vince McMahon claimed her shoulderblade was still down (Best of the WWF Vol. 15, The Women of the WWF)
Jim Duggan won a 20-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating the One Man Gang at 33:26
Order of entry: Bret Hart (w/ Jimmy Hart) (00:00); WWF Tag Team Champion Tito Santana (00:00); Butch Reed (1:58); Jim Neidhart (3:46); Jake Roberts (5:18); King Harley Race (6:50); Jim Brunzell (8:15); Sam Houston (9:42); Danny Davis (11:15); Boris Zhukov (12:43); Don Muraco (14:52); Volkoff ran out with Muraco, before his official entrance, and was held back by referees at ringside until he was allowed in the match; Nikolai Volkoff (16:38); Jim Duggan (18:37); Ron Bass (19:42); B. Brian Blair (21:06); Hillbilly Jim (22:36); Dino Bravo (w/ Frenchy Martin) (24:05); the Ultimate Warrior (25:31); the One Man Gang (26:30); the Junkyard Dog (27:36)
Order of elimination: Reed by Roberts as Reed, Hart, and Neidhart attempted to eliminate Santana (5:22); Santana by Hart & Neidhart (10:40); Zhukov by Roberts & Brunzell (15:16); Race by Muraco (16:50); Brunzell by Volkoff (20:50); Neidhart by Hillbilly via a backdrop (22:50); Houston by Bass as he was on Bass’ shoulders (24:19); Hart by Muraco (25:40); Blair by OMG (26:56); Roberts by OMG (27:10); Volkoff by Duggan via a backdrop after ducking a punch (28:18); Hillbilly by OMG via a backdrop (28:31); Davis by Duggan via the running clothesline (29:06); Warrior by Bravo & OMG (29:22); JYD by Bass after JYD sustained an uppercut from OMG (29:44); Bass by Muraco (29:56); Muraco by OMG via a clothesline as Bravo held Muraco in place (31:07); Bravo by OMG with a clothesline after Duggan avoided the move (32:20); OMG by Duggan by pulling the top rope down as OMG attempted a charging clothesline (33:19) (History of WWE)
The Islanders (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Jim Powers & Paul Roma in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match, 2-0, at 15:05; fall #1: Roma was counted out at 7:54 and appeared to sustain a legit injury after Haku caused him to fall to the floor, with Roma landing awkwardly; after the commercial break, Craig DeGeorge conducted a podium interview with Ted Dibiase, Virgil, and Andre the Giant regarding Andre’s upcoming match against WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan, with Andre claiming he was still undefeated and would take Hogan’s title; moments later, Powers & Roma returned ringside after Roma, his knee heavily taped, received medical treatment backstage; fall #2: Roma submitted to Haku’s half crab at 7:11 after Tama hit a splash off the top onto Roma’s injured knee
Time in the Rumble Match
Bret Hart (25:40) *Ironman – Record established*
Jake Roberts (21:52)
Jim Neidhart (19:04)
Danny Davis (17:51)
Don Muraco (16:15)
Jim Duggan (14:32) *Winner*
Sam Houston (12:37)
Jim Brunzell (12:35)
Nikolai Volkoff (11:40)
Tito Santana (10:40)
Ron Bass (10:14)
King Harley Race (10:00)
Dino Bravo (8:15)
One Man Gang (6:49)
Hillbilly Jim (5:55)
The Ultimate Warrior (3:51)
B. Brian Blair (5:50)
Butch Reed (3:24)
Boris Zhukov (2:35)
The Junkyard Dog (2:08)
Jim Powers defeated Barry Horowitz
Sam Houston defeated Steve Lombardi
Pay-per-view bouts – included Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura on commentary; featured a pre-taped segment in which Ted Dibiase, with Virgil, drew his number for the Royal Rumble, with Dibiase then going off to find Slick after realizing the number he drew; after Slick said he was very happy with the numbers his men drew, Dibiase and he walked off to discuss things further; the segment also featured the drawing for the Bushwhackers, Bad News Brown, WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition, Jake Roberts, and Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty; included a posedown contest between WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior and Rick Rude, with Bobby Heenan, overseen by Gene Okerlund; both men went through various poses, with Warrior winning the fans’ approval, with Rude eventually attacking Warrior and choking him out with a steel bar; after Rude and Heenan left ringside, Warrior came to his senses, attacked the referees, Shane McMahon, Nick Bockwinkel, and others who came to check on him, and ran backstage to search for Rude; featured Sean Mooney conducting a backstage interview with Slick, the Big Bossman & Akeem, regarding Bossman & Akeem’s chances in the Royal Rumble match; when Mooney asked what happened earlier between Slick and Dibiase, Slick claimed to have not seen Dibiase in over a month; Mooney then showed the earlier footage, with Slick not talking about it but instead putting over his team; included Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Rude and Heenan about the earlier attack on the Warrior, with Rude and Heenan then seemingly leaving the arena; featured pre-taped comments from managers with men in the Rumble match – Mr. Fuji, Jimmy Hart, and a pre-taped interview by Okerlund of Miss Elizabeth; included Ventura in the King’s chair on the interview platform hyping the upcoming match between King Haku and Harley Race; featured pre-taped comments by Brutus Beefcake, Greg Valentine, Mr. Fuji & the Powers of Pain, Big John Studd, Mr. Perfect, and WWF World Champion Randy Savage; included Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Savage, with Elizabeth, regarding his dispute during the Rumble with Hogan, with Savage saying cooler heads had prevailed, reassuring Okerlund that he and Hogan were on the same page, and then subtly argued he should have been the Rumble winner:
Jim Duggan, Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart defeated Dino Bravo (w/ Frenchy Martin), Jacques & Raymond Rougeau (w/ Jimmy Hart) in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at 15:42; fall #1: Raymond pinned Bret following the side suplex from Bravo and a Jacques Rougeau Bombs Away at 4:22; fall #2: Duggan pinned Raymond with an elbow drop at 11:46 after both Bret and Neidhart hit a slingshot splash into the ring onto Rougeau; fall #3: Bret pinned Bravo after Duggan hit Bravo in the back with his 2X4
WWF Women’s Champion Rockin’ Robin pinned Judy Martin at 6:24 with a reverse crossbody off the middle turnbuckle; prior to the match, Sensational Sherri cut an in-ring promo on both, citing she wanted a shot at the winner; moments later, Sherri joined the commentary team for the bout
King Haku pinned Harley Race with a side kick at 9:03 after Race missed a clothesline; Bobby Heenan was at ringside for the match and cheered on both men; pre-match stipulations stated Heenan would leave with the winner; the King’s crown was on the line for the contest (the bout was not included on the US video release)
Big John Studd won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Ted Dibiase at 1:03:16
Order of entry: WWF Tag Team Champion Ax (00:00), WWF Tag Team Champion Smash (00:00), Andre the Giant (2:46), Mr. Perfect (4:40), Ron Garvin (6:25), Greg Valentine (8:30), Jake Roberts (10:21), Ron Bass (12:22), Shawn Michaels (14:22), Bushwhacker Butch (16:28), the Honkytonk Man (18:32), Tito Santana (20:21), Bad News Brown (22:24), Marty Jannetty (24:22), WWF World Champion Randy Savage (26:21), Arn Anderson (28:26), Tully Blanchard (30:24), Hulk Hogan (32:24), Bushwhacker Luke (34:27), Koko B. Ware (36:26), the Warlord (38:40), the Big Bossman (40:40), Akeem (42:33), Brutus Beefcake (44:43), the Red Rooster (46:28), the Barbarian (48:37), Big John Studd (50:51), Hercules (52:29), Rick Martel (54:29), Ted Dibiase (56:48); all managers were barred from ringside but Virgil stayed ringside until the conclusion of the match
Order of elimination: Smash by Andre (4:57); Garvin by Andre via a hiptoss (9:03); Roberts by Andre (12:30); Ax by Perfect via a backdrop (14:39); Andre eliminated himself while running away from Roberts when Roberts returned to the ring with Damien (16:42); the Honkytonk Man by Butch & Santana (22:45); Bass by Michaels & Jannetty via a double dropkick (25:00); Valentine by Savage via a backdrop (28:23); Michaels by Anderson & Savage via a double elbow (28:53); Jannetty by Blanchard after Jannetty became hung upside down by the toes of his boots (32:14); Perfect by Hogan after throwing Perfect into the corner (32:37); Santana by Savage & Anderson (33:08); Butch by Bad News & Hogan (34:43); Koko by Hogan via a backdrop (37:32); Luke by Hogan (37:45); Anderson & Blanchard by Hogan via a double clothesline (38:26); the Warlord by Hogan via a clothesline (38:43); Savage & Bad News by Hogan (38:48); afterwards, Savage argued with Hogan over his elimination until Miss Elizabeth came to the ring to have the two shake hands; Hogan by Bossman & Akeem (43:57); after the elimination, Hogan brawled with both Bossman & Akeem on the floor; upon Beefcake’s entrance, he joined the fight on the floor before entering the ring; Bossman via Hogan, who was still at ringside, pulling down the top rope as Bossman ran the ropes (45:00); after the elimination, Hogan and Bossman fought their way backstage; Rooster by Dibiase after being thrown into the corner (57:44); Hercules & Beefcake by Dibiase & the Barbarian as Beefcake had the sleeper applied on Hercules (58:39); the Barbarian by Martel via a dropkick after the Barbarian missed a clothesline (59:52); Martel by Akeem via a slam to the floor after catching Martel in a crossbody (59:58); Akeem by Studd via a forearm to the back after Akeem accidentally splashed Dibiase in the corner (1:01:09); Dibiase by Studd; after the bout, Virgil attacked Studd from behind before he was clotheslined, bodyslammed, and thrown to the floor himself
Time in the Rumble Match
Mr. Perfect (27:57) *Ironman – New record*
Greg Valentine (19:53)
Akeem (18:36)
Bushwhacker Butch (18:15)
Bad News Brown (16:24)
Demolition Ax (14:39)
Shawn Michaels (14:31)
Andre the Giant (13:56)
Tito Santana (12:47)
Ron Bass (12:38)
Randy Savage (12:27)
Big John Studd (12:25) *Winner*
Hulk Hogan (11:33)
The Red Rooster (11:16)
The Barbarian (11:15)
Arn Anderson (10:00)
Tully Blanchard (8:02)
Marty Jannetty (7:52)
Ted Dibiase (7:28)
Hercules (6:10)
Rick Martel (5:29)
Demolition Smash (4:57)
The Big Bossman (4:20)
The Honkytonk Man (4:13)
Bushwhacker Luke (3:18)
Ron Garvin (2:38)
Jake Roberts (2:09)
Koko B. Ware (1:06)
The Warlord (0:03)
Paul Roma pinned the Brooklyn Brawler with a powerslam at 6:13
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Tony Schiavone & Jesse Ventura on commentary, with Ventura wearing a Mickey House sweater and hat; included Gene Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Ted Dibiase, with Virgil, regarding his participation in the Royal Rumble match, during which Dibiase complained about the added security about drawing entry numbers; moments later, Okerlund grabbed Dibiase’s pick and announced he was the No. 1 entry, with Dibiase then saying he would be the first man in the ring and the last man standing; featured Sean Mooney conducting a backstage interview with Bobby Heenan, Rick Rude, and WWF Tag Team Champions Andre the Giant & Haku, with the Heenan Family eventually arguing amongst themselves about who would win the Royal Rumble match; included an ad promoting WrestleMania VI at Toronto’s Skydome on April 1; featured Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Mr. Perfect regarding his attack on Brutus Beefcake earlier in the show and his participation in the Rumble match, with Perfect revealing he was the No. 30 entry; included an in-ring segment of the Brother Love Show, with Brother Love introducing Sensational Sherri as a “lady” before the two spoke about the definition of “peasant;” moments later, Love introduced Sapphire as matching that description, with Love and Sherri making fun of Sapphire and Love repeatedly cutting Sapphire off as she attempted to answer his questions; Sapphire eventually slapped Sherri to the mat, with Randy Savage then appearing and backing Sapphire in the corner; Dusty Rhodes then appeared but Savage knocked him to the floor and came off the top until Sapphire jumped on Love’s back; moments later, Savage and Sherri were taken backstage by officials before Rhodes climbed back in the ring, held Love so Sapphire could slap him, and then threw Love to the floor; Rhodes and Sapphire then danced together in the ring as Love was helped backstage by officials; featured Mooney conducting a backstage interview with Jim Duggan regarding his upcoming match with the Big Bossman; included pre-taped comments from Earthquake & Dino Bravo with Jimmy Hart, Demolition, Bad News Brown, Rhodes with Sapphire, Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty, Hercules, Rick Martel, Tito Santana, Jimmy Snuka, Akeem with Slick, and WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior regarding their participation in the Rumble match; featured pre-taped comments from Savage, the Powers of Pain with Mr. Fuji, Jake Roberts, Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart, the Honkytonk Man with Jimmy Hart, and WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan regarding their participation in the Rumble:
The Bushwhackers defeated Jacques & Raymond Rougeau (w/ Jimmy Hart) at 13:35 when Butch pinned Jacques after a battering ram that sent Jacques into Raymond, knocking Raymond out of the ring (the Rougeaus’ last match in the WWF as a team) (Jacques’ last appearance for 11 months)
Brutus Beefcake fought the Genius to a double disqualification at 11:03 when, after the referee was knocked down, Beefcake began cutting the Genius’ hair which led to Mr. Perfect interfering, eventually attacking Beefcake with two chair shots to the ribs before referees forced Perfect and the Genius from the ring
Ron Garvin defeated Greg Valentine (w/ Jimmy Hart) at 16:52 in a submission match with the Scorpion Death Lock after Garvin used Valentine’s own shin guard as a weapon as Valentine attempted to hit him with Garvin’s shin guard
Jim Duggan defeated the Big Bossman (w/ Slick) via disqualification at 10:23 when Bossman hit Duggan in the face with the nightstick, knocking him to the floor; after the bout, Duggan hit Bossman in the back with the 2×4, sending him over the top, and then did the same to Slick
WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan won the 30-man Royal Rumble at 58:43 by last eliminating Mr. Perfect
Order of entry: Ted Dibiase (w/ Virgil) (00:00); Koko B. Ware (00:00); Marty Jannetty (2:11); Jake Roberts (4:39); Randy Savage (w/ Sensational Sherri) (6:15); Roddy Piper (8:03); the Warlord (w/ Mr. Fuji) (10:12); Bret Hart (12:00); Bad News Brown (14:12); Dusty Rhodes (w/ Sapphire) (15:59); WWF Tag Team Champion Andre the Giant (w/ Bobby Heenan) (18:17); the Red Rooster (sub. for Barry Windham) (19:59); Demolition Ax (21:56); WWF Tag Team Champion Haku (23:55); Demolition Smash (25:51); Akeem (w/ Slick) (28:00); Jimmy Snuka (30:03); Dino Bravo (w/ Jimmy Hart) (31:57); the Canadian Earthquake (33:59); Jim Neidhart (35:51); WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior (37:50); Rick Martel (39:57); Tito Santana (41:50); the Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart) (44:00); WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan (45:52); Shawn Michaels (47:57); the Barbarian (49:45); Rick Rude (50:33); Rude came out before the clock started for his entrance; Hercules (53:03); & Mr. Perfect (55:09)
Order of elimination: Koko by Dibiase after ducking his head when Koko charged towards him (1:38), Jannetty when Dibiase ducked a high crossbody (3:46); Jake by Savage with a clothesline as Jake prepared to hit the DDT on Dibiase (14:45); Savage by Rhodes after ducking his head when Savage charged at him (16:25); Warlord by Andre with a hiptoss, after the elimination, Heenan and Fuji had a confrontation on the floor (18:29); Bad News by Piper when Piper ducked his head after Bad News charged him (20:17); Piper when Bad News pulled him out from the outside, after the elimination, Piper and Bad News brawled their way backstage (20:24); Rooster by Andre (21:57); Bret by Rhodes via an elbow to the face (28:17); Andre by Demolition via a double clothesline from behind (28:32); Akeem by Snuka via a flying headbutt to Akeem’s back (30:31); Rhodes by Earthquake via a clothesline from behind (34:17); Ax by Earthquake via a slam (34:45); Earthquake by Smash, Haku, Snuka, Neidhart & Dibiase (36:31); Bravo by Warrior (38:10); Smash by Haku via a kick to the face while Smash was on the apron (40:50); Neidhart by Warrior & Martel (44:33); Dibiase by Warrior via a clothesline (44:50); Snuka by Hogan via a clothesline (46:05); Haku by Hogan via a boot to the face (46:27); Santana by Warrior & Martel as Santana attempted to eliminate Martel (46:59); Honky by Hogan (48:01); Michaels by Warrior (48:09); Martel by Warrior (48:12); even though none of his men were in the ring at the time, Heenan remained at ringside to see the confrontation between Hogan and the Warrior; Warrior when Hogan clotheslined Barbarian & Rude as they were attempting to eliminate the Warrior (52:20); after the elimination, Warrior returned to the ring and attacked Rude and the Barbarian before running backstage; Barbarian by Hercules when Hercules ducked his head (55:33); Hercules by Rude with clothesline after Hercules sustained a dropkick from Perfect (56:04); Rude when Hogan Irish whipped Rude and Perfect accidentally pulled the top rope down as he was stood on the apron (57:01); Perfect by Hogan via a catapult into the ringpost (match joined in progress on Hulk Still Rules and Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology Wal-Mart exclusive 4th disc from Hogan’s entrance)
Time in the Rumble Match
Ted Dibiase (44:50) *Ironman – New record*
Haku (22:32)
Dusty Rhodes (18:18)
Bret Hart (16:17)
Demolition Smash (14:59)
The Ultimate Warrior (14:30)
Jimmy Snuka (13:02)
Hulk Hogan (12:51) (Winner)
Demolition Ax (12:49)
Roddy Piper (12:21)
Andre the Giant (10:15)
Randy Savage (10:10)
Jake Roberts (10:06)
Jim Neidhart (8:42)
The Warlord (8:17)
Rick Martel (8:15)
Rick Rude (6:28)
Dino Bravo (6:13)
Bad News Brown (6:05)
The Barbarian (5:48)
Tito Santana (5:09)
The Honkytonk Man (4:01)
Mr. Perfect (3:34)
Hercules (3:01)
Earthquake (2:32)
Akeem (2:31)
The Red Rooster (1:58)
Koko B. Ware (1:38)
Marty Jannetty (1:35)
Shawn Michaels (0:12)
Jerry Saggs pinned Sam Houston with a powerslam at 5:25
Pay-per-view bouts – featured the playing of the National Anthem to begin the broadcast; the show aired on the Armed Forces Network; included Gorilla Monsoon & Roddy Piper on commentary; featured Sean Mooney conducting a backstage interview with Randy Savage in which Savage said Sgt. Slaughter had promised Savage a title shot should Slaughter win the WWF World Title later in the show; when Mooney questioned whether WWF World Champion the Ultimate Warrior had given the same promise, Savage pointed to a moniter where Sensational Sherri was shown dragging Gene Okerlund to the interview platform in the area; Okerlund then questioned what Sherri was doing, with Sherri then challenging Warrior to grant Savage a title shot and calling him yellow until he appeared; Sherri then repeatedly questioned Warrior before attepting to seduce him into the title match and got down on her knees, with Warrior eventually shaking before yelling “No” over the mic and walking off; moments later, Savage was shown backstage throwing things around in his locker room before then running down the hallway, through the crowd, and up to the platform where Sherri remained; included Mooney conducting a backstage interview with Sgt. Slaughter & Gen. Adnan regarding Slaughter’s title match later in the show; featured Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Warrior regarding his title defense; featured Mooney conducting a backstage interview with Savage & Sherri regarding them costing Warrior the title, during which Warrior began pounding on Savage’s dressing room door, with Savage running off; included Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Slaughter & Adnan regarding Slaughter’s title victory; featured pre-taped comments from fans outside the arena wishing the US troops a quick and safe return from Saudi Arabia, followed by the announcement that Hulk Hogan would begin touring military bases across the country the following week; included pre-taped comments from Jake Roberts, Earthquake & Jimmy Hart, Greg Valentine, Kerry Von Erich, the Legion of Doom, the Undertaker & Brother Love, Jim Duggan, Rick Martel, Davey Boy Smith, WWF IC Champion Mr. Perfect & Bobby Heenan, and Tugboat regarding their participation in the Royal Rumble match; featured Mooney conducting a backstage interview with Ted Dibiase & Virgil regarding their upcoming match with Dusty & Dustin Rhodes, during which Dibiase said it was because of his money that Virgil did everything he told him to do; included Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Hogan regarding his participation in the Rumble, during which he said he was dedicating the match to the US troops and their allies; moments later, Okerlund said he was receiving word that Slaughter had defaced the American flag, with Hogan saying Slaughter’s reign as WWF Champion was only temporary:
Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated the Orient Express (w/ Mr. Fuji) at 19:14 when Jannetty pinned Tanaka with a sunset flip as Kato & Tanaka attempted a double team move, only for Michaels to punch Tanaka in the midsection as Kato slingshot Jannetty into his partner (Shawn Michaels: Heartbreak & Triumph)
The Big Bossman pinned the Barbarian (w/ Bobby Heenan) at 10:06 when the momentum of a crossbody off the top by the Barbarian put Bossman on top for the win
Sgt. Slaughter pinned WWF World Champion the Ultimate Warrior at 12:46 to win the title with an elbow drop after Randy Savage and Sensational Sherri interfered, with Savage smashing his scepter over Warrior’s head; Gen. Adnan, who came ringside with Slaughter, ran backstage after the opening moments of the contest after Warrior easily fought off a double team attack; moments later, Sensational Sherri came ringside and grabbed Warrior’s leg, with him chasing her down the asile until he was jumped by Randy Savage near the entrance way; Savage dropped Warrior with a clothesline and hit him across the back with a spotlight stand as Slaughter distracted the referee; late in the bout, Warrior hit the flying shoulderblock and prepared for the gorilla press slam but Sherri returned ringside and distracted the champion from the apron; moments later, Warrior pulled her into the ring and press slammed her onto Savage, who had just appeared ringside; seconds later, a knee to the back by Slaughter resulted in Warrior laying his head on the middle rope, allowing Savage to hit him in the head with the sceptor; after coming to his senses, Warrior ran backstage to find Savage
The Mountie (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned Koko B. Ware at 9:12 with a sidewalk slam; this bout was not included on the video release
Ted Dibiase & Virgil defeated Dusty & Dustin Rhodes at 9:58 when Dibiase pinned Dusty with a roll up after Dusty hit the corner; Dibiase verbally berated Virgil throughout the contest when the match was not going his way; late in the bout, after Virgil accidentally hit Dibiase, Dibiase responded by attacking Virgil and throwing him to the floor; following the match, Dibiase cut a promo on winning before ordering Virgil to get the Million $ Title and strap it around his waist; after bringing it in the ring, Virgil dropped it at Dibiase’s feet; Dibiase then ordered Virgil to pick it up and, as Virgil got down on his knees to grab it, Dibiase turned around to gloat; when he turned back around, Virgil hit him in the face with the belt, knocking Dibiase out (Dusty’s last appearance for 15 years) (Dustin’s last appearance for 5 years)
Hulk Hogan won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Earthquake at 1:05:15
Order of entry: WWF Tag Team Champion Bret Hart (00:00), Dino Bravo (w/ Jimmy Hart) (00:00), Greg Valentine (2:08), Paul Roma (w/ Slick) (4:07), Kerry Von Erich (6:06), Rick Martel (8:06), Saba Simba (10:10), Bushwhacker Butch (12:19), Jake Roberts (14:11), Hercules (16:10), Tito Santana (18:11), the Undertaker (w/ Brother Love) (20:27), Jimmy Snuka (22:21), Davey Boy Smith (24:11), Demolition Smash (26:13), Road Warrior Hawk (28:11), Shane Douglas (30:13), (no show – scheduled to be Randy Savage), Road Warrior Animal (34:11), Demolition Crush (w/ Mr. Fuji) (36:14), Jim Duggan (38:18), Earthquake (w/ Jimmy Hart) (40:29), WWF IC Champion Mr. Perfect (w/ Bobby Heenan) (42:44), Hulk Hogan (44:16), Haku (46:19), WWF Tag Team Champion Jim Neidhart (48:16), Bushwhacker Luke (50:34), Brian Knobbs (52:18), the Warlord (54:17), & Tugboat (56:19)
Order of elimination: Bravo by Valentine (3:07); after the elimination, Valentine knocked Jimmy Hart off the ring apron; Simba by Martel who slid under the bottom rope as Simba was trying to eliminate him (12:38); Roma eliminted himself after Jake ducked a crossbody (18:13); Bret by Taker via a double choke throw (20:37); Butch by Taker (22:28); Jake by Martel when Martel, who was on the ring apron, snapmared Roberts over the ropes (27:12); Von Erich by Taker after ducking the tornado punch (30:27); Snuka by Road Warrior Hawk (30:30); Taker by the Legion of Doom via a double clothesline (34:46); Road Warrior Hawk by Hercules & Martel via a double clothesline from behind (34:50); Road Warrior Animal by Earthquake via ducking a charge (40:52); Duggan by Perfect via ducking a backdrop (43:02); Smash by Hogan moments after hitting a boot to the face (44:39); Valentine by Hogan as Valentine was trying to eliminate Martel (46:19); Santana by Earthquake (48:41); Luke by Earthquake (50:38); Hercules by Knobbs (53:55); Crush by Hogan (54:51); Warlord by Hogan via a clothesline (55:54); Douglas by Knobbs (approximately 56:41; the camera did not pick up the elimination); Tugboat by Hogan as Tugobat was attempting to eliminate Martel (58:52); Perfect by Davey with a dropkick after Perfect crotched himself on the top rope (59:01); Neidhart by Martel (59:28); Haku by Davey (59:44); Martel by Davey with a clothesline after Martel crotched himself on the top rope (1:00:36); Davey by Earthquake and Knobbs (1:01:00); Knobbs by Hulk with a boot to the face (1:02:27); Earthquake by Hogan with a clothesline after a bodyslam
Shane McMahon was one of the ringside referees for the bout; after the match, Hogan waved the American flag in the ring
Time in the Rumble Match
Rick Martel (52:30) *Ironman – New record*
Greg Valentine (44:11)
Hercules (37:45)
Davey Boy Smith (36:49)
Tito Santana (30:30)
Shane Douglas (26:28)
Earthquake (24:46)
Kerry Von Erich (24:21)
Hulk Hogan (20:59) *Winner*
Bret Hart (20:37)
Demolition Crush (18:37)
Mr. Perfect (15:16)
The Undertaker (14:19)
Paul Roma (14:05)
Haku (13:25)
Jake Roberts (13:01)
Jim Neidhart (10:12)
Bushwhacker Butch (10:09)
Brian Knobs (10:09)
Demolition Smash (8:26)
Jimmy Snuka (8:09)
Road Warrior Animal (6:41)
Road Warrior Hawk (6:39)
Jim Duggan (4:44)
Dino Bravo (3:07)
Tugboat (2:33)
Saba Simba (2:28)
Warlord (1:37)
Bushwhacker Luke (0:04)
Chris Walker defeated the Brooklyn Brawler via reverse decision; the Brawler originally won the match with his feet on the ropes but WWF President Jack Tunney came out and reversed the call
Pay-per-view bouts – included Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby Heenan on commentary; featured a backstage segment in which Lord Alfred Hayes discussed the Mountie’s IC title win two days earlier in Springfield, MA over Bret Hart; Hayes then introduced footage from the match and the aftermath in which the Mountie continued to attack Hart until Roddy Piper appeared; after Piper turned his back, the Mountie came back in the ring and hit Piper over the back with the title belt; moments later, Piper knocked the Mountie from the ring; included Sean Mooney conducting a backstage interview with WWF IC Champion the Mountie & Jimmy Hart regarding the Mountie’s win over Piper and his upcoming match with Piper; featured Gene Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Piper regarding his upcoming match with the Mountie, during which he made mention of being able to win two titles the same night; included Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with the Bushwhackers & Jamison regarding the Bushwhackers’ upcoming match against the Beverly Brothers; featured Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with WWF Tag Team Champions the Legion of Doom regarding their upcoming match against the Natural Disasters; included Mooney conducting a backstage interview with the Natural Disasters & Hart, protesting the decision in their match and arguing they were the new champions; featured Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Piper over his IC title win and upcoming participation in the Royal Rumble, during which Piper dedicated the match to his son Colt; included Mooney backstage discussing the Rumble match, during which the Barbarian walked by and shrugged him off, before Mooney interviewed Shawn Michaels about his upcoming participation in the Rumble and recent attack on Marty Jannetty; footage from the Barber Shop incident then aired, with Michaels then cutting a promo on Jannetty and being in the Rumble match; featured comments from Randy Savage, Sid Justice, Repo Man, Davey Boy Smith, Jake Roberts, Ric Flair & Mr. Perfect, the Undertaker & Paul Bearer, and Hulk Hogan regarding their participation in the Royal Rumble; a young Spike Dudley was in attendance for the event:
Owen Hart & Jim Neidhart defeated the Orient Express (w/ Mr. Fuji) at 17:17 when Owen pinned Tanaka with the Rocket Launcher
Roddy Piper (sub. for Bret Hart) defeated WWF IC Champion the Mountie (w/ Jimmy Hart) to win the title at 5:20 with a sleeper after the champion collided with Hart on the apron (Crunch Classic, Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story)
The Beverly Brothers (w/ the Genius) defeated the Bushwhackers (w/ Jamison) when Beau pinned Luke with a double axe handle off the top at 14:56; after the bout, the Bushwhackers cleared their opponents from the ring, knocked the Genius into the ring, and held him so Jamison could kick him in the shin and then kick him out of the ring; moments later, Jamison marched in the ring with the Bushwhackers while wearing the Genius’ hat
The Natural Disasters (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions the Legion of Doom via count-out at 9:22 when Typhoon got back into the ring after both teams began brawling at ringside; after the bout, the Disasters & Hart posed with the title belts until the champions knocked them to the floor after repeatedly hitting them with a steel chair (Best of the WWF: Tag Team Champions)
Ric Flair won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Sid Justice at 1:02:02; due to pre-match stipulations, Flair won the vacant WWF World Title; prior to the bout, WWF President Jack Tunney addressed the crowd, saying may the best man win
Order of entry: Davey Boy Smith (00:00); Ted Dibiase (escorted by Sensational Sherri) (00:00); Ric Flair (escorted by Mr. Perfect) (2:31); Jerry Sags (escorted by Jimmy Hart) (4:21); Haku (6:08); Shawn Michaels (8:19); Tito Santana (10:10); the Barbarian (12:17); Kerry Von Erich (14:26); Repo Man (16:32); Greg Valentine (18:16); Nikolai Volkoff (20:23); the Big Bossman (22:15); Hercules (24:21); WWF IC Champion Roddy Piper (26:31); Jake Roberts (28:34); Jim Duggan (30:40); IRS (32:47); Jimmy Snuka (34:44); the Undertaker (escorted by Paul Bearer) (37:06); Randy Savage (38:35); the Berzerker (42:06); Virgil (43:58); Col. Mustafa (escorted by Gen. Adnan) (46:12); Rick Martel (47:59); Hulk Hogan (50:01); Skinner (52:04); Sgt. Slaughter (54:19); Sid Justice (56:07); the Warlord (escorted by Harvey Wippleman) (58:31)
Order of elimination: Dibiase by Davey Boy via a clothesline (1:19); Saggs by Davey Boy via a dropkick after Sags was knocked over the top rope to the apron (5:25); Haku by Davey Boy (7:59); Volkoff by Repo (21:27); Valentine by Repo (22:30); Repo by Bossman (22:58); Davey Boy by Flair (23:37); Von Erich by Flair (23:47); Santana & Michaels eliminated each other at the same time (24:07); Barbarian by Hercules while Barbarian was trying to eliminate Flair (25:14); Hercules by Bossman via a clothesline (25:17); Bossman when Flair moved out of the way of a running tackle (25:53); Snuka by Undertaker (37:13); Roberts by Savage with a running knee to the back (39:30); after the elimination, Savage jumped over the top to further attack Roberts but Savage was not himself eliminated because he was not thrown over the top by an opponent; Mustafa by Savage (48:48); Undertaker by Hogan via a clothesline (50:58); Berzerker by Hogan via a backdrop (51:06); Virgil & Duggan eliminated each other at the same time (51:27); Skinner by Martel (54:18); Slaughter by Justice after been sent charging into the corner and over the top (58:56); IRS by Piper while Piper was down on the apron and pulled him over using IRS’s tie (59:50), Warlord by Justice & Hogan (1:00:13); Piper & Martel by Justice as they were trying to eliminate each other (1:00:38); Savage when Flair hit a running kneelift to Justice who was attempting to eliminate Savage (1:01:02); Hogan by Justice as Hogan was trying to eliminate Flair (1:01:32); Justice by Flair while Hogan was pulling Sid from the outside; after the match, Bobby Heenan left the broadcast booth to join Flair backstage before Hogan and Justice faced off inside the ring, with officials having to separate them; Hogan was booed by some in the crowd and there were chants of “Sid” during the segment; moments later, Gene Okerlund conducted a backstage interview with Flair, Perfect, and Heenan, during which Tunney presented Flair the title belt; Flair then cut a promo saying the WWF Title was the only belt in wrestling that made you number 1 (The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection, Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan)
Time in the Rumble Match
Ric Flair (59:31) *Ironman – New record* *Winner*
Roddy Piper (34:07)
IRS (27:03)
Davey Boy Smith (23:37)
Randy Savage (22:27)
Jim Duggan (20:47)
Shawn Michaels (15:48)
Tito Santana (13:57)
The Undertaker (13:52)
The Barbarian (12:57)
Rick Martel (12:39)
Hulk Hogan (11:31)
Jake Roberts (10:56)
Kerry Von Erich (9:21)
Berzerker (9:00)
Virgil (7:29)
Repo Man (6:26)
Sid Justice (5:55)
Sgt. Slaughter (4:37)
Greg Valentine (4:14)
The Big Bossman (3:38)
Col. Mustafa (2:36)
Jimmy Snuka (2:27)
Skinner (2:14)
Haku (1:51)
The Warlord (1:42)
Ted Dibiase (1:19)
Jerry Sags (1:04)
Nikolai Volkoff (1:04)
Hercules (0:56)
Doink the Clown defeated Jim Powers via submission with the Stump Puller at 5:57
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby Heenan on commentary; included a video package highlighting the feud between WWF IC Champion Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty; featured footage of Razor Ramon attacking Owen Hart backstage during the debut episode of WWF Mania; included footage shot the day before at the Arco Arena during a basketball game of Raymond Rougeau interviewing Ramon regarding his upcoming match with WWF World Champion Bret Hart; featured a podium segment in which Heenan pulled down a curtain to unveil “Narcissus” Lex Luger; Luger then spent several minutes posing in front of three full-length mirrors, as Heenan commented on Luger’s physique; moments later, Luger cut a promo on the WWF talent, specifically Mr. Perfect (Luger’s debut as a WWF wrestler); included an in-ring proclamation by Caesar, with Cleopatra, of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas regarding WrestleMania IX and the winner of the Royal Rumble receiving a WWF World Title shot at the event:
Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Beverly Brothers at 10:45 when Scott pinned Blake following the Frankensteiner
WWF IC Champion Shawn Michaels pinned Marty Jannetty at 14:20 with a superkick after Sensational Sherri accidentally hit the challenger in the face with her high heel; Sherri stood in a neutral corner until late in the match when she turned on Michaels; after the bout, Gene Okerlund attempted to conduct a backstage interview with Sherri, with Michaels then running backstage after seeing it on the video wall and cornering Sherri until Jannetty jumped him from behind, with the two men brawling until the fight was broken up by officials (Sherri’s return after a 3-month absence; Jannetty’s last appearance for 4 months as he was fired the following day in San Jose after being found passed out in the locker room)
Bam Bam Bigelow pinned the Big Bossman at 10:09 with a clothesline out of the corner and the diving headbutt
WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated Razor Ramon with the Sharpshooter at 17:59 after reversing a knuckle lock into a roll up and then into the submission hold; prior to the bout, Gene Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Hart before the champion went to the gorilla position; Hart’s parents, Stu & Helen, were shown ringside during the contest; immediately after the bout, Bobby Heenan left the broadcast boot for the unveiling of Narcissus
Yokozuna (w/ Mr. Fuji) won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Randy Savage at 1:06:35; due to pre-match stipulations, Yoko earned a WWF World Title shot at WrestleMania IX; after the match, WWF World Champion Bret Hart interrupted Yoko as he was being photographed by photographers backstage, cut a promo on facing Yoko at WrestleMania, and walked off; only the Royal Rumble theme song could be heard during the segment
Order of entry: Ric Flair (00:00); Bob Backlund (00:00); Papa Shango (2:08); WWF Tag Team Champion Ted Dibiase (escorted by Jimmy Hart) (4:10); Brian Knobbs (6:02); Virgil (8:05); Jerry Lawler (10:19); Max Moon (12:04); Genichiro Tenryu (14:12); Mr. Perfect (16:13); Skinner (18:14); Koko B. Ware (20:15); Samu (escorted by Afa) (22:17); the Berzerker (24:21); the Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) (26:36); Terry Taylor (28:21); Damien Demento (around 33:30, the camera was focused on Giant Gonzalez); WWF Tag Team Champion IRS (around 33:30, the camera was focused on Giant Gonzalez); Tatanka (34:30); Jerry Saggs (36:32); Typhoon (38:37); Fatu (escorted by Afa) (40:47); Earthquake (42:52); Carlos Colon (44:58); Tito Santana (47:03); Rick Martel (49:06); Yokozuna (escorted by Mr. Fuji) (51:41); Owen Hart (53:15); Repo Man (55:26); Randy Savage (57:33)
Order of elimination: Shango by Flair as Shango attempted to eliminate Backlund (2:35); Knobbs eliminated himself when Dibiase ducked a charge (9:00); Moon by Lawler via a backdrop (14:03); Flair by Perfect via a clothesline after ducking a clothesline from Flair (18:39); Skinner by Perfect via a dropkick (21:19); Lawler by Perfect via a backdrop (24:54); Virgil by Berzerker via a boot to the face (25:15); Perfect by Dibiase & Koko, and an illegal assist from Lawler, via pushing him off the ring apron as Perfect tried holding onto the ropes (25:28); after the elimination, Perfect and Lawler briefly traded blows on the floor; Samu by the Undertaker via a choke throw (27:07); during this time, the Berzerker assaulted Backlund on the floor, taking Backlund out of the match for several minutes; Tenryu by Taker via a backdrop (27:29); Koko & Taylor by Dibiase as Koko attempted to eliminate Taylor (28:46); Dibiase by Taker via a clothesline (29:05); Berzerker by Taker via a backdrop (29:41); Taker by Giant Gonzalez when Gonzalez, accompanied by Harvey Wippleman, came to the ring after Taker cleared the ring, and knocked him to the floor after two chops (Gonzalez’ surprise debut) (30:50); following the elimination, Gonzalez assaulted Taker in and outside the ring for several minutes before leaving ringside; moments later, Bearer returned ringside with the urn, awoke the Undertaker, and the two went backstage in search of Gonzalez; Typhoon by Earthquake after Typhoon hit the corner attempting a splash (43:49); Demento by Colon after ducking a punch (45:58); Fatu by Backlund (47:18); IRS eliminated himself when Earthquake ducked a lariat (49:32); Tatanka by Yoko (52:06); Colon by Yoko via a blow as Colon was on the ring apron (52:25); Earthquake by Yoko with a belly to belly suplex after Quake hit the corner, attempting a splash (53:53); Santana by Yoko (58:05); Saggs by Owen via an accidental dropkick after Martel avoided the move (58:23); Owen by Yoko via a hiptoss as Owen ran the ropes (58:53); Owen appeared to injure his leg after the fall to the floor; Repo by Savage (58:59); Martel by Backlund via a forearm blow after Backlund put him on the top rope (1:00:28); during this time, Fuji returned ringside to cheer on Yokozuna, waving the Japanese flag; Backlund by Yoko (1:01:10); Savage by Yoko by pressing him out of the ring after Savage dropped the flying elbowsmash and went for a cover
Time in the Rumble Match
Bob Backlund (1:01:10) *Ironman – New record*
Ted Dibiase (24:55)
Jerry Sags (21:51)
Ric Flair (18:38)
Tatanka (17:36)
Virgil (17:10)
IRS (16:02)
Yokozuna (14:54) *Winner*
Jerry Lawler (14:35)
Genichiro Tenryu (13:17)
Damien Demento (12:28)
Rick Martel (11:22)
Tito Santana (11:02)
Earthquake (10:01)
Mr. Perfect (9:15)
Randy Savage (9:02)
Koko B. Ware (8:31)
Carlos Colon (7:27)
Fatu (6:21)
Owen Hart (5:37)
Berzerker (5:20)
Typhoon (5:12)
Samu (4:50)
The Undertaker (4:14)
Repo Man (3:33)
Skinner (3:05)
Max Moon (2:59)
Brian Knobs (2:58)
Papa Shango (0:27)
Terry Taylor (0:25)
The Brooklyn Brawler pinned Jim Powers with a swinging neckbreaker
Pay-per-view bouts – featured an opening segment in which Vince McMahon ran down the title matches before Ted Dibiase came out to join him on commentary (Dibiase’s surprise return after a 5-month absence); included an ad promoting WrestleMania X which would take place March 20 from Madison Square Garden; featured a video package highlighting the tension between Bret & Owen Hart over the holidays, subsequent reconciliation, and the recent tag team title changes between Marty Jannetty & the 1-2-3 Kid and the Quebecers; included Todd Pettingill conducting a backstage interview with Bret & Owen regarding their upcoming tag team title shot; featured highlights of the recent Undertaker and Paul Bearer vignettes building up to the casket match with WWF World Champion Yokozuna; included promos from several participants in the Rumble match:
Tatanka pinned Bam Bam Bigelow (w/ Luna Vachon) (sub. for Ludvig Borga) with a crossbody off the top at 8:12 after Bigelow missed the top rope moonsault
WWF Tag Team Champions the Quebecers (w/ Johnny Polo) defeated Bret & Owen Hart at 16:48 when the referee had the match stopped due to Bret’s knee injury; Bret had the Sharpshooter applied on Pierre but could not keep it on due to the amount of pain he was suffering; prior to the bout, both challengers gave away their trademark sunglasses; after the match, Owen confronted Bret over not tagging him when he had the chance and kicked Bret in his injured leg; after Owen left ringside, referees, Tony Garea, Rene Goulet, Dave Hebner, Pat Patterson, and others tended to Bret in the ring; Ray Rougeau appeared moments later and attempted to get an interview with officials in the ring but they wouldn’t speak to him; Bret was then put on a stretcher as Todd Pettingill conducted a backstage interview with Owen regarding his actions, with Owen saying Bret was selfish; Bret was then taken backstage as Owen’s interview aired on the big screen, during which Owen said he would win the Royal Rumble (1994 Year in Review, Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology)
WWF IC Champion Razor Ramon pinned IRS at 11:47 with the Razor’s Edge as IRS was celebrating on the middle turnbuckle; IRS originally won the match and title at 10:46 after Shawn Michaels interfered, as Razor prepared to execute the Razor’s Edge, and struck the champion in the back with the fake IC title belt; moments later, referee Earl Hebner came to the ring and informed referee Joey Marella as to what occurred, thus the match continued; Radio WWF hosts Jim Ross & Gorilla Monsoon took over commentary duties for the match while Vince McMahon & Ted Dibiase did the radio broadcast (Razor Ramon)
WWF World Champion Yokozuna (w/ Mr. Fuji & Jim Cornette) defeated the Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) in a casket match at 14:20 after Bam Bam Bigelow, Crush, the Great Kabuki, Genichiro Tenryu, Diesel, Jeff Jarrett, Adam Bomb, and the Headshrinkers interfered; late in the bout, Fuji stole away Taker’s urn but Bearer reclaimed it and hit both Fuji and Cornette with the weapon; moments later, Taker was ganged up on as the fans chanted “Luger” before Yoko hit Taker with the urn, with a green mist then pouring out of the urn after hit hit the mat; Bigelow followed with the headbutt off the top and the Headshrinkers took turns hitting a splash off the top before Taker was rolled into the casket; the heels then rolled the casket backstage until Taker’s gong sounded and smoke came out of the casket; Taker then appeared on the big screen – seemingly from within the casket – and said he would not rest in peace; his image on the video wall then exploded with “the Undertaker” then being lifted into the rafters; Bearer was then shown in possession of the urn again (Marty Jannetty played the role of the Undertaker that was lifted into the air) (Taker’s last TV match for 7 months) (Tombstone: The History of the Undertaker)
Bret Hart and Lex Luger co-won the 30-man Royal Rumble match at 55:08 following both men going over the top at the same time; referees Joey Marella and Earl Hebner argued over the decision, with Luger first announced as the winner – to a mixed reaction – and then the announcement that Hart won, to overwhelming applause; moments later, WWF President Jack Tunney appeared to hear both sides of the argument; Tunney then spoke to Howard Finkel who, after much hesitation, announced both men as the winners; immediately thereafter, the WrestleMania theme song began to play, with Tunney then leaving the ring; Hart and Luger eventually shook hands before leaving the ring themselves
Order of entry: Scott Steiner (0:00); Samu (escorted to the ring by Afa) (0:00); Rick Steiner (1:52); Kwang (escorted to the ring by Harvey Wippleman) (3:26), Owen Hart (4:58), Bart Gunn (6:27), Diesel (8:16); Bob Backlund (9:37); Billy Gunn (11:12); after the elimination, footage was shown of Genichiro Tenryu and the Great Kabuki attacking Lex Luger backstage until they were stopped by officials; Virgil (sub. for Kamala) (12:43); Randy Savage (14:31); Jeff Jarrett (15:55); Crush (17:33); Doink the Clown (escorted to the ring by Dink the Clown) (not shown – about 18:58); Bam Bam Bigelow (escorted to the ring by Luna Vachon) (20:06); Mabel (escorted to the ring by Oscar) (22:00); Sparky Plugg (sub. for the 1-2-3 Kid) (23:44); Shawn Michaels (25:47); Mo (27:06); Greg Valentine (28:32); Tatanka (30:05); Kabuki (31:51); Luger (33:13); Tenryu (35:06); (no one showed; it was scheduled to be Bastion Booger); Rick Martel (38:07); Bret Hart (40:03); Fatu (escorted to the ring by Afa) (41:35); Marty Jannetty (42:51); and Adam Bomb (escorted to the ring by Harvey Wippleman) (44:53)
Order of elimination: Samu by Scott after Samu got his head untangled from the ring ropes (3:15); Rick Steiner by Owen after Kwang spat green mist into Steiner’s face (5:49); Bart by Diesel (8:56); Scott by Diesel (9:02); Owen by Diesel (9:09); Kwang by Diesel via a clothesline (9:23); Backlund by Diesel (10:19); Virgil by Diesel (13:14); Jarrett by Savage (17:13); Savage by Crush (18:51); Doink by Bigelow via a gorilla press slam (20:35); Diesel by Bigelow, Crush, Mabel, Plugg, & Michaels (25:58); after his elimination, the crowd chanted Diesel’s name; Mabel by Valentine, Tatanka, Crush, Kabuki, Sparky, Michaels, and Bigelow (32:30); Kabuki by Luger (33:38); Crush by Luger, Sparky, Bigelow, & Bret (42:36); Sparky by Bret (45:29); Valentine by Martel (49:14); Martel by Tatanka when Martel missed a clothesline (49:31); Bomb by Luger when Bomb missed a clothesline (49:47); Mo by Fatu via a side kick (49:53); Tatanka by Bigelow (50:13); Bigelow by Luger via a clothesline after Bigelow missed a charge in the corner and landed on the apron (51:03); Jannetty by Michaels (51:10); Tenryu by Luger & Hart (52:28); Fatu by Hart (54:39); Michaels by Luger (54:40)
Time in the Rumble Match
Bam Bam Bigelow (30:57) *Ironman*
Crush (25:03)
Mo (22:47)
Lex Luger (21:55) *Co-winner*
Sparky Plugg (21:45)
Greg Valentine (20:42)
Tatanka (20:08)
Shawn Michaels (18:53)
Diesel (17:42)
Genichiro Tenryu (17:22)
Bret Hart (15:05) *Co-winner*
Fatu (13:04)
Mabel (11:38)
Rick Martel (11:24)
Scott Steiner (9:02)
Marty Jannetty (8:19)
Kwang (5:57)
Adam Bomb (4:54)
Randy Savage (4:20)
Owen Hart (4:11)
Rick Steiner (3:57)
Samu (3:15)
Bart Gunn (2:29)
The Great Kabuki (1:47)
Doink the Clown (1:37)
Jeff Jarrett (1:18)
Bob Backlund (0:42)
Virgil (0:31)
Billy Gunn (?)
Buck Quartermaine defeated the Brooklyn Brawler
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler on commentary; included Lawrence Taylor sitting ringside for the show:
Jeff Jarrett (w/ the Roadie) pinned WWF IC Champion Razor Ramon to win the title at 20:54 with an inside cradle after the champion’s leg gave out as he attempted the Razor’s Edge; the challenger originally won the match via count-out at 11:45 after the Roadie clipped Razor’s injured leg on the floor; moments later, the challenger refused the win on a technicality, instead goading Razor to continue the match so he could win the title; the bout was restarted at 14:34 (History of the Intercontinental Championship)
The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) pinned IRS (w/ Ted Dibiase) at 12:20 with a chokeslam after avoiding a clothesline; mid-way through the bout, Dibiase brought two druids to ringside who interfered throughout the bout on behalf of IRS; after the bout, the druids attacked the Undertaker, which he quickly fought off before King Kong Bundy came to the ring; moments later, with Taker distracted by Bundy, IRS attacked Paul Bearer from behind and stole the urn; Bundy then assaulted Taker with a series of elbow drops and splashes
WWF World Champion Diesel fought Bret Hart to a draw at 27:26 when Bob Backlund, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Jarrett, the Roadie, and Owen Hart attacked both participants after the two wrestlers and the referee were knocked down; at 15:36, Shawn Michaels interfered and broke the champion’s cover on Hart after Diesel hit the powerbomb but referee Earl Hebner ordered for the match to continue; at 22:05, Owen Hart interfered as Bret had Diesel caught in the Sharpshooter, attacked his brother, and threw him sternum-first into an unprotected turnbuckle but once again the referee had the match continue; after the bout, referees and officials – including Jerry Brisco, Rene Goulet, Dave Hebner, and Pat Patterson – ordered the interfering wrestlers backstage but the heels all returned and were knocked to the floor by Diesel; moments later, both men shook hands and embraced out of respect (Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 90s)
WWF Tag Team Tournament Champonship Finals: Bob Holly & the 1-2-3 Kid defeated Bam Bam Bigelow & Tatanka (w/ Ted Dibiase) at 15:45 when the Kid pinned Bigelow after Tatanka ran the ropes and accidentally knocked his partner off the top as Bigelow attempted a moonsault; after the match, Dibiase and Tatanka left ringside as Bigelow was still knocked out; after Bigelow came to he had an altercation with Lawrence Taylor at ringside and ended up shoving LT to the floor because he thought Taylor was laughing at his loss
Shawn Michaels won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Davey Boy Smith at 38:43; due to pre-match stipulations, Michaels earned a WWF World Title match at WrestleMania XI; Pamela Anderson served as guest hostess for the match and sat ringside for the duration of the bout; after the match, Pamela briefly came into the ring and stood with Michaels
Order of entry: Shawn Michaels (00:00), Davey Boy Smith (00:00), Eli Blu (1:13), Duke Drose (2:06), Jimmy Del Ray (3:05), Sionne (4:13), Tom Prichard (5:07), Doink the Clown (6:11), Kwang, (7:04), Rick Martel (8:06), Owen Hart, as Owen made his way to the ring at 9:11, Bret Hart ran up behind him in the aisle and attacked his brother until officials could pull him away (10:05), Timothy Well (10:09), Bushwhacker Luke (11:12), Jacob Blu (12:05), King Kong Bundy (13:17), Mo (14:05), Mabel (15:18), Bushwhacker Butch (16:13), Lex Luger (17:08), Mantaur (18:08), Aldo Montoya (19:03), Henry Godwinn (20:04), Billy Gunn (21:02), Bart Gunn (22:06), Bob Backlund, at 23:23, as Backlund was about to step into the ring, Bret Hart ran ringside, pulled Backlund off the ring apron and assaulted him before referees could pull him away (24:10), Steven Dunn (24:08), Dick Murdoch (25:21), Adam Bomb (26:27), Fatu (27:19), & Crush (28:22)
Order of elimination: Del Ray by Smith via a clothesline (4:30), Owen by Smith via a backdrop (10:07), Drose by Michaels via a backdrop (10:18), Well by Smith (10:31), Martel by Sionne via a backdrop (10:35), Prichard by Michaels (10:38), Doink by Kwang via a side kick as Doink was on the ring apron (11:00), Kwang by Sionne via a boot to the face (11:04), Eli & Sionne were eliminated via an Eli clothesline over the top (11:09), Luke by Michaels (11:24), Jacob by Michaels via a backdrop (12:22), Mo by Bundy via a backdrop (14:09), Bundy by Mabel (16:18), Butch by Michaels (16:32), Mabel by Luger (17:16), Backlund by Luger via a clothesline to the back of the head (24:25), after Backlund’s elimination, Bret Hart again returned ringside and the two were escorted backstage by officials, Mantaur by Luger (27:40), Billy & Bart Gunn by Crush & Murdoch (28:26, 28:27), Dunn by Montoya via a backdrop (28:37), Bomb by Crush via a backdrop as Bomb attempted a clothesline (31:48), Montoya by Michaels (32:25), Fatu by Crush (32:53), Murdoch eliminated himself as he attempted to airplane spin Godwinn out of the ring, with Godwinn holding onto the ropes and avoiding elimination (33:31), Godwinn by Luger via a backdrop (34:45), Luger by Michaels as Luger was on the middle turnbuckle punching away at Crush (36:00), Crush by Smith via a clothesline after Michaels ducked the clothesline (37:15), Smith by Michaels with a blow to the back as Smith stood on the middle turnbuckle, celebrating his apparent win; Smith’s music began at 38:25 when all assumed Michaels had been eliminated via a clothesline, however, only one of Michaels’ feet touched the floor (Shawn Michaels: Heartbreak & Triumph)
Time in the Rumble Match
Shawn Michaels (38:43) *Ironman* *tie* *Winner*
Davey Boy Smith (38:43) *Ironman* *tie*
Lex Luger (18:52)
Henry Godwinn (14:41)
Aldo Montoya (13:22)
Eli Blu (9:56)
Mantaur (9:32)
Crush (8:53)
Duke Drose (8:12)
Dick Murdoch (8:10)
Billy Gunn (7:24)
Sionne (6:56)
Bart Gunn (6:21)
Fatu (5:34)
Tom Prichard (5:31)
Adam Bomb (5:21)
Doink the Clown (4:49)
Steven Dunn (4:29)
Kwang (4:00)
King Kong Bundy (3:01)
Rick Martel (2:29)
Mabel (1:58)
Jimmy Del Ray (1:25)
Timothy Well (0:22)
Bushwhacker Butch (0:19)
Jacob Blu (0:17)
Bob Backlund (0:14)
Bushwhacker Luke (0:12)
Mo (0:04)
Owen Hart (0:02)
Free for All – the debut of the live Preview Channel countdown show; featured Dok Hendrix interviewing Vader & Jim Cornette about the Royal Rumble match, with Cornette announcing he was Vader’s manager and Vader saying he would be the next WWF World Champion (Vader’s on-screen debut); included Todd Pettingill interviewing Jake Roberts about the Rumble (Robert’s first appearance back after a nearly 4-year absence); featured a closing segment in which Pettingill interviewed Shawn Michaels in the ring regarding his chances in the Rumble match; when Pettingill asked what number Michaels was coming into the match at, he said he was coming to the ring when he wanted and would be leaving when he wanted (Michaels’ return after a 2-month absence):
Duke Drose defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley via reverse decision at 6:26; Helmsley originally won the match after hitting Drose with a foreign object but WWF President Gorilla Monsoon came out and showed a clip of the finish to referee Tim White, who then changed his ruling; prior to the bout, Todd Pettingill interviewed both participants in the aisle about their chances in the match; after the match, Drose cleared Helmsley from the ring; due to pre-match stipulations, Drose earned the #30 position in the Royal Rumble match and Helmsley was forced to be the #1 man in the match; the two participants were chosen at random to compete for the #30 spot
Pay-per-view bouts – included Vince McMahon and Mr. Perfect on commentary:
Ahmed Johnson defeated Jeff Jarrett via disqualification at 6:37 after a guitar shot
WWF Tag Team Champions the Smoking Gunns defeated Skip & Zip (w/ Sunny) at 11:14 following a botched double team move by the challengers
Goldust (w/ Marlena) pinned WWF IC Champion Razor Ramon at 14:15 to win the title after the 1-2-3 Kid came off the top with a spin kick to the champion’s head (Marlena’s surprise debut) (Confirmed Hits)
Shawn Michaels won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Diesel at 58:49; after the bout, Diesel returned to the ring and appeared to hold hard feelings over the loss until the two men high-fived; due to pre-match stipulations, Michaels earned a world title shot for WrestleMania XII; for the first time ever, each participant in the Rumble came to the ring to their entrance music
Order of entry: Hunter Hearst Helmsley (00:00), Henry Godwinn (00:00), Bob Backlund (2:25), Jerry Lawler (4:31), Bob Holly (6:12), King Mabel (w/ Sir Mo) (8:41), Jake Roberts (10:27; Roberts’ return to the WWF after nearly a 4 year hiatus), after being scared out of the ring by Roberts’ snake, Lawler hid underneath until the 40-minute mark when Michaels pulled him out, Dory Funk Jr. (12:27), Yokozuna (14:31), the 1-2-3 Kid (16:23), upon the Kid’s appearance, Razor Ramon chased him into the ring and around ringside – trying to get payback for the Kid causing him to lose the IC title earlier in the evening – before Razor was escorted backstage by officials, Takao Omari (18:22), Savio Vega (20:24), Vader (w/ Jim Cornette) (22:43) (Vader’s WWF debut), Doug Gilbert (24:29), Squat Team Member #1 (26:32), Squat Team Member #2 (29:01), Owen Hart (30:51), Shawn Michaels (32:41), Hakushi (34:36), Tatanka (36:56), Aldo Montoya (38:37), Diesel (40:58), Kama (42:47), Steve Austin (w/ Ted Dibiase) (44:51), Barry Horowitz (46:48), Fatu (48:58), Isaac Yankem DDS (50:56), Marty Jannetty (52:48), Davey Boy Smith (54:51), & Duke Drose (56:57), seconds after Drose’s entrance, Owen Hart returned ringside and helped Smith in briefly double teaming Michaels on the floor before Owen was led backstage by officials
Order of elimination: Backlund by Yoko (14:47), Godwinn by Roberts (17:26), Mabel by Yoko & Savio (20:55), Omari by Roberts when Roberts held onto the top rope as Omari tried to slam him to the floor (21:12), Funk by Savio with an overhead throw as Funk had Savio in a headlock on the ring apron (23:20), Roberts by Vader via a clothesline as Roberts attempted to hit the DDT on Gilbert (25:07), Gilbert by Vader via a press slam to the floor (27:27), Squat Team Member #1 by Vader (27:43), after his elimination, Squat Team Member #1 came back into the ring with #2, only to be thrown out once more by Vader, Squat Team Member #2 by Yoko (29:24), Savio by Vader via a clothesline to the back of the head (32:52), Yoko & Vader by Michaels as Yoko was trying to eliminate Vader (33:47), Kid by Michaels via a press slam to the floor (34:02), after Vader’s elimination, he dropped Yoko from behind on the floor before re-entering the ring and throwing out Michaels, Owen, HHH, and Holly; moments thereafter; Cornette calmed Vader down after WWF President Gorilla Monsoon and a host of referees and officials threatened to take action if he did not leave ringside; after Vader left, Michaels threw Cornette over the top; Hakushi by Owen after Hakushi attempted a flip over Owen as Owen ran into the corner but Hart caught him and threw him to the floor (38:28), Montoya by Tatanka via a clothesline (40:30), Lawler by Michaels via an uppercut (40:32), Tatanka by Diesel (41:05), Holly by Austin via a knee to the back after Holly thought he had eliminated Austin (45:46), Helmsley by Diesel (48:01), Horowitz by Owen via a backdrop (51:02), Owen by Diesel as Owen attempted to eliminate Michaels (51:34), Jannetty by Smith (55:24), Austin by Fatu via a clothesline (55:47), Fatu by Yankem via a clothesline (56:06), Yankem by Michaels via a dropkick (58:01), Drose by Diesel & Kama via a double clothesline (58:08), Smith by Michaels via a clothesline after avoiding a blow on the ring apron and sliding back in the ring inbetween Smith’s legs (58:30), Kama by Diesel via grabbing him by the face and pushing him over the top (58:43), Diesel by Michaels via a superkick
The Undertaker (w/ Paul Bearer) defeated WWF World Champion Bret Hart via disqualification at 28:28 when Diesel pulled the referee out of the ring following the challenger’s tombstone; Diesel gave the Undertaker the finger following the decision; prior to the bout, Taker and Diesel – who had not left ringside after being eliminated from the Royal Rumble match – had a confrontation in the aisle during Taker’s entrance but the two were held apart by officials before they came to blows
Time in the Rumble Match
Hunter Hearst Helmsley (48:01) *Ironman*
Bob Holly (39:34)
Jerry Lawler (36:01)
Owen Hart (20:43)
Yokozuna (19:16)
Diesel (17:51)
The 1-2-3 Kid (17:39)
Henry Godwinn (17:26)
Shawn Michaels (16:08) *Winner*
Kama (15:55)
Jake Roberts (14:40)
Savio Vega (12:28)
Bob Backlund (12:22)
Vader (11:04)
Steve Austin (10:56)
Dory Funk Jr. (10:53)
Fatu (7:08)
Isaac Yankem DDS (7:05)
King Mabel (6:06)
Barry Horowitz (4:14)
Tatanka (4:09)
Hakushi (3:52)
Davey Boy Smith (3:39)
Doug Gilbert (2:58)
Takao Omari (2:50)
Aldo Montoya (1:53)
Marty Jannetty (1:36)
Duke Drose (1:11)
Squat Team Member #1 (1:11)
Squat Team Member #2 (0:23)
WWF Superstars – 1/19/97 – aired live from the empty arena; featured Jim Ross conducting interviews with Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and WWF World Champion Psycho Sid; included a closing segment in which Steve Austin interrupted Dok Hendrix & Todd Pettingill
Perro Aguayo Jr. & Venum defeated Maniaco & Mosco de la Merced
Octagon, Blue Demon Jr., & Tinieblas Jr. defeated Heavy Metal, Abismo Negro, & Histeria
Free For All: La Parkita & Mascarita Sagrada Jr. defeated Mini Vader & Mini Mankind at 4:29 when Sagrada pinned Vader with a la magistral cradle after Vader missed a Vader Bomb off the ropes (Free For All)
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, & Jerry Lawler on commentary:
WWF IC Champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley (w/ Curtis Hughes) pinned Goldust (w/ Marlena) at 16:50 with a clothesline and the Pedigree after the challenger rubbed Marlena’s lit cigar into Hughes, knocking him off the ring apron (Hughes’ surprise return after more than a 3-year absence)
Ahmed Johnson defeated Farooq (w/ the Nation of Domination) via disqualification when Crush, PG-13, and several other Nation members interfered on Farooq’s orders as Ahmed prepared for the Pearl River Plunge; after the match, Ahmed easily fought off the Nation and hit the Pearl River Plunge on a Nation member from the steel ring steps through the French commentary table
Vader pinned the Undertaker at 13:19 with the Vader Bomb after Paul Bearer came ringside and hit the Undertaker with the urn; after the match, an enraged Undertaker hit a chokeslam on the referee
Perro Aguayo, Canek, & Hector Garza defeated Fuerza Guerrera, Heavy Metal, & Jerry Estrada when Aguayo pinned Estrada with a double stomp off the top and an elbow drop
Steve Austin won the 30-man Royal Rumble match at 50:29 by illegally eliminating Vader, the Undertaker and Bret Hart after Hart had eliminated Austin while the referees were not looking and then Diesel II
Participants in order of entry: Crush (w/ PG-13 & Clarence Mason) (00:00), Ahmed Johnson (00:00), Razor Ramon II (1:58), Phinneas Godwinn (w/ Hillbilly Jim) (3:34), Steve Austin (5:23), Bart Gunn (6:45), Jake Roberts (8:22), WWF Tag Team Champion Davey Boy Smith (9:46), Pierroth (11:10), the Sultan (w/ the Iron Sheik) (12:56), Mil Mascaras (14:23), WWF IC Champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley (15:39), WWF Tag Team Champion Owen Hart (17:17), Goldust (w/ Marlena) (18:41), Cybernetico (20:09), Marc Mero (w/ Sable) (21:52), the Latin Lover (23:13), Farooq (w/ PG-13 & Clarence Mason) (24:41), Savio Vega (26:09), Jesse Jammes (27:42), Bret Hart (29:26), Jerry Lawler (mystery participant) (31:00), Diesel II (32:33), Terry Funk (33:56), Rocky Maivia (35:26), Mankind (37:08), Flash Funk (38:30), Vader (40:13), Henry Godwinn (w/ Hillbilly Jim) (41:36), and the Undertaker (43:32)
Order of elimination: Razor by Ahmed via a clothesline (2:15); Ahmed eliminated himself to chase Farooq backstage after Farooq appeared in the aisle (2:56); Crush by Phinneas after Austin accidentally hit Crush while coming off the middle turnbuckle (6:12); Phinneas by Austin after Austin hit the Stunner (6:27); Bart by Austin via a clothesline (7:11); Roberts by Austin via backdrop as Roberts attempted the DDT (9:33); Sultan by Smith via a clothesline (16:19); Smith by Owen from behind as Smith attempted to eliminate Austin (17:50); after the elimination, Smith called Owen an idiot; Cybernetico by Mascaras & Pierroth (21:34); Pierroth by Mascaras (21:43); Mascaras eliminated himself when, after eliminationg Pierroth, he hit a crossbody from the top to the floor onto Pierroth (21:51); Helmsley by Godlust via clothesline (22:22); Goldust by Owen following a clothesline (24:15); Latin Lover by Farooq via a backdrop (25:01); Farooq was eliminated after Ahmed Johnson appeared and repeatedly hit Farooq over the back with a 2×4 (25:22); Owen & Mero by Austin (25:45); Vega by Austin via a clothesline after dropping Vega throat-first across the top rope (26:56); Jammes by Austin via an elbow to the face as Jammes was on the ring apron (28:13); Lawler by Bret via an uppercut (31:05); after being eliminted, Lawler returned to commentary duties; Flash by Vader after catching Flash in mid-air and throwing him up and over the back of his head (44:44); Henry by the Undertaker via a double choke throw (47:47); Maivia by Mankind by catching Maivia coming off the top and applying the Mandible Claw, then using it to push Maivia over the top (48:27); Funk by Mankind via a suplex as Mankind stood on the apron (49:15); Mankind by the Undertaker via a boot to the face as Mankind was on the apron (49:30); after the elimination, Funk and Mankind brawled on the floor; Austin by Hart (50:04); the elimination was not seen by the referees as they were busy with Mankind and Funk on the floor, thus allowing Austin to slide back in the ring; the Undertaker & Vader by Austin (50:18); Diesel II by Hart (50:23); Hart by Austin; after the bout, Hart became physical with both referees and grabbed Vince McMahon, at the commentary table, demanding something be done to fix the call; due to pre-match stipulations, Austin earned a world title shot at WrestleMania XIII
Shawn Michaels (w/ Jose Lothario) pinned WWF World Champion Psycho Sid to win the title at 13:49 after hitting him twice with a video camera and then executing the superkick; Michaels’ parents, who sat ringside for the event, were featured on camera during the match as well as Lothario’s son Pete (Lothario’s last appearance with Michaels) (Shawn Michaels: The Heartbreak Express Tour)
Time in the Rumble Match
Steve Austin (45:06) *Ironman* *Winner*
Bret Hart (21:03)
Diesel II (17:50)
Terry Funk (15:19)
Rocky Maivia (13:01)
Mankind (12:22)
Pierroth (10:33)
Vader (10:05)
WWF Tag Team Champion Owen Hart (8:38)
WWF Tag Team Champion Davey Boy Smith (8:04)
Mil Mascaras (7:28)
The Undertaker (6:46)
WWF IC Champion Hunter Hearst Helmsley (6:43)
Flash Funk (6:14)
Crush (6:12)
Henry Godwinn (6:11)
Goldust (5:34)
Marc Mero (3:54)
The Sultan (3:23)
Ahmed Johnson (2:56)
Phinneas Godwinn (2:53)
The Latin Lover (1:48)
Cybernetico (1:25)
Jake Roberts (1:11)
Savio Vega (0:47)
Farooq (0:41)
Jesse Jammes (0:31)
Razor Ramon II (0:17)
Bart Gunn (0:25)
Jerry Lawler (0:05)
Pay-per-view bouts – included Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler on commentary; featured Mike Tyson in attendance:
Vader pinned TAFKA Goldust (w/ Luna) following a Vader Bomb at 7:51
Max Mini, Nova, & Mosaic defeated El Torito, Tarantula, & Battallion at 7:48 when Max Mini pinned El Torito with a crucifix, thanks to help from special referee Sunny
WWF IC Champion the Rock defeated Ken Shamrock via reverse decision at 10:52; Shamrock had scored the pinfall with a belly to belly suplex but after the decision the referee found a foreign object in the challenger’s trucks, which Rocky had hidden there after using it on Shamrock; thinking Shamrock had used the weapon to score the pin, the referee changed the decision; Shamrock beat down a number of referees following the bout
The Legion of Doom defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Billy Gunn & the Road Dogg via disqualification at 7:54 when the Road Dogg broke a pin attempt with a steel chair, after handcuffing Road Warrior Hawk to the ring post; Hawk broke free of the handcuffs after the match to come to Animal’s aid
Steve Austin won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Rocky Maivia at 55:25; due to pre-match stipulations, Austin earned a WWF World Title shot at WrestleMania XIV
Order of entry: Cactus Jack (00:00), Terry Funk (00:00), Tom Brandi (1:55), WWF IC Champion the Rock (3:53), Headbanger Mosh (5:32), Phinneas Godwinn (7:25), 8-Ball (9:00), Blackjack Bradshaw (10:53), Owen Hart (29:13); upon Owen’s appearance, he was attacked from behind in the aisle by Jeff Jarrett and Jim Cornette, sustaining several shots with Cornette’s tennis racquet before officials escorted the two men backstage; it was not until after Jarrett’s entry that Hart returned to the ring; Steve Blackman (14:20), D-Lo Brown (16:13), Kurrgan (18:09), Marc Mero (w/ Sable) (19:56), Ken Shamrock (21:29), Headbanger Thrasher (23:21), Mankind (25:10), TAFKA Goldust (w/ Luna) (26:49), NWA North American Champion Jeff Jarrett (w/ Jim Cornette) (29:03), the Honkytonk Man (sub. for an injured WWF European Champion Triple H) (w/ Triple H & Chyna) (30:35), Ahmed Johnson (32:45), Mark Henry (34:16), (no one appeared), Kama (37:40), Steve Austin, as the remaining participants looked toward the entrance and waited for Austin, he came through the crowd and attacked them from behind (39:30), Henry Godwinn (41:08), Savio Vega and the rest of Los Boricuas (42:53), the other members of Los Boricuas were quickly eliminated by Austin, Farooq (44:51), Dude Love (46:36), Chainz (48:18), & Vader (50:15)
Order of elimination: Brandi by Cactus & Funk (2:06), Cactus eliminted himself when Funk avoided a charge (9:22), Mosh by Kurrgan as Mosh was on the second turnbuckle punching Kurrgan in the face (18:43), Blackman by Kurrgan after Mero began boxing Blackman (20:18), Kurrgan by Shamrock, Phinneas, Bradshaw, the Rock, Funk, & 8-Ball (21:48), Funk by Mankind (25:22), Mankind by TAFKA Goldust (27:50), Jarrett by Owen as Jarrett was strutting after thinking he had eliminated Owen (30:08), Shamrock by the Rock after a low blow (30:45), Owen was eliminated after Chyna attempted to hit him with one of Triple H’s crutches but he grabbed it, distracting him long enough for Triple H to get on the ring apron and hit him over the back with the other crutch (31:14), after the elimination, Triple H gave Owen several more shots with the crutch before doing the crotch chop and being sent backstage by officials, with Owen chasing after moments later, Ahmed by D-Lo & Henry (36:04), Phinneas by Henry after ducking a punch (36:13), after the elimination, Ahmed and Phinneas fought their way backstage, Mero by Austin (39:34), 8-Ball by Austin (39:46), Bradshaw by Dude as Bradshaw attempted to eliminate Godwinn (46:41), D-Lo by Farooq via a backdrop after Thrasher reversed an Irish whip by D-Lo (48:35), Honkytonk by Vader (50:31), Thrasher by Austin via a backdrop (51:00), Kama by Austin after ducking a punch (51:09), Savio by Austin after a kick to the mid-section (52:23), Vader by TAFKA Goldust via a clothesline (52:30), Henry eliminated himself when Dude ducked a clothesline (52:40), TAFKA Goldust by Chainz (52:52), Chainz by Austin via a backdrop (53:13), Henry by Farooq via a punch as Henry was on the ring apron attempting to get back into the ring (53:24), Dude by Farooq via a clothesline after Dude sustained a low blow from Austin (54:30), Farooq by the Rock as Farooq was attempting to eliminate Austin (54:54), the Rock by Austin after hitting the Stunner
WWF World Champion Shawn Michaels (w/ WWF European Champion Triple H & Chyna) defeated the Undertaker in a casket match at 20:35; late in the bout, the challenger hit a jumping tombstone to put Michaels in the casket but the referee was immediately knocked out by Triple H, allowing the New Age Outlaws and Los Boricuas to come out, only for Kane to make an appearance and clear the ring of the interfering parties; after clearing the ring, Kane attacked the Undertaker and chokeslammed him into the casket, which was immeidately closed by Michaels; moments thereafter, Paul Bearer came ringside and the now locked casket was brought to the entranceway where Kane smashed at it with an axe and eventually set it ablaze to end the broadcast (DeGeneration X, Shawn Michaels: His Journey)
Time in the Rumble Match
The Rock (51:22) (Ironman)
Bradshaw (35:48)
D-Lo Brown (32:22)
8-Ball (30:46)
Phinneas Godwinn (28:48)
Headbanger Thrasher (27:39)
TAFKA Goldust (26:03)
Terry Funk (25:22)
The Honkytonk Man (19:56)
Marc Mero (19:38)
Mark Henry (19:08)
Steve Austin (15:55) (Winner)
Kama (13:29)
Headbanger Mosh (13:11)
Henry Godwinn (11:32)
Farooq (10:04)
Savio Vega (9:30)
Cactus Jack (9:22)
Ken Shamrock (9:16)
Dude Love (7:54)
Steve Blackman (5:58)
Chainz (4:55)
Kurrgan (3:39)
Ahmed Johnson (3:19)
Mankind (2:40)
Vader (2:15)
Owen Hart (2:01)
Jeff Jarrett (1:05)
Tom Brandi (0:11)
Christian defeated Jeff Hardy
Sunday Night Heat – featured an in-ring interview with WWF Women’s Champion Sable, during which Luna attacked the champion and injured her back; included an in-ring confrontation between Steve Austin and Vince McMahon, during which Vince slapped Austin in the face before fleeing the ring as Austin assaulted Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson:
Scorpio & Bob Holly defeated Too Much
WWF World Champion Mankind defeated Mabel (mystery opponent) (w/ Shane McMahon) via disqualification in a non-title match when the Rock interfered, as Mabel was caught in the Mandible Claw, and dropped the champion with the Rock Bottom; moments later, Mabel splashed Mankind
Pay-per-view bouts – included Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler on commentary:
WWF Tag Team Champion the Big Bossman pinned WWF Hardcore Champion the Road Dogg in a non-title match with the sidewalk slam at 11:52
WWF IC & Tag Team Champion Ken Shamrock defeated Billy Gunn via submission with the ankle lock at 14:23 after the challenger missed an axe handle off the top and injured his ankle; late in the bout, Val Venis interfered while referee Tim White was knocked out and dropped Shamrock with a DDT; after the match, Gunn was helped backstage by two referees
WWF European Champion X-Pac pinned Gangrel with the X-Factor at 5:54; late in the bout, referee Teddy Long seemingly counted the champion down for 3 when the momentum of a flying bodypress by X-Pac put Gangrel on top
WWF Women’s Champion Sable defeated Luna in a strap match at 4:44 after a female fan came out of the crowd and punched Luna, while the referee was distracted by Shane McMahon on the ring apron, allowing Sable to touch the forth and final corner; prior to the bout, Shane came out, introduced Luna, and then said Sable was unable to compete due to the injury she sustained during Sunday Night Heat; he then asked that Sable come out and publicly forfeit the title; after coming to the ring, Sable said “Ring the bell;” Shane McMahon did guest commentary for the bout (Sable’s first title defense)
The Rock defeated WWF World Champion Mankind at 21:47 in an I Quit match to win the title following ten chair shots to the head while the champion had his hands handcuffed behind his back; the champion never really submitted, however an audio clip from a promo earlier in the night was played over the PA with Mankind screaming “I quit! I quit! I quit!;” after the bout, Rock celebrated in the ring before walking down the aisle, standing over the body of Mankind, and hoisting the title belt in the air; moments later, Mankind refused to be taken backstage on a stretcher and was helped backstage; footage from the match, as well as of Mick Foley’s family sitting ringside, was featured in the 2000 documentary Beyond the Mat; Foley’s family was not mentioned during the match nor were they shown on camera; voted Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Match of the Year (The Epic Journey of Dwayne The Rock Johnson)
Vince McMahon won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Steve Austin at 56:33; due to pre-match stipulations, McMahon earned a WWF World Title shot at WrestleMania XV; McMahon put up $100,000 to anyone who could eliminate Austin from the match
Order of entry: Steve Austin (00:00), Vince McMahon (00:00), Golga (2:04), Droz (around 3:30; the camera was on Austin being attacked outside the bathroom), Edge (4:43), Gillberg (6:43), Steve Blackman (8:20), shortly after Blackman’s entrance, footage was shown of Austin being helped by officials onto a stretcher inside the ladies restroom, Dan Severn (10:00), moments later, Austin was shown being loaded into an ambulance, Tiger Ali Singh (around 11:50; the camera was on Austin being taken by ambulance to the hospital), the Blue Meanie (13:09), Mabel (15:33), prior to his entrance, backstage footage caught Mabel attacking Headbanger Mosh backstage and stealing his spot in the match, WWF Hardcore Champion the Road Dogg (16:11), Gangrel (18:51), Kurrgan (20:00), Al Snow (21:30), Goldust (23:06), the Godfather (25:21), Kane (26:47), WWF IC & Tag Team Champion Ken Shamrock (around 28:35, the camera was on McMahon joining the commentary team), Billy Gunn (29:53), Test (31:34), after the entrance, footage was shown of Mabel being thrown into the Undertaker’s hearse backstage, WWF Tag Team Champion the Big Bossman (33:27), prior to the entrance, Austin was shown driving the ambulance back to the arena and returning to the ring, Triple H (34:37), Val Venis (36:06), WWF European Champion X-Pac (37:48), Mark Henry (39:32), Jeff Jarrett (escorted by Debra) (41:18), D-Lo Brown (escorted by Terri & Jackie) (42:59), Owen Hart (45:07), & Chyna (47:00)
Order of elimination: Golga by Austin (2:18); immediately after the elimination, Austin chased McMahon through the crowd and into the bathroom where Austin was attacked by Test and Ken Shamrock; Gillberg by Edge (6:50); Severn by Mabel (15:41); Blackman by Mabel (15:42); Tiger by Mabel (15:47); Meanie by Mabel (16:09); Droz by Mabel (16:10); Edge by Road Dogg via an elbow as Edge stood on the ring apron (16:33); Mabel by Mideon & the Acolytes (around 17:05; the lights were out in the arena after the Undertaker’s music began); after the elimination, the Acolytes & Mideon battled Mabel down the aisle – where Taker, with Paul Bearer – briefly confronted Mabel before he was taken backstage; Gangrel by Road Dogg (19:17); Snow by Road Dogg as Snow attempted to eliminate Kurrgan (22:17); Road Dogg by Kane (26:52); Kurrgan by Kane (26:55); Godfather by Kane via a clothesline (26:59); Goldust by Kane via a chokeslam over the top to the floor (27:07); Kane eliminted himself after attacking several psych ward orderlies and then leaving through the crowd (27:39); after the elimination, Vince McMahon returned ringside and joined the commentary team; Shamrock by Austin via a backdrop (33:29); Gunn by Austin (37:01); Test by Austin (43:19); X-Pac by Bossman (43:27); Jarrett by Triple H (45:07); Henry by Chyna (47:25); Chyna by Austin via a clothesline (47:34); Venis by Triple H (48:43); Triple H by Austin via the Stunner and a clothesline (48:53); Owen by Austin via a backdrop (51:39); D-Lo by Bossman via a clothesline after D-Lo hit the Lo Down on Austin (52:10); Bossman by Austin via the Stunner and a clothesline (52:19); after the elimination, Austin confronted McMahon at the commentary table, hit him in the head with a steel chair, and rolled him into the ring; Austin by McMahon as Austin grabbed for WWF World Champion the Rock on the ring apron, who came ringside moments earlier; after the bout, Austin attacked Rock down the aisle and backstage; moments later, Pat Patterson, Gerald Brisco, and Shane McMahon came out to congratulate Vince on his victory and all four drank a beer in the ring
Time in the Rumble Match
Vince McMahon (56:33) *Ironman* *tie* (Winner)
Steve Austin (56:33) *Ironman* *tie*
WWF Tag Team Champion the Big Bossman (29:52)
Triple H (14:16)
Droz (12:50)
Val Venis (12:37)
Edge (11:50)
Test (11:45)
WWF Hardcore Champion the Road Dogg (10:41)
Billy Gunn (8:08)
Steve Blackman (7:22)
Kurrgan (6:55)
Owen Hart (6:32)
Dan Severn (5:41)
WWF IC Champion & WWF Tag Team Champion Ken Shamrock (4:54)
Goldust (4:01)
Tiger Ali Singh (3:57)
The Blue Meanie (3:00)
The Godfather (1:38)
Mabel (1:32)
Kane (0:52)
Al Snow (0:47)
Chyna (0:34)
Gangrel (0:27)
Golga (0:14)
Gillberg (0:07)
Sunday Night Heat – featured live backstage interviews from MSG; included numerous Rumble participants drawing their entry numbers, with the Mean Street Posse and Kaientai being excluded since they were denied spots in the match; featured a segment on the opening of WWF New York, with footage from the Sugar Ray concert as well as comments by many of the WWF superstars in attendance; included footage from seperate Radio WWF interviews conducted over the weekend with Steve Austin and Triple H as well as the Road Dogg and Bradshaw fighting in the studio during a broadcast; featured an in-ring promo by the Big Show regarding the Royal Rumble match
Pay-per-view bouts – included Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler on commentary; featured the Miss Rumble contest, with participants including WWF Women’s Champion Miss Kitty, Jackie, BB, Terri, and Luna, in which Mae Young came out unannounced and took off her shirt to reveal prosthetic breasts; moments later, Mae was announced as the winner; judges for the contest included Sgt. Slaughter, Tony Garea, Johnny Valiant, Freddie Blassie, the Fabulous Moolah, and Andy Richter from “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”; Jerry Lawler was the MC for the segment; included Jonathan Coachman interviewing Linda McMahon at WWF New York regarding the McMahon-Helmsley Era:
Tazz (mystery opponent) defeated Kurt Angle at 3:14 with the Tazzmission; after the bout, Angle was attended to by medics and taken backstage on a stretcher; later in the broadcast, Angle claimed because he was choked out – which is illegal – his undefeated streak still stood (Tazz’ surprise debut; Angle’s first TV singles loss)
Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated the Dudley Boyz in a tables match at 10:17; Bubba Ray was put through a table at ringside at 4:12 following a legdrop off a ladder by Matt and a top rope splash by Jeff; Matt was powerbombed off the top through a table in the ring, on top of two sets of ring steps, by Bubba Ray at 6:31; D-Von was eliminated by a Swanton from Jeff after both teams began brawling into the crowd; Michael Cole conducted a backstage interview with the Hardyz & Terri prior to the bout in which Matt & Jeff told Terri she was staying backstage because it would be too violent for her to be at ringside; moments later, the Dudleyz cut an in-ring promo saying the NYC fans were ass-backwards for cheering the Hardyz and booing Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker (Twist of Fate: The Matt & Jeff Hardy Story)
WWF IC Champion Chris Jericho defeated WWF IC Champion Chyna and Hardcore Holly at 7:30 by pinning Chyna with a bulldog and Lionsault after Chyna applied a Boston Crab on Holly; due to the decision, Jericho became the sole holder of the IC title
WWF Tag Team Champions Billy Gunn & the Road Dogg defeated the Acolytes at 2:37 when Gunn pinned Bradshaw with the Fameasser after X-Pac interfered as referee Tim White was knocked down on the floor and hit a spin wheel kick on the challenger
WWF World Champion Triple H pinned Cactus Jack at 26:49 with the Pedigree followed by a second Pedigree onto a pile of thumb tacs inside the ring; Stephanie McMahon escorted the champion ringside prior to the match before going backstage; mid-way through the bout, the Rock interfered and hit the champion over the head with a steel chair as both participants were near the entrance; late in the contest, Stephanie returned ringside after the challenger poured a bag of thumb tacs over the ring; after the match, Cactus knocked over the champion’s stretcher as he was being helped backstage, dragged him back inside the ring, and hit him with a 2×4 wrapped in barbed wire (Most Memorable Matches of 2000, Triple H: The Game, Mick Foley’s Greatest Hits & Misses, The History of the WWE Heavyweight Championship)
The Rock won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating the Big Show at 51:47; due to pre-match stipulations, Rock earned a WWF World Title match at WrestleMania
Order of entry: D-Lo Brown (00:00); Grandmaster Sexay (00:00); Headbanger Mosh (1:41); Taka Michinoku & Sho Funaki, who were not legal participants, ran to the ring and were quickly thrown out; Christian (3:23); Rikishi (5:05); Scotty 2 Hotty (6:40); Steve Blackman (8:42); Viscera (10:32); the Big Bossman (14:23); Bossman refused to get in the ring with Rikishi until Test came out and threw him in; Test (14:28); Davey Boy Smith (15:30); Gangrel (17:30); Taka & Funaki came out again and were again thrown to the floor; Taka hit his face on the floor after being thrown out and was taken to the hospital; Edge (19:07); Bob Backlund (21:03); WWF IC Champion Chris Jericho (22:49); Crash Holly (24:27); Chyna (26:02); Farooq (27:36); WWF Tag Team Champion the Road Dogg (29:02); Al Snow (30:35); WWF European Champion Val Venis (32:13); Funaki came out again and was quickly thrown out of the ring; Albert (33:49); Hardcore Holly (35:28); the Rock (37:02); WWF Tag Team Champion Billy Gunn (38:38); the Big Show (40:39); Bradshaw (41:53); Kane (escorted to the ring by Tori) (43:50); Funaki came out a final time and was thrown out by Snow; the Godfather (46:09); X-Pac (46:52)
Order of elimination: Mosh by Rikishi (5:18); Christian by Rikishi following a belly to belly suplex (5:32); D-Lo by Rikishi following the Rikishi Driver (6:09); Grandmaster & Scotty by Rikishi after all three men danced together in the ring (7:43); after the elimination, Too Cool & Rikishi showed there were no hard feelings; Blackman by Rikishi following the Rikishi Driver (9:27); Viscera by Rikishi via a shoulderblock after three superkicks (11:57); Rikishi by Edge, Gangrel, Backlund, Bossman, Smith, & Test (21:27); Backlund by Jericho via a dropkick (23:04); after his elimination, Backlund left through the crowd; Jericho by Chyna following a suplex from the apron to the floor (26:36); Chyna by Bossman after being shoved off the apron (26:40); Farooq by the Bossman after Rodney, Pete Gas, & Joey Abs came out and attacked Farooq (27:53); Smith by Road Dogg (30:51); Edge by Snow & Venis via a double backdrop (33:55); Bossman by Rock via a punch (37:11); Crash by Rock following a floatover DDT (39:22); Test by Show via a boot to the face as Test was straddled on the top rope (40:45); Gangrel by Show (40:50); Bradshaw by Gunn & Road Dogg after Bradshaw fought off an interfering Mean Street Posse and threw all three men to the floor (42:17); moments later, Farooq joined Bradshaw in battling the Posse backstage; Venis by Kane via a choke throw (44:00); Albert by Kane via a clothesline (45:12); Hardcore by Kane via a clothesline (47:16); Godfather by Show (47:41); Snow by Rock via a clothesline (47:52); Road Dogg by Gunn (48:04); Gunn by Kane following two uppercuts (48:16); moments later, Kane brawled with the New Age Outlaws outside the ring, distracting referees as the Rock threw X-Pac over the top; Kane by X-Pac via a spin kick after Kane bodyslammed Big Show (50:01); X-Pac by Show via a press slam to the floor (50:24); Show by Rock when Rock held onto the top rope as Show had him on his shoulder and ran toward the ropes to throw him out, with the momentum sending Show over the top to the floor; after the elimination, Rock cut an in-ring promo on going to WrestleMania but was eventually interrupted by Show, who ran back out to the ring and threw Rock to the floor
Time in the Rumble Match
Test (26:17) *Ironman*
Gangrel (23:20)
The Big Bossman (22:48)
The Road Dogg (19:02)
Al Snow (17:18)
Rikishi (16:22)
Davey Boy Smith (15:21)
Crash Holly (14:55)
Edge (14:48)
The Rock (14:45) *Winner*
Hardcore Holly (11:48)
Val Venis (11:47)
Albert (11:23)
The Big Show (11:08)
Billy Gunn (9:38)
Grandmaster Sexay (7:43)
Kane (7:11)
D-Lo Brown (6:09)
Chris Jericho (3:47)
Headbanger Mosh (3:37)
X-Pac (3:34) Christian (2:09)
Bob Backlund (2:01)
The Godfather (1:32)
Viscera (1:25)
Scotty 2 Hotty (1:03)
Steve Blackman (0:45)
Chyna (0:38)
Bradshaw (0:24)
Farooq (0:17)
Sunday Night Heat – live – hosted by Michael Cole & Tazz; featured a video package recapping the feud between Chris Jericho and WWF IC Champion Chris Benoit to hype their ladder match later in the night; included Lilian Garcia conducting an interview with Benoit, arriving to the arena, about his upcoming title defense; featured a promo by WWF Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian in the aisle regarding their upcoming title defense against the Dudley Boyz, during which they had clips shown on the big screen of their midget Dudley Boyz saying “Wazzzzup!” and “Testify!” after each point the champions made; included pre-taped comments from fans outside the arena as to who they thought would win the Royal Rumble match; included the announcement that applications were available for WWF Tough Enough on MTV; featured a video package recapping the feud between Chyna and WWF Women’s Champion Ivory; included a promo in the aisle by Val Venis, Steven Richards, the Goodfather, Bull Buchanon, & Ivory regarding their participation in the show; featured a backstage segment in which the Undertaker was shown driving his motorcycle; included footage of WWF World Champion Kurt Angle appearing the previous Friday in Washington DC as part of George W. Bush’s inaguration, where he represented the Smackdown Your Vote campaign; featured a video package recapping the recent history between Triple H and Angle; included Garcia conducting a backstage interview with Angle regarding his upcoming title defense against Triple H, during which Trish joined Angle; featured a backstage segment showing the Rock arriving to the arena; included footage from earlier in the night of Drew Carey arriving to the arena; featured Cole conducting a backstage interview with Vince McMahon regarding the altercation between Triple H and Austin on Smackdown and whether that would cost Triple H his world title shot and Austin his spot in the Rumble match, with McMahon saying he would not take their opportunities away; Cole then asked about surprises in store for the Rumble match, with McMahon walking off without answering:
D-Lo Brown & Chaz (w/ Tiger Ali Singh) defeated Taka Michinoku & Sho Funaki at 1:51 when Chaz pinned Funaki following a modified powerbomb; prior to the bout, Taka & Funaki cut a promo in the aisle – voiced over by Shane McMahon & the Undertaker – regarding their opponents; stipulations stated one of the winning team would compete in the Royal Rumble match (Royal Rumble 01)
Pay-per-view bouts – included Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler on commentary; featured footage from Sunday Night Heat of Drew Carey arriving to the arena; included footage of Michael Cole conducting a backstage interview with Vince McMahon in which he said Steve Austin would compete in the Royal Rumble and Triple H would challenge for the WWF World Title, as scheduled, despite their altercation earlier in the week; featured a backstage segment with Triple H & Stephanie McMahon in which they discussed Triple H’s match against Kurt Angle; moments later, Carey came in, met Stephanie, and joked that he saw Kamala singing at the airport; Carey then said he was trying to find Vince to talk about his upcoming pay-per-view special “Drew Carey’s Improv All Stars”, with Stephanie telling Drew that Trish Stratus wanted to meet him as well; included a backstage segment showing Farooq & Bradshaw playing cards before showing each other their spots in the Royal Rumble match; Crash Holly then walked in and said, despite them being friends, he would have to throw them out of the ring in the Rumble; featured a backstage segment with Trish and Carey in which she tried to get him out of her room by saying she was involved with someone; moments later, Vince walked in and, after discussing Carey’s upcoming improv show, suggested Carey take part in the Rumble match later in the show; included a backstage segment with Chyna and Billy Gunn in which Gunn tried to talk her out of her upcoming match against WWF Women’s Champion Ivory because of her condition, with Chyna saying there was nothing that would stop her; featured Cole conducting a backstage segment with WWF IC Champion Chris Jericho regarding his title win in the ladder match; included a backstage segment in which Stephanie went looking for the makeup artist and found Trish, with the two arguing about the upcoming Triple H vs. Angle match; featured a backstage segment in which Harvey Wippleman gave Carey his gear for his upcoming match; moments later, Kane walked in and then walked out after Carey introduced himself to him; included a backstage segment with Tiger Ali Singh, D-Lo Brown & Chaz in which D-Lo and Chaz argued over which of them would compete in the Rumble match; moments later, Vince walked in and said neither would be in the match and they had been replaced; Singh then asked what great superstar would fill that spot, with Vince saying Carey; featured pre-taped comments from fans at WWF New York about who they thought would win the Triple H vs. Angle match, with the fans largely divided; included a backstage segment showing Rikishi, at #30, and the Undertaker in the respective locker rooms preparing for the Rumble match; featured Kevin Kelly conducting a backstage interview with the Rock regarding his participation in the Rumble match:
The Dudley Boyz defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian to win the titles at 10:00 when D-Von pinned Edge following the 3D after a failed Wazzup Drop by the champions
Chris Jericho defeated WWF IC Champion Chris Benoit in a ladder match to win the title at 18:44 after knocking Benoit off the top of the ladder, with the champion hitting the top rope and bouncing off to the floor (The Ladder Match)
WWF Women’s Champion Ivory (w/ Steven Richards) pinned Chyna at 3:28 after the challenger seemingly aggrevated a neck injury after hitting a springboard elbow in the corner; after the bout, Jerry Lawler left the broadcast table to check on her, along with Billy Gunn, road agents Tony Garea, Sgt. Slaughter, and medics; moments later, Chyna was taken backstage on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance (Divas in Hedonism)
WWF World Champion Kurt Angle pinned Triple H at 24:15 when, as referee Earl Hebner was knocked out on the floor, Steve Austin came out, assaulted the challenger around ringside, and hit him with the title belt; moments later, after Austin rolled a dazed Hebner into the ring, Austin climbed back into the ring and dropped Triple H with the Stunner before leaving the ring and Angle making the cover; prior to the contest, Stephanie McMahon escorted Triple H to the ring and Trish Stratus escorted but both women were taken backstage by Vince McMahon at around the 15-minute mark when they began fighting each other around ringside
Steve Austin won the 30-man Royal Rumble match at 1:01:51 by last eliminating Kane with a clothesline following several chair shots to the head; Order of entry: Jeff Hardy (0:00), Bull Buchanon (0:00), Matt Hardy (1:50), Farooq (3:36), Drew Carey (6:12), Kane (8:09), WWF Hardcore Champion Raven (8:53), Al Snow (10:33); Snow ran out before his time and attacked Raven on the floor; he was held back by referee Teddy Long until the entrant time was official, Perry Saturn (escorted to the ring by Terri) (12:53), Steve Blackman (14:23), Grandmaster Sexay (16:12), the Honkytonk Man (18:36), the Rock (20:23), the Goodfather (22:09), Tazz (23:51), Bradshaw (25:49), Albert (27:39), Hardcore Holly (29:29), K-Kwick (31:25), Val Venis (33:16), WWF European Champion William Regal (35:12), Test (37:03), the Big Show (39:02), Crash Holly (40:59), the Undertaker (43:03), Scotty 2 Hotty (44:58), Steve Austin (52:13); Austin was attacked from behind by Triple H in the aisle before he entered the ring, assaulted near the entranceway and bloodied until referees could send Triple H backstage, thus he entered the ring several minutes after he came out; Billy Gunn (47:57); Haku (49:50) (Haku’s surprise return after a 9-year absence), and Rikishi (52:12)
Order of elimination: Buchanon by the Hardys via a double clothesline (2:08); Farooq by the Hardys after sustaining the Twist of Fate / Swanton combo (4:34); the Hardys eliminated each other while fighting on the top rope (Jeff – 6:35, Matt – 6:36); Carey eliminated himself as Kane fought with Raven (9:06); Sexay by Kane after hitting him in the head with a trash can (17:16); Blackman by Kane after being hit in the head with a trash can lid as he attempted to skin the cat (17:33); Snow by Kane (17:42); Raven by Kane (17:45); Saturn by Kane (17:57); Honky by Kane after smashing his own guitar over his head (19:53); the Goodfather by Rock via a punch (22:25); Tazz by Kane after being punched off the top rope (24:01); Regal by Test (37:13); Test by Show via a clothesline (39:12); Kwick by Show via a press slam (39:19); Show by Rock via a clothesline (40:26); after the elimination, Show attacked Rock on the floor and dropped him with a chokeslam through the announce table; Bradshaw by Taker (43:27); Crash by Kane (43:29); Albert by Kane via a clothesline (43:32); Hardcore by Taker (43:33); Venis by Taker (43:38); Scotty by Taker & Kane via a double clothesline after a double chokeslam (45:44); Haku by Austin via a clothesline (52:42); Taker by Rikishi via a kick to the face (53:54); Rikishi by Rock via knocking him off the top rope after landing a low blow to avoid the Bonzai Drop (55:00); Gunn by Austin (55:24); Rock by Kane as Rock attempted to eliminate Austin (58:45); Kane by Austin
Time in the Rumble Match
Kane (53:42) *Ironman*
The Rock (38:22)
Bradshaw (17:38)
Albert (15:53)
Hardcore Holly (14:04)
The Undertaker (10:51)
Val Venis (10:22)
Steve Austin (9:38) *Winner*
WWF Hardcore Champion Raven (8:52)
K-Kwick (7:54)
Billy Gunn (7:27)
Al Snow (7:09)
Jeff Hardy (6:35)
Perry Saturn (5:04)
Matt Hardy (4:46)
Steve Blackman (3:10)
Drew Carey (2:54)
Haku (2:52)
Rikishi (2:48)
Crash Holly (2:30)
Test (2:09)
Bull Buchanon (2:08)
WWF European Champion William Regal (2:01)
The Big Show (1:24)
The Honkytonk Man (1:17)
Grandmaster Sexay (1:04)
Farooq (0:58)
Scotty 2 Hotty (0:55)
The Goodfather (0:16)
Tazz (0:10)
Pay-per-view bouts – included Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler on commentary; featured Lilian Garcia conducting a backstage interview with WWF IC Champion Edge regarding his upcoming title defense against William Regal, with Edge taking a steel chair and saying he could play dirty too if that’s how Regal wants to do it; included footage from earlier in the night of Jonathan Coachman attempting to interview Ric Flair, alongside his son and daughter, Reid and Megan, about his upcoming match with Vince McMahon; featured Michael Cole conducting a backstage interview with Nick Patrick in which he asked whether Patrick had seen the footage of how Regal won the IC title; moments later, Stephanie McMahon walked in and took over the interview, saying the beating Ric Flair gave Vince McMahon would not compare to what Triple H would do to the other 29 men in the Royal Rumble match; as Stephanie began insulting Debra, Austin’s wife, Austin walked up behind her and repeatedly asked “What?” until Stephanie ran away; Cole then attempted to interview Austin about the Rumble, with Austin saying he would throw out Triple H, Kurt Angle, and the Undertaker to win it; included a “Don’t try this at home” PSA; featured Ross & Lawler speaking with Shawn Michaels, from WWF New York, about the show thus far and who he thinks will win the Rumble match, with Michaels siding with Austin or Taker:
WWF Tag Team Champions Tazz & Spike Dudley defeated the Dudley Boyz (w/ Stacy Keibler) at 5:06 when D-Von submitted to Tazz’ Tazzmission after running into the corner, moments after blocking Spike’s Dudley Dog and throwing Spike to the floor; Spike wore a neck brace to the ring until it was ripped off mid-way through the match
William Regal pinned WWF IC Champion Edge to win the title at 9:45 after hitting the champion in the face with brass knuckles moments after Edge accidentally speared both referee Nick Patrick and the challenger; prior to the bout, Patrick found brass knux in Regal’s tights and confiscated them but Regal had a second pair Patrick didn’t find; after the bout, Edge was attended to by referees as Michael Cole interviewed Regal in the aisle regarding the match
WWF Women’s Champion Trish Stratus pinned Jazz at 3:44 with a bulldog after kicking the challenger in the face as she ran into the corner; prior to the match, Jackie was introduced as the surprise guest referee; late in the match, Trish hit the Stratusfaction but the challenger kicked out at 2
Ric Flair defeated Vince McMahon in a streetfight at 14:54 via submission with the figure-4 after hitting McMahon over the head with a lead pipe; Flair’s children Reid and Megan were shown at ringside during the match; early in the bout, Vince stole Megan’s camera to take a photo of a bloody Flair, with Flair later holding a bloody Vince and biting his head while Megan took a photo (Mr. McMahon)
WWF World Champion Chris Jericho pinned the Rock at 18:50 with both feet on the ropes for leverage after hitting a low blow and ramming the challenger’s head into an exposed turnbuckle; Jericho tapped out to the Rock’s Sharpshooter at the 10-minute mark but referee Earl Hebner was distracted by Lance Storm and Christian at ringside, who were then laid out by the challenger; during the closing moments of the match, referee Nick Patrick came down after Hebner had been knocked out but then refused to count the challenger’s cover, with Rock then hitting Patrick with the Rock Bottom (The Rock: The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment)
Triple H won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Kurt Angle at 1:09:19; due to pre-match stipulations, Triple H earned a World Title shot at WrestleMania X-8
Order of entry: Rikishi (00:00); Goldust (00:00) (Goldust’s return after a 3-year absence); the Big Bossman (2:19); Bradshaw (4:13); Lance Storm (6:16); Al Snow (8:14); Billy Gunn (10:09); WWF Hardcore Champion the Undertaker (12:37); Matt Hardy (w/ Lita) (14:36); Jeff Hardy (16:52) (the surprise return of the Hardyz & Lita after a month absence); Maven (19:36); Scotty 2 Hotty (25:52) (Scotty was introduced before Christian but was attacked in the aisle by the Undertaker before entering the ring); WWF European Champion Christian (25:22); Diamond Dallas Page (26:55); Chuck Palumbo (28:55); the Godfather, escorted by 12 hos (32:54) (the Godfather’s return after a 6-month absence); Albert (33:12); Perry Saturn (35:09); Steve Austin (37:25); Val Venis (40:11) (Venis’ return after an 8-month absence); Test (41:37); Triple H (46:10); the Hurricane (47:26); Farooq (49:01); Mr. Perfect (51:45) (Perfect’s return after a 5-year absence; his first match back in over 8 years); Kurt Angle (53:13); the Big Show (55:20); Kane (57:19); Rob Van Dam (59:25); Booker T (1:01:29)
Order of elimination: Bossman by Rikishi via a side kick and clothesline (5:25); Storm by Snow via a superkick as both men stood on the apron (11:03); Bradshaw by Gunn as Bradshaw attempted to eliminate Goldust (11:31); Goldust by the Undertaker via a chokeslam over the top to the floor (13:01); Rikishi by the Undertaker via a clothesline (13:39); Gunn by the Undertaker (13:46); Jeff Hardy by the Undertaker by catching Jeff as he leapt off Matt’s shoulders and tossing him to the floor (18:22); Matt Hardy by the Undertaker following the powerbomb (18:53); the Undertaker by Maven via a dropkick from behind after Taker again cleared the Hardyz from the ring; after his elimination, Taker brutalized Maven in and around ringside before beating him into the crowd, up the stairs, and to a popcorn vendor where he smashed Maven’s head through the popcorn machine; Scotty by DDP after Scotty hit the Worm on Christian (28:28); DDP by Christian via a backdrop after Palumbo avoided the Diamond Cutter and shoved Page into Christian (not shown live; around 32:12); Albert by Christian & Palumbo as Albert attempted to eliminate the Godfather (34:00); the Godfather by Christian & Palumbo via a double clothesline after missing a double Ho Train in the corner (34:42); Christian by Austin (37:44); Palumbo by Austin (37:58); Saturn by Austin following the Stunner (38:04); moments later, Austin dragged Christian back inside the ring, hit the Stunner on him, threw him back out and then did the same to Palumbo; Venis by Austin (43:07); Test by Austin following the Stunner (43:19); the Hurricane by Austin & Triple H (48:05); Farooq by Triple H via a clothesline after Austin hit the Stunner (49:36); Big Show by Kane via a bodyslam to the floor (58:19); Kane by Angle via an Olympic Slam over the top after Austin hit the Stunner (58:34); RVD by Booker after Triple H hit the Pedigree (1:01:39); Booker by Austin via the Stunner (1:02:03); Austin by Angle as Austin attempted to eliminate Perfect (1:04:10); after his elimination, Austin hit Perfect, Angle, and Triple H with a steel chair before leaving ringside; Perfect by Triple H via a clothesline after Perfect hit the Perfect Plex and neck ringer on Angle (1:07:04); Angle by Triple H via a facebuster and clothesline after Angle thought he had won the match (Triple H: The King of Kings, from Triple H’s entrance on)
Time in the Rumble Match
Steve Austin (26:45) *Ironman*
Triple H (23:09) *Winner*
Kurt Angle (16:06)
Mr. Perfect (15:19)
Rikishi (13:39)
Goldust (13:01)
Christian (12:22)
Chuck Palumbo (9:03)
Bradshaw (7:18)
Diamond Dallas Page (around 5:17)
Lance Storm (4:47)
Matt Hardy (4:17)
Billy Gunn (3:35)
The Big Bossman (3:06)
The Big Show (2:59)
Val Venis (2:56)
Perry Saturn (2:55)
Scotty 2 Hotty (2:36)
Rob Van Dam (2:14)
The Godfather (1:48)
Test (1:42)
The Hurricane (1:39)
Jeff Hardy (1:30)
Kane (1:15)
Albert (0:48)
Booker T (0:34)
Al Snow (4:46)
The Undertaker
Maven (was never officially eliminated)
Sunday Night Heat: Spike Dudley pinned Steven Richards (w/ WWE Women’s Champion Victoria) at 3:37 with the Dudley Dog
Pay-per-view bouts – included Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler on commentary for the Raw bouts and Michael Cole & Tazz on commentary for the Smackdown! matches, with JR & Lawler covering the Rumble match:
Royal Rumble Qualifying Match: Brock Lesnar pinned the Big Show (w/ Paul Heyman) with the F5 at 6:29 after sending his opponent into Heyman, who was on the ring apron, moments after kicking out of the chokeslam
The Dudley Boyz defeated WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Lance Storm & William Regal to win the titles at 7:23 when D-Von pinned Storm after hitting him with Regal’s brass knuckles after the challengers hit the 3D on Regal and Bubba Ray knocked an interfering Chief Morley off the ring apron
Torrie Wilson pinned Dawn Marie with a swinging neckbreaker at 3:37
Scott Steiner defeated WWE Raw World Champion Triple H (w/ Ric Flair) via disqualification at 18:13 when the champion hit Steiner in the chest with a sledgehammer; following the bout, Steiner assaulted both Triple H and Flair with the weapon and locked the champion in the Steiner Recliner until several referees and Eric Bischoff convinced him to let go of the hold
WWE World Champion Kurt Angle defeated Chris Benoit via submission at 19:47 with the ankle lock into a heel hook; prior to the bout, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas – who were to have been in the champion’s corner – were sent backstage; after the match, the two returned ringside to celebrate Angle’s win ( Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story, The History of the WWE Heavyweight Championship)
Brock Lesnar won the 30-man Royal Rumble match at 53:47 by last eliminating the Undertaker; due to pre-match stipulations, Lesnar earned a WWE Smackdown! World Title shot at WrestleMania XIX; after the bout, Taker returned to the ring and gave Lesnar congratulations but made it clear he wanted a title shot if Lesnar was successful at WrestleMania
Order of entry: Shawn Michaels (00:00), Chris Jericho (00:00), Christopher Nowinski, upon his entry, Nowinski waited around at ringside before finally entering the ring (4:27), Rey Mysterio Jr. (3:22), Edge (4:47), Christian (6:48), WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. (8:22), Tajiri (9:55), Bill DeMott (11:23), Tommy Dreamer, Dreamer brought with him to the ring a trashcan full of weapons (13:09), Bull Buchanon (14:50), Rob Van Dam (16:38), Matt Hardy (w/ Shannon Moore) (18:17), WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion Eddie Guerrero (20:11), Jeff Hardy (21:43), Rosey (23:25), Test (25:00), John Cena, upon his entry, Cena took his time rapping his way to the ring (27:42), Charlie Haas (28:07), Rikishi (29:58), Jamal (w/ Rico) (31:23), Kane (33:04), Shelton Benjamin (34:23), Booker T (36:11), Albert (37:43), Maven (39:41), Goldust (41:16), Batista (43:07), Brock Lesnar (44:46), and the Undertaker (Taker’s return after being gone 3 months) (47:00)
Order of elimination: Michaels by Jericho after a low blow and a chair shot that busted Michaels’ head open (2:30); Nowinski by Mysterio with a hurricanrana over the ropes, with Mysterio holding on to avoid elimination (9:05); Mysterio by Jericho via a clothesline (9:17); DeMott by Edge via a blow using one of Dreamer’s canes (13:36); Dreamer by Christian & Jericho after assaulting him with his own canes and trash can lids (13:58); Tajiri by Jericho when Jericho pushed him off the ropes as Tajiri attempted to apply the Tarantula (14:37); Buchanon by Edge when Edge ducked a charge and Buchanon hit the post (15:15); Chavo by Edge via a spear as Chavo was on the ring apron (15:32); Christian & Edge by Jericho as Christian and Edge attempted to eliminate each other (15:51); Jeff by RVD when RVD pushed him off the top as he attempted a moonsault (29:09); Rosey by Kane (33:40); Eddie by Booker via a backdrop (36:42); Jericho by Test following a kick to the midsection after Jericho fought off Shawn Michaels, who returned to the ring, head bandaged, seconds earlier (38:59); after the elimination, Michaels hit a plancha to the floor on top of Jericho until he was pulled away by referees; Goldust by Haas & Benjamin after Haas hit a clothesline from behind as Goldust was trying to push Benjamin off the ring apron (42:03); Booker by Haas & Benjamin (42:32); Test eliminted himself when Batista, who was on the ring apron, pulled down the top rope as Test went for a boot to the face (43:47); Rikishi by Batista via a clothesline (44:09); Haas & Benjamin by Lesnar (45:20); Hardy by Lesnar via an F5 onto Benjamin & Haas who were on the floor (45:32); Cena by Taker via a clothesline (47:22); Jamal by Taker via a clothesline (47:32); Maven by Taker after a chokeslam (48:01); Albert by RVD & Kane via a double clothesline (49:18); RVD by Kane via a press slam onto Albert who was on the floor when it seemed like Kane was setting RVD up to pull off a double team move on Batista inside the ring (49:36); Batista by Taker via a clothesline (53:02); Kane by Taker (53:31); immediately after the elimination, Batista returned to the ring with a chair, with Taker eventually using the chair to send Batista to the floor; Taker by Lesnar as Taker was distracted by Batista
Time in the Rumble Match
Chris Jericho: (38:59) *Ironman*
Matt Hardy: (37:15)
Rob Van Dam: (32:58)
Kane: (20:27)
John Cena: (19:40)
Test: (18:47)
Charlie Haas: (17:13)
Eddie Guerrero: (16:31)
Jamal: (16:09)
Rikishi: (14:11)
Albert: (11:35)
Edge: (11:04)
Shelton Benjamin: (10:57)
Rosey: (10:15)
Batista: (9:55)
Christian: (9:03)
Brock Lesnar: (9:01) *Winner*
Maven: (8:20)
Jeff Hardy: (7:26)
Chavo Guerrero Jr.: (7:10)
The Undertaker: (6:47)
Booker T: (6:21)
Rey Mysterio Jr.: (5:55)
Tajiri: (4:42)
Chris Nowinski: (4:38)
Shawn Michaels: (2:30)
Bill DeMott: (2:13)
Tommy Dreamer: (0:49)
Goldust: (0:47)
Bull Buchanon: (0:25)
Pay-per-view bouts – included Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler on commentary for the Raw bouts with Michael Cole & Tazz on commentary for the Smackdown! bouts; JR & Tazz called the Rumble match together:
WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Ric Flair & Batista defeated the Dudley Boyz in a tables match at 4:21 when Batista put D-Von through the table with a modified spinebuster after the challengers became distracted by an interfering Jonathan Coachman, who did guest commentary for the bout (Batista: I Walk Alone)
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Jamie Noble (w/ Nidia) at 3:13 with the 619 and springboard legdrop after the blind Nidia accidentally tripped the challenger from the apron
Eddie Guerrero pinned Chavo Guerrero Jr. (w/ Chavo Guerrero Sr.) with the frog splash at 8:04; after the bout, Eddie hit an interfering Chavo Sr. and tied him to the ring ropes using his neck tie; moments thereafter, Eddie continued his assault on Chavo Jr., busting him open as Chavo Sr. watched on, unable to help (Viva La Raza: The Legacy of Eddie Guerrero)
WWE Smackdown! World Champion Brock Lesnar pinned Hardcore Holly with the F5 at 6:30; prior to the bout officially beginning, the two battled around ringside
Shawn Michaels fought World Heavyweight Champion Triple H to a draw in a Last Man Standing Match at 22:45 when both men failed to meet the referee’s standing ten count after the challenger hit the superkick on Triple H; after the bout, both men were attended to by EMTs; Ric Flair and Batista came to the ring to help in taking the champion backstage on a stretcher while Michaels refused to take the stretcher and walked backstage under his own power (Triple H: Thy Kingdom Come)
Chris Benoit won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating the Big Show at 1:01:34; due to prematch stipulations, Benoit earned a world title shot at WrestleMania XX
Order of entry: Chris Benoit (0:00), WWE IC Champion Randy Orton (0:00), Mark Henry (1:51), Tajiri (3:12), Bradshaw (4:47), Rhyno (6:24), Matt Hardy (8:06), Scott Steiner (9:49), Matt Morgan (11:30), the Hurricane (13:10), Booker T (15:06), Kane (16:56), Spike Dudley (never entered the ring after sustaining a chokeslam on the ramp by Kane following his own elimination), Rikishi (20:23), Rene Dupree (22:01), Albert (23:20), Shelton Benjamin (25:01), Ernest Miller (26:47), Kurt Angle (28:30), Rico (30:04), Mick Foley (sub. for Test who was knocked out backstage) (33:03), Christian (34:57), Nunzio (45:21; hid at ringside until being thrown into the ring by Cena), WWE US Champion the Big Show (38:54), Chris Jericho (40:09), Charlie Haas (41:40), Billy Gunn (43:14), John Cena (45:22), Rob Van Dam (46:32), Bill Goldberg (48:06)
Order of elimination: Bradshaw by Benoit (5:25), Tajiri by Henry after Henry, who was attempting to eliminate Tajiri, sustained the Gore from Rhyno (6:53), Henry by Benoit via a blow to the back (7:02), the Hurricane by Morgan via a torpedo throw out of the ring (13:31), Steiner by Booker via a backdrop (approximately 16:40), Kane by Booker after Kane became distracted by the Undertaker’s gong (18:26), Rhyno by Benoit via a backdrop (20:25), Hardy by Dupree via a dropkick as Hardy stood on the apron (22:24), Dupree by Rikishi via a superkick (22:33), Morgan by Benoit after Morgan was crotched on the top rope (23:44), Rikishi by Orton (24:11), Booker by Orton after Booker sustained a blow to the back of the head by Albert (24:16), Albert by Benoit (25:04), Benjamin by Orton after Orton avoided the superkick, with Benjamin crotching himself across the top rope (25:39), Miller by Orton while Benoit threw out Lamont (27:43), Rico by Orton via a fireman’s carry and dropping him backwards to the floor (31:08), Orton and Foley via a Foley clothesline to the floor; the two battled around ringside and up the ramp until Orton was able to escape; Foley applied the Mandible Claw on Nunzio on the ramp upon Nunzio’s intro (33:45), Christian by Jericho via a backdrop as Jericho stood on the ring apron (42:35), Haas by Goldberg as Goldberg was caught in a sleeper by Nunzio (48:33), Gunn by Goldberg via a clothesline (48:56), Nunzio by Goldberg via a gorilla press slam (49:09), Goldberg by Angle via Goldberg becoming distracted by Brock Lesnar at ringside after Lesnar interfered and hit the F5 on him (50:14), Cena by Show (52:58), RVD by Show after blocking a monkey flip out of the corner (53:16), Jericho by Show via chokeslam to the floor (55:07), Angle by Show by flipping over the top rope and sending Angle to the floor while he was caught in the ankle lock (57:35), Show by Benoit with a headlock, as he stood on the apron, and pulling Show over the top as he himself slid back into the ring under the bottom rope
Time in the Rumble Match
Chris Benoit: (1:01:34) *Ironman – New record* *Winner*
Randy Orton: (33:45)
Kurt Angle: (29:05)
The Big Show: (22:40)
Chris Jericho: (14:58)
Matt Hardy: (14:18)
Rhyno: (14:01)
Matt Morgan: (12:14)
Booker T: (9:10)
John Cena: (7:36)
Christian: (7:22)
Charlie Haas: (6:53)
Scott Steiner: (6:51)
Rob Van Dam: (6:44)
Billy Gunn: (5:43)
Mark Henry: (5:09)
Rikishi: (3:48)
Nunzio: (3:48)
Tajiri: (3:41)
Bill Goldberg: (2:08)
Albert: (1:44)
Kane: (1:30)
Rico: (1:04)
Ernest Miller: (0:56)
Bradshaw: (0:38)
Shelton Benjamin: (0:38)
Mick Foley: (0:42)
Rene Dupree: (0:32)
The Hurricane: (0:21)
Spike Dudley: (NA)
Sunday Night Heat: Maven pinned Rhyno by blocking a sunset flip into the ring and holding onto the ropes for leverage; the bout was joined in progress
Pay-per-view bouts – included Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler doing commentary for the Raw matches and Michael Cole & Tazz covering the Smackdown! matches, with JR and Tazz covering the Rumble match; featured Smackdown! GM Teddy Long announcing that JBL would defend the world title against the Big Show in a barbed wire steel cage match at No Way Out; included a Eugene / Forrest Gump ad promoting WrestleMania XXI in Hollywood:
Edge pinned Shawn Michaels at 18:32 with a roll over and grabbing the ropes for leverage
The Undertaker defeated John Heidenreich in a casket match at 13:19 following a chokeslam and the tombstone; at around the 5-minute mark, Gene Snitsky interfered and helped in double teaming Taker until Kane came out of the casket and battled Snitsky through the crowd (The Undertaker’s Most Dangerous Matches)
WWE World Champion John Bradshaw Layfield defeated Kurt Angle and the Big Show at 12:04 by pinning Angle with the Clothesline from Hell after Angle reentered the ring; a minute earlier, the Bashams and Orlando Jordan came ringside, with medics and a stretcher, after the champion was driven through the barricade by Show; at the same time, Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns came to the ring to prevent Show from making a pin on Angle; Jordan, instead of putting JBL on the stretcher, rolled him back inside the ring where he immediately dropped Angle with the clothesline (The Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century)
World Heavyweight Champion Triple H pinned Randy Orton at 21:27 with a clothesline, as Orton tried in vain to use the champion’s sledgehammer, followed by the Pedigree; mid-way through the bout, Orton appeared to have sustained a concussion after failing a DDT attempt; due to pre-match stipulations made by Raw GM Eric Bischoff earlier in the evening, Evolution was banned from ringside for the duration of the bout
Batsita won the 30-man Royal Rumble match at 53:54 by last eliminating John Cena; due to pre-match stipulations, Batista earned a world title match at WrestleMania XXI
Order of entry: Eddie Guerrero (00:00), Chris Benoit (00:00), Daniel Puder (1:52); Puder immediately went out under the bottom rope and cut a promo saying he would be the first Tough Enough winner to win the Rumble, Hardcore Holly (4:13), the Hurricane (6:16), Kenzo Suzuki (7:55), Edge (9:14), Rey Mysterio Jr. (10:49), WWE IC Champion Shelton Benjamin (12:16), Booker T (13:54), Chris Jericho (15:28), Luther Reigns (17:07), Muhammad Hassan (w/ Daivari) (19:19), Orlando Jordan (20:48), Scotty 2 Hotty (never made it to the ring as he was assaulted in the aisle by Muhammad Hassan and eventually was helped to the back), Charlie Haas (23:55), Rene Dupree (26:03), Simon Dean (28:47), Shawn Michaels (29:00), Kurt Angle (stole Nunzio’s spot earlier in the show) (30:36), Jonathan Coachman (32:38), Mark Jindrak (33:49), Viscera (35:59), Paul London (37:06), WWE US Champion John Cena (38:26), Gene Snitsky (39:30), Kane (41:17), Batista (43:00), Christian (w/ Tyson Tomko) (44:42), Ric Flair (46:03)
Order of elimination: Puder by Hardcore (6:00), Hardcore by Benoit & Guerrero (6:11), the Hurricane by Guerrero via a backdrop (7:20), Kenzo by Mysterio via a hurricanrana over the top, with Mysterio holding onto the ropes to avoid elimination himself (11:27), Hassan by Jericho, Benoit, Edge, Reigns, Booker, and Benjamin (20:13), Reigns by Booker via a clothesline (24:20), Orlando by Booker via a clothesline (24:25), Booker by Mysterio via a dropkick from behind, with Eddie pulling down the top rope (24:39), Benjamin by Edge after Benjamin failed a splash in the corner, landed with his feet on the top, and was pushed off (26:53), Eddie by Edge (28:13), Dean by Michaels via a clothesline (29:08), Haas by Michaels (30:16), Angle by Michaels via the superkick (31:13), Michaels by Angle when Angle returned to the ring, dumped Michaels over the top, hit him with the steel ring steps, and applied the ankle lock on the floor until he was pulled away by officials (33:55), Dupree by Jericho as Dupree was doing the French Tickler (37:34), Viscera by Cena (38:58), London by Snitsky via a clothesline as London was on the ring apron (40:21); following the elimination, London was taken backstage on a stretcher; Jindrak by Kane (42:03); Snitsky by Batista via a clothesline (43:08); Jericho by Batista after catching him attempting a crossbody and press slamming him to the floor (43:53); Kane by Cena via an FU (45:12); Coachman by Flair after a spinebuster from Batista (46:27); Christian by Batista via a press slam onto Tomko (46:51); Benoit by Flair & Batista after a spinebuster from Batista (47:29); Flair by Edge following a spear (48:02); Mysterio by Edge via a spear as Mysterio was on the ring apron (49:16); Edge by Batista & Cena via a double backdrop (49:38); both Cena and Batista were eliminated at 51:00 when Cena blocked Batista’s attempt at a powerbomb, with both men going over the top; after Raw referees declared Batista the winner and Smackdown! referees declared Cena the winner, Vince McMahon came ringside and ordered the bout to continue at 53:28; Cena by Batista following a spinebuster
During the bout, Eric Bischoff came ringside at around the 14-minute mark to watch the action while Teddy Long did the same at around the 16-minute mark (Batista: I Walk Alone)
Time in the Rumble Match
Chris Benoit: (47:29) *Ironman*
Edge: (40:24)
Rey Mysterio Jr.: (38:34)
Chris Jericho: (28:25)
Eddie Guerrero: (28:13)
John Cena: (15:27)
Shelton Benjamin: (14:37)
Jonathan Coachman: (12:51)
Rene Dupree: (11:31)
Batista: (10:54) *Winner*
Booker T: (10:45)
Mark Jindrak: (8:46)
Luther Reigns: (7:13)
Charlie Haas: (6:21)
Shawn Michaels: (4:55)
Daniel Puder: (4:08)
Kane: (3:55)
Gene Snitsky: (3:38)
Orlando Jordan: (3:37)
Kenzo Suzuki: (3:32)
Paul London: (3:14)
Viscera: (2:59)
Christian: (2:09)
Ric Flair: (1:59)
Hardcore Holly: (1:58)
The Hurricane: (1:04)
Muhammad Hassan: (0:54)
Kurt Angle: (0:37)
Simon Dean: (0:21)
Scotty 2 Hotty: (NA)
Heat – featured footage from after the Miami Heat game Thursday night in which Shaquille O’Neal hit Carlito Caribbean Cool in the back with a steel chair as Carlito bad mouthed the Heat for losing the game, with both Shaq and Carlito sharing their comments on the incident:
Finlay pinned Brian Kendrick with the Emerald Frosien at 2:08
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Joey Styles & Jerry Lawler on commentary for the Raw matches and Michael Cole & Tazz on commentary for the Smackdown! bouts, with Cole & Lawler on commentary for the Rumble match itself; included a backstage confrontation between Triple H and Randy Orton as both men selected their entry numbers for the Rumble match; featured a backstage segment in which the Big Show & Rey Mysterio Jr. picked their numbers; included a backstage segment in which Shelton Benjamin and WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champions MNM picked their numbers, with all three telling Vince McMahon they would eliminate Shawn Michaels on his behalf:
Gregory Helms defeated WWE Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash, Sho Funaki, Jamie Noble, Paul London, and Nunzio to win the title at 7:42 after throwing Noble to the floor as Noble applied the dragon sleeper on Funaki and then hitting the Shining Wizard on Funaki for the win; the bout was open to any former cruiserweight champion
Mickie James pinned Ashley at 7:46 with a modified powerbomb as Ashley stood on the ropes and punched away at Mickie; prior to the bout, Mickie told guest referee WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus backstage that she loved her; after the bout, Mickie hugged and attempted to grope Trish before leaving the ring
The Boogeyman pinned John Bradshaw Layfield (w/ Jillian Hall) with the pumphandle slam at 1:56 after JBL hit the corner while attempting the Clothesline from Hell; prior to the bout, the Boogeyman stalked JBL and Jillian inside the ring, eventually crawling on top of Jillian and spitting worms into her mouth before JBL attacked him from behind to start the match
Rey Mysterio Jr. won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Randy Orton at 1:02:15; due to pre-match stipulations, Mysterio won a world title shot for WrestleMania 22; prior to the bout, the Spirit Squad interrupted Lilian Garcia’s ring announcing and performed an in-ring cheer; moments later, Mysterio drove a low rider out to the ring and laid an Eddie Guerrero t-shirt across it before entering the ring; after the bout, Edge & Lita confronted Mysterio backstage, as Mysterio was congratulated by Benoit, Chavo, and Dean Malenko, and said Rey should think twice before using the title shot loophole to challenge him at WrestleMania
Order of entry: Triple H (00:00), Rey Mysterio Jr. (00:00), Simon Dean (1:54), Psychosis (3:40), WWE IC Champion Ric Flair (5:26), WWE Raw Tag Team Champion the Big Show (7:30), Jonathan Coachman (9:15), Bobby Lashley (11:11), WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Kane (13:02), Sylvan (14:48), Carlito Caribbean Cool (17:06), Chris Benoit (18:55), WWE US Champion Booker T (21:31), WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion Joey Mercury (23:21), Tatanka (25:18) (Tatanka’s surprise return following a 5-month absence), WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion Johnny Nitro (26:55), Trevor Murdoch (28:32), Eugene (30:10) (Eugene’s surprise return after a 2-month absence), Road Warrior Animal (31:38), Rob Van Dam (33:19) (RVD’s in-ring return after a year absence), Orlando Jordan (35:02), Chavo Guerrero Jr. (36:34), Matt Hardy (38:11), Super Crazy (40:02), Shawn Michaels (41:27), Chris Masters (43:12), Viscera (44:48), Shelton Benjamin (46:25), Goldust (47:44) (Goldust’s return after a 3-month absence), Randy Orton (49:11)
Order of elimination: Dean by Rey & Triple H (2:40), Psychosis by Rey after reversing a crucifix powerbomb attempt into a headscissors (4:55), Flair by Triple H via backdrop (6:43), Coachman by Show via choke throw (9:45), Sylvan by Lashley (15:05), Lashley by Kane & Show following a double chokeslam (15:28), Kane & Show by Triple H as the tag team champions began choking each other (16:34), Booker by Benoit (21:48), Animal by RVD via a backdrop (34:26), Chavo by Triple H by shoving Chavo off the top as Chavo attempted a frog splash (37:34), Tatanka by Mercury & Nitro after sustaining the Snapshot (39:27), Murdoch by Michaels by pulling down the top rope as Murdoch charged towards him (42:14), Hardy by Viscera after avoiding the Twist of Fate (45:54), Eugene by Benoit via a waistlock throw (46:35), Crazy by Mysterio via a headscissors (47:43), Benoit by Orton (49:29), Viscera by Carlito & Masters after Viscera sustained the RKO (50:08), Masters by Carlito as Masters gloated over eliminating Viscera (50:14), Goldust by RVD via a spin kick (50:53), Jordan by Orton after dropping him throat-first across the top rope as Jordan stood on the apron (51:11), Mercury eliminated after Nitro collided with him when Michaels moved out of the way (52:36), Nitro by Michaels via a clothesline (52:40), Benjamin by Michaels via the superkick as Benjmain stood on the apron (53:17), Michaels by an interfering Shane McMahon as Vince McMahon distracted Shawn from the opposite side of the ring (54:22), after the elimination, Michaels fought off Triple H, hitting the superkick, then chased the McMahons down the aisle, Carlito by RVD via a spin kick (55:38), RVD after Rey was catapulted into the air by Triple H and accidentally knocked RVD off the top rope (57:11), Triple H by Rey via a headscissors (1:00:16), Orton by Rey via a headscissors
John Cena defeated WWE World Champion Edge (w/ Lita) via submission with the STFU to win the title at 14:03 after Edge collided with Lita on the ring apron and the challenger hit the FU; prior to the match, the challenger walked out to the ring on a giant scaffold that was lowered from the ceiling; immediately after the bout, Todd Grisham interviewed Edge & Lita backstage, with Edge storming off and Jim Duggan confronting Lita moments later and yelling “Hoooo” (The John Cena Experience)
World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle pinned Mark Henry (w/ Daivari) with a roll up at 9:30 after using a drop toe hold to send the challenger head-first into an unprotected middle turnbuckle; immediately after the bout, the Undertaker rode onto the stage on a chariot and motioned to Angle that he wanted the championship before lighting hit all four corners of the ring, causing the ring to collapse; moments before the show went off the air, Tazz said “Holy shit” in reference to the incident
Time in the Rumble Match
Rey Mysterio Jr.: (1:02:15) *Ironman – New Record* *Winner*
Triple H: (1:00:16)
Carlito Caribbean Cool (38:32)
Chris Benoit (30:34)
Joey Mercury (29:15)
Johnny Nitro (25:45)
Rob Van Dam (23:52)
Eugene (16:25)
Orlando Jordan (16:09)
Tatanka (14:09)
Trevor Murdoch (13:42)
Randy Orton (13:04)
Shawn Michaels (12:55)
The Big Show: (9:04)
Matt Hardy (7:43)
Super Crazy (7:41)
Chris Masters (7:02)
Shelton Benjamin (6:52)
Viscera (5:20)
Bobby Lashley (4:17)
Goldust (3:09)
Kane (3:32)
Road Warrior Animal (2:48)
Ric Flair: (1:17)
Psychosis: (1:15)
Chavo Guerrero Jr. (1:00)
Simon Dean: (00:46)
Jonathan Coachman: (00:30)
Sylvan (00:17)
Booker T (00:17)
JTG (w/ Shad Gaspard) pinned Lance Cade (w/ Trevor Murdoch) at 8:42 with a roll up and using the ropes for leverage
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler on commentary for Raw, Michael Cole & John Bradshaw Layfield on commentary for Smackdown!, and Joey Styles & Tazz on commentary for ECW; included a backstage segment with Jonathan Coachman, Teddy Long, and Kelly Kelly in which WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Edge & Randy Orton drew their numbers for the Royal Rumble and Booker T appeared after Edge offered to show Orton his (number) if Orton showed him his own; featured WWE World Champion John Cena being checked on by a doctor backstage until Vince McMahon stapped in and said he didn’t think Cena would win his match against Umaga; included a backstage segment where Kevin Thorn, with Ariel, chose a number for the Rumble; moments later, the Little Bastard, on behalf of Finlay, went to pick a number but ended up biting Coachman on the ear and kicking him in the shin; the Little Bastard then turned around to find the Great Khali, who grabbed a number for the Rumble and walked off, leaving behind two other number balls he grabbed as well; Kelly then said they were the biggest balls she had ever seen, with Ron Simmons then appearing and saying “Damn;” featured a commercial for the DVD release of “The Marine,” available Tuesday; Saliva was in attendance for the show; included a backstage segment in which the Sandman and Ric Flair drew the last two Royal Rumble numbers, with Kelly Kelly, Leyla, and Rebecca randomly dancing with Flair to close the segment:
WWE IC Champion Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy defeated Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury (w/ Melina) at 15:32 when Jeff pinned Nitro with the Swanton following the Twist of Fate from Matt; Ross & Lawler did commentary for the bout
ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley defeated Test via count-out at 7:10 when the challenger walked out of the match after sustaining a clothesline to the floor; after the bout, Lashley dragged Test back inside the ring and dropped Test with the running powerslam
World Heavyweight Champion Batista pinned Ken Kennedy with the sit-down powerbomb at 10:32 after hitting a clothesline as Kennedy came off the middle turnbuckle
WWE World Champion John Cena defeated Umaga (w/ Armando Allejandro Estrada) in a last man standing match at 23:10 after twice applying the STFU by using the top ring rope, which Estrada unhinged late in the match
The Undertaker won the Royal Rumble by last eliminating Shawn Michaels at 57:20; due to pre-match stipulations, the Undertaker earned a world title shot at WrestleMania 23
Order of entry: Ric Flair (00:00), Finlay (00:00) Kenny Dykstra (1:43), Matt Hardy (3:11), WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Edge (4:41), Tommy Dreamer (6:11), Sabu (7:56), WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms (9:10), Shelton Benjamin (10:40), Kane (12:22), CM Punk (14:07), Booker T (15:49), Super Crazy (17:05), WWE IC Champion Jeff Hardy (18:27), the Sandman (20:21), WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Randy Orton (21:27), WWE US Champion Chris Benoit (23:07), Rob Van Dam (24:47), Viscera (26:32), Johnny Nitro (27:47), Kevin Thorn (29:07), Hardcore Holly (30:32), Shawn Michaels (32:09), Chris Masters (33:38), Chavo Guerrero Jr. (35:14), MVP (36:49), Carlito Caribbean Cool (38:12), the Great Khali (40:03), Mike Mizanin (41:02), the Undertaker (43:04)
Order of elimination: Flair by Edge (5:40), Kenny by Edge from behind as Kenny did the Flair strut (5:48), Dreamer by Kane (12:53), Sabu by Kane via a chokeslam from the apron through a table Sabu had set up on the floor (13:24), Helms by Booker (16:00), the Sandman by Booker (20:34), Crazy by Orton & Edge (21:38), Jeff by Edge (22:05), Matt by Orton (22:07), Booker by Kane following a kick to the face from RVD (25:13), Kane by Booker who climbed back in the ring and hit a clothesline; after the elimination, Booker continued to attack Kane at ringside until referees forced him backstage (25:38), Finlay by Michaels via a clothesline (32:34), Viscera by RVD, Nitro, Thorn, Benoit, Edge, Punk, Holly, and Benjamin following the superkick from Michaels (32:52), Benjamin by Michaels via a backdrop (33:03), Nitro by Benoit after being knocked off the turnbuckle (34:05), Thorn by Benoit after pulling him over the top from the apron (35:23), Masters by RVD via a dropkick (37:11), Holly by Khali (40:54), Benoit by Khali (not shown, around 40:59), Mizanin by Khali (41:09), RVD by Khali (41:16), Punk by Khali (41:24), Carlito by Khali via a chop as Carlito stood on the apron (41:31), Chavo by Khali (41:38), Khali by Taker via a clothesline (43:48), MVP by Taker (44:22), Orton by Michaels via a backdrop (49:42), Edge by Michaels via the superkick (49:46)
Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield, and Jerry Lawler did commentary for the bout
Time in the Rumble Match
WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Edge (45:05) *Ironman*
Finlay (32:34)
WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Randy Orton (28:15)
CM Punk (27:17)
Shawn Michaels (25:11)
Shelton Benjamin (22:23)
Matt Hardy (18:56)
WWE US Champion Chris Benoit (17:52)
Rob Van Dam (16:29)
The Undertaker (14:16) *Winner*
Kane (13:16)
Hardcore Holly (10:22)
Booker T (9:24)
MVP (7:33)
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms (6:50)
Tommy Dreamer (6:42)
Chavo Guerrero Jr. (6:24)
Viscera (6:20)
Johnny Nitro (6:18)
Kevin Thorn (6:16)
Ric Flair (5:40)
Sabu (5:28)
Super Crazy (4:33)
Kenny Dykstra (4:05)
The Great Khali (3:45)
WWE IC Champion Jeff Hardy (3:38)
Chris Masters (3:33)
Carlito Caribbean Cool (3:19)
The Sandman (00:13)
Mike Mizanin (00:07)
Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore defeated Deuce & Domino (w/ Cherry) in under 5 minutes
Pay-per-view bouts – the first pay-per-view to air in HD; included Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler on commentary for Raw, Michael Cole & Jonathan Coachman on commentary for Smackdown!, and Joey Styles & Tazz on commentary for ECW; featured a backstage segment with Vince McMahon and Hornswoggle in which McMahon discussed the upcoming Royal Rumble match and told Hornswoggle he couldn’t trust anyone else in the match; moments later, Finlay appeared and McMahon suggested Hornswoggle could turn on him in the bout; included the debut of Mike Ademle as a new broadcaster, who introduced a video package on the Chris Jericho / John Bradshaw Layfield feud; featured a backstage segment with Ashley and Santino Marella in which Santino said Maria was too busy to talk with Ashley about Playboy and slammed the door in her face; included a backstage segment with Ric Flair – wearing a towel after getting out of the shower – and Ken Kennedy in which Kennedy congratulated Flair on his win until Shawn Michaels appeared, just as Kennedy implied he wanted to retire Flair, with Kennedy then walking off; Michaels then congratulated Flair on his win and Flair gave Michaels a pep talk before his participation in the Rumble; Batista and Triple H then appeared, with those two and Michaels chiming in on who would win the Rumble; featured an in-ring HD Kiss Cam, hosted by Maria, with Ashley then appearing and asking if Maria would be interested in posing for Playboy; Santino Marella then appeared with a person cloaked in black, insulted the crowd, especially the New York Giants by saying they were going to choke in the Super Bowl, and tried to take Maria backstage with him; after Ashley asked Maria again, Santino said they would discuss it more later and then brought the cloaked person into the ring, unveiling it as Big Dick Johnson wearing a Tom Brady Patriot’s jersey and thong; Ashley, who laughed outloud throughout the segment, then knocked Johnson to the floor; included a ‘Baywatch’ themed WrestleMania 24 ad with Kelly Kelly and Mae Young; featured Ademle introducing a Randy Orton / Jeff Hardy video package, accidentally calling Hardy ‘Harvey’ before correcting himself; the segment featured Hardy’s portion to the tune of Lostprophets’ “Rooftops”:
Ric Flair defeated WWE US Champion MVP via submission with the figure-4 in a non-title match at 7:50; prior to the match, Flair cut an in-ring promo on his career and thanked the MSG crowd for the respect they had shown him over the years; MVP originally won the match at the 4-minute mark following a boot to the face but referee Charles Robinson had the bout continue after noticing Flair’s foot was on the bottom rope during the cover; pre-match stipulations stated Flair would have to retire if he lost the match; Michael Cole & Jonathan Coachman provided commentary for the match
John Bradshaw Layfield defeated Chris Jericho via disqualification at 9:24 when Jericho hit JBL in the head with a steel chair as both men brawled on the floor; after the match, a bloody Jericho threw the chair into JBL’s face in the ring and choked him with a TV cable until he was pulled away by referees
World Heavyweight Champion Edge (w/ Vickie Guerrero) pinned Rey Mysterio Jr. at 12:36 by hitting the spear as Mysterio attempted a springboard into the ring, moments after hitting both Edge and an interfering Guerrero with the 619; Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins were in the champion’s corner early on but were ejected at the 3-minute mark as they attempted to attack Mysterio on the floor; after the bout, Ryder, Hawkins, and Edge tended to Guerrero outside the ring and helped her back into her wheelchair (Edge: A Decade of Decadence)
WWE World Champion Randy Orton pinned WWE IC Champion Jeff Hardy at 14:06 by reversing the Twist of Fate into the RKO (Jeff Hardy: My Life My Rules)
John Cena won the 30-man Royal Rumble match at 51:30 by last eliminating Triple H; due to pre-match stipulations, Cena earned a world title match at WrestleMania 24; Michael Buffer was the guest ring announcer for the match; Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Jonathan Coachman, Joey Styles, & Tazz did commentary for the bout (Cena’s surprise return after a 3-month absence)
Order of entry: The Undertaker (0:00); Shawn Michaels (0:00); Santino Marella (1:39); the Great Khali (w/ Runjin Singh) (3:34); upon Khali’s appearance, the crowd chanted “You can’t wrestle;” WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Hardcore Holly (5:06); WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion John Morrison (6:42); Tommy Dreamer (8:00); Dreamer received several chants of his name upon his appearance; Batista (9:36); Hornswoggle (36:49); Hornswoggle hid under the ring upon his entrance where he remained until much later; Chuck Palumbo (12:34); Jamie Noble, with his ribs taped (14:04); CM Punk (15:27); WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Cody Rhodes (17:00); Umaga (18:35); Snitsky (20:04); Mike Mizanin (21:32); Shelton Benjamin (22:49); Jimmy Snuka (24:17); Roddy Piper (25:59); Kane (26:53); Carlito Caribbean Cool (28:11); Mick Foley (29:28); Ken Kennedy (30:56); Big Daddy V (32:46) (not shown on camera); Mark Henry (34:13); ECW World Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. (35:47); Finlay (36:59); Finlay appeared before his number to save Hornswoggle from Henry & Big Daddy V, with Finlay laying out several men with the shillalagh before leading Hornswoggle backstage; Elijah Burke (38:47); Triple H (40:08); John Cena (43:02)
Order of elimination: Marella by Taker following Michaels’ superkick (2:05); Khali by Taker (4:43); Dreamer by Batista after fighting off a DDT attempt (10:10); Noble by Palumbo via a kick as Noble was on the apron (14:32); after the elimination, Noble was helped backstage by referees; Palumbo by Punk via a running knee to the head as Palumbo stood on the apron (16:34); Holly by Umaga via the thumb strike to the throat (18:52); Benjamin by Michaels via the superkick (23:07); Piper by Kane (27:00); Snuka by Kane (27:02); Snitsky by Taker via a clothesline (32:31); Taker by Michaels via the superkick (32:36); Michaels by Kennedy (32:42); after Taker’s elimination, Taker hit a legdrop onto Snitsky while he was laid atop the commentary table; Mizanin by Hornswoggle by pulling him down from the floor as Mizanin tried to keep himself on the top rope (34:39); Morrison by Kane via a boot to the face (36:06); Hornswoggle left ringside (38 minute mark); Finlay was disqualified for using a weapon (38 minute mark); Punk by Guerrero via a suplex (39:20); Rhodes by Triple H (40:16); Big Daddy V by Triple H following a kneelift (40:33); Foley & Burke by Triple H (40:58); Carlito by Cena (43:19); Guerrero by Cena (43:22); Henry by Cena (43:26); Kennedy by Batista via a clothesline (44:28); Umaga by Batista via a clothesline (44:41); Kane by Batista & Triple H (44:53); Batista by Triple H via a clothesline (47:18); Triple H by Cena via an FU to the floor
Time in the Rumble Match
Batista (37:42) *Ironman*
Shawn Michaels (32:42)
The Undertaker (32:36)
WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion John Morrison (29:24)
Umaga (26:06)
CM Punk (23:53)
WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Cody Rhodes (23:16)
Kane (18:00)
Carlito Caribbean Cool (15:08)
WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Hardcore Holly (13:46)
Ken Kennedy (13:32)
WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion Mike Mizanin (13:07)
Snitsky (12:27)
Mick Foley (11:30)
Triple H (11:22)
Mark Henry (9:13)
John Cena (8:28) *Winner*
Big Daddy V (7:47)
ECW World Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. (7:35)
Chuck Palumbo (4:10)
Jimmy Snuka (2:43)
Elijah Burke (2:11)
Tommy Dreamer (2:10)
The Great Khali (1:09)
Roddy Piper (1:01)
Hornswoggle (about 1 minute)
Finlay (about 1 minute)
Jamie Noble (0:28)
Santino Marella (0:26)
Shelton Benjamin (0:18)
Jimmy Wang Yang pinned Paul Burchill (w/ Katie Lea) with the moonsault
Pay-per-view bouts – featured an opening announcement by Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler that Vince McMahon’s condition was being kept private and that Randy Orton would be repremanded for his attack on Vince the previous Monday; included Cole & Lawler on commentary for Raw, Todd Grisham & Matt Striker on commentary for ECW, and Jim Ross & Tazz on commentary for Smackdown!; featured footage from earlier in the day of Randy Orton arriving to the arena and walking past agents, Maria, Kofi Kingston, and others; included a backstage segment with John Bradshaw Layfield and Shawn Michaels in which JBL said if Michaels did his job tonight then he would never have to work for JBL again and Michaels would have all the money he needed and would get a spot in the Royal Rumble match; after JBL left, the Undertaker appeared and told Michaels “Sometimes, it’s hell getting into Heaven;” featured an ad for WrestleMania 25; included an ad for the Legends of WrestleMania video game; featured Grisham conducting a backstage interview with Orton, with Orton saying he was still in the Royal Rumble match until he was told differently; moments later, Chris Jericho interrupted and said Orton has nothing to feel bad about for kicking Vince; when Orton questioned why Jericho was telling him, Jericho said it might be his last chance to tell Orton anything while Orton is a WWE employee; included an ad for No Way Out 09; featured a look back as the Rumble’s history:
ECW World Champion Jack Swagger pinned Matt Hardy at 10:28 with the gutwrench powerbomb after throwing the challenger head and shoulder-first into the ringpost
Melina pinned WWE Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix (w/ Santino Marella) to win the title at 5:58 with a reversal into a roll up
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena pinned John Bradshaw Layfield at 15:30 with the FU after avoiding a clothesline; Shawn Michaels was in JBL’s corner until the final moments of the bout when, after referee Mike Chioda was knocked to the floor, Michaels hit the superkick on both participants, put JBL on top of Cena for the cover, and then left ringside
Edge pinned WWE World Champion Jeff Hardy to win the title in a No DQ match at 19:25 after Matt Hardy appeared, to counter the interference of Vickie Guerrero, and then Jeff over the back with a steel chair; prior to the match, Vickie appeared and, to keep Hardy from holding on to his title via a technicality, added the stipulation and then introduced the challenger; Chavo Guerrero Jr. was in the challenger’s corner until the 12-minute mark when Jeff put him through the Raw announce table with a splash off the top of a ladder; Vickie returned ringside during the final moments of the contest and prevented the pinfall after Hardy hit the Twist of Fate and Swanton; after the bout, Matt left ringside while Edge and Vickie celebrated in the ring; moments later, referees helped Jeff out of the ring
Randy Orton won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Triple H at 58:38; Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler provided commentary for the match; stipulations stated the winner would earn a world title shot at WrestleMania 25; after the bout, Orton celebrated in the ring with Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase Jr.
Order of entry: Rey Mysterio Jr. (0:00); WWE Raw Tag Team Champion John Morrison (0:00); WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion Carlito (1:40); MVP (3:25); the Great Khali (5:20); Vladimir Kozlov (6:38); Triple H (8:40); Randy Orton (10:11); JTG; both JTG & Shad came out, with Shad then winning a a double sided coin toss to get the spot (11:55); Ted Dibiase Jr. (13:17); Chris Jericho (15:01); Mike Knox (16:43); WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Mike Mizanin (18:15); Finlay (19:53); Cody Rhodes (21:35); the Undertaker (23:32); Goldust (24:57); WWE IC Champion CM Punk (26:32); Mark Henry (28:06); WWE US Champion Shelton Benjamin (29:35); William Regal (31:10); Kofi Kingston (32:40); Kane (34:28); R Truth (36:12); Rob Van Dam (37:57); The Brian Kendrick (39:34); Dolph Ziggler (40:54); Santino Marella (42:31); Jim Duggan (44:14); the Big Show (46:19)
Order of elimination: Khali by Kozlov via a club to the back (6:53); MVP by Kozlov after MVP missed the running kick in the corner (7:17); Carlito by Kozlov following the uranagi (7:51); Kozlov by Triple H following the kneelift (9:19); Morrison & Mizanin by Triple H after throwing Morrison into Mizanin after both men sustained the RKO (19:34); JTG by Taker (23:53); Goldust by Rhodes after Goldust sustained the RKO (26:08); Henry fell over the top following a boot to the face by Taker as Mysterio held down the top rope (31:20); Benjamin by Taker via a chokeslam from the top rope (34:04); Regal by Punk via pulling him over the top from the apron (35:42); Kingston by Kendrick as Kingston was on the top rope attacking Knox (39:41); Kendrick by Triple H (39:50); Ziggler by Kane via shaking his hand then throwing him over the top (41:17); Santino by Kane via a clothesline as Santino slid in the ring (42:33); Duggan by Show following an elbow to the back (47:04); Truth by Show via a gorilla press slam (48:18); Punk by Show via a right hand punch as Punk was on the apron (49:00); Mysterio & Knox by Show (49:27); following the elimination, Hornswoggle appeared from under the ring until Finlay’s elimination; Finlay by Kane via a backdrop (49:52); RVD by Jericho after RVD hit the Five Star Frog Splash on Orton (51:52); Jericho by Taker (52:18); Kane by Orton, Dibiase, & Rhodes (52:49); Show by Orton via dropping him throat-first across the top as Show was on the apron (55:52); Taker by Show via pulling him off the apron from the floor (56:02); Dibiase by Triple H (58:29); Rhodes by Triple H following the Pedigree (58:35); Triple H by Orton
Time in the Rumble Match
Triple H (49:58) *Ironman*
Rey Mysterio Jr. (49:27)
Randy Orton (48:27) *Winner*
Ted Dibiase Jr. (45:12)
Chris Jericho (37:17)
Cody Rhodes (37:00)
Mike Knox (32:44)
The Undertaker (32:30)
Finlay (29:59)
WWE IC Champion CM Punk (22:28)
WWE Raw Tag Team Champion John Morrison (19:34)
Kane (18:21)
Rob Van Dam (17:55)
R Truth (12:06)
JTG (11:58)
The Big Show (9:33)
Kofi Kingston (7:01)
WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion Carlito (6:11)
William Regal (4:32)
WWE US Champion Shelton Benjamin (4:29)
MVP (3:52)
Mark Henry (3:14)
Jim Duggan (2:50)
Vladimir Kozlov (2:41)
The Great Khali (1:33)
WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Mike Mizanin (1:19)
Goldust (1:11)
The Brian Kendrick (0:26)
Dolph Ziggler (0:23)
Santino Marella (0:02)
Kelly Kelly, Eve, Gail Kim, Brie & Nikki Bella defeated Maryse, Natalya Neidhart, Jillian Hall, Katie Lea, & Alicia Fox when Kelly pinned Hall with a crossbody off the top
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, & Matt Striker on commentary; included a backstage segment with Teddy Long and Tiffany in which Cryme Tyme walked in upset that only one of them could be in the Royal Rumble match and said they had arranged to get someone else’s spot; moments later, the Great Khali walked in, with Cryme Tyme explaining Khali would give them his spot in exchange for kissing Tiffany; Runjin Singh appeared moments later to call it off and said he and Khali were keeping it real; Singh then he and Khali got all their lingo from ‘Family Matters’ reruns; Long then said Cryme Tyme should be ashamed of themselves and that they were looking like fools with their pants on the ground, with the group then singing “Pants on the Ground;” WWE US Champion Mike Mizanin then appeared, mocking the song and comparing it to “Who Let the Dogs Out?” in that it was forgettable but everyone would remember him winning the Royal Rumble; Long responded by saying Miz would defend his title against MVP later in the show; after Miz left, Khali & Singh began singing “Who Let the Dogs Out?”; featured a backstage segment with Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes in which Rhodes said he would be there to help Orton but that Ted Dibiase Jr. had been telling people he would win the Rumble to get a shot at WWE World Champion Sheamus, who Dibiase predicted would beat Orton; included a backstage segment with Chris Jericho and the Big Show in which the two discussed Show’s new team with Miz, with Jericho saying Miz was only using him; moments later, R-Truth walked in and said if Show doesn’t toss Jericho out of the Rumble then he would himself; featured a backstage segment with Orton and Dibiase in which Dibiase wished Orton good luck and said Rhodes had picked Sheamus to win, with Orton then saying he didn’t need any help in his match; included an ad promoting the following night’s Raw with Bret Hart’s return and William Shatner hosting; several members of the National Guard were shown in attendance; featured a “Don’t try this at home” PSA; included a backstage segment with WWE Unified Tag Team Champion Shawn Michaels and Kane in which Kane said – as someone who had made the most eliminations in a single Rumble and had faced World Heavyweight Champion the Undertaker at two WrestleManias – Michaels would not win the Rumble to challenge Taker at WrestleMania; after Kane left, WWE Unified Tag Team Champion Triple H walked in, with he and Michaels discussing possibly facing each other in the Rumble match; Triple H ended the segment by saying he knew how badly Michaels wanted to win the match and face Taker at WrestleMania but he would have to find another way to make it happen; featured an ad promoting Elimination Chamber 2010; included a video package highlighting the history of the Rumble match:
ECW World Champion Christian pinned Ezekiel Jackson with a reversal into the Killswitch at 12:02; William Regal escorted Jackson to the ring before the match but was ejected from ringside at the 5-minute mark after the referee caught Regal touching Christian outside the ring
WWE US Champion Mike Mizanin pinned MVP in an unscheduled match with an inside cradle at 7:31 as the challenger went to climb back into the ring; after the bout, MVP attacked Miz from behind and dropped him with the Playmaker
WWE World Champion Sheamus defeated Randy Orton via disqualification at 12:26 when referee Scott Armstrong saw Cody Rhodes coming out of the crowd to jump the champion on the floor; before the referee called for the bell, Orton dropped Sheamus with the RKO and made the cover; after the contest, Rhodes pleaded to Orton in the ring, while the fans chanted “RKO,” with Orton then punching Rhodes in the face and assaulting him until Ted Dibiase Jr. ran in the ring and pulled him off; Orton then punched Dibiase in the face before stomping Rhodes; moments later, Orton turned around and was kicked in the faced by Sheamus
Mickie James pinned WWE Women’s Champion Michelle McCool (w/ Layla dressed as “Piggy James”) with the DDT to win the title at the 22-second mark; prior to the match, McCool cut an in-ring promo saying she couldn’t find Mickie, with “Piggy James” then appearing to answer McCool’s comments; moments later, Mickie appeared and jumped Layla on the floor; after the bout, Kelly Kelly, Brie & Nikki Bella, Maria, Eve, and Gail Kim came out with a cake, helped Mickie put McCool and Layla’s faces into the cake, and celebrated Mickie’s title win (WWE’s Best Pay-Per-View Matches 2009-2010)
World Heavyweight Champion the Undertaker pinned Rey Mysterio Jr. at 11:09 with the powerbomb after catching Mysterio attempting a springboard into the ring; early in the bout, the champion’s nose was busted open
Edge won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating John Cena at 49:11; stipulations stated the winner would earn a world title match at WrestleMania 26
Order of entry: Dolph Ziggler (0:00), Evan Bourne (0:00), CM Punk (w/ Sarena) (2:05), JTG (3:37), the Great Khali (w/ Runjin Singh) (5:24), Beth Phoenix (6:29), Zack Ryder (8:10), WWE Unified Tag Team Champion Triple H (10:20), WWE IC Champion Drew McIntyre (11:46), Ted Dibiase Jr. (12:52), John Morrison (14:22), Kane (16:06), Cody Rhodes (17:31), MVP (na), MVP was immediately attacked from behind by WWE US Champion Mike Mizanin, hit with the title belt, and helped backstage, Carlito (20:39), WWE US Champion Mike Mizanin (22:12), MVP (22:23), Matt Hardy (23:40), WWE Unified Tag Team Champion Shawn Michaels (25:10), John Cena (27:11), Shelton Benjamin (28:27), Yoshi Tatsu (29:56), the Big Show (31:32), Mark Henry (33:11), Chris Masters (34:20), R-Truth (35:31), Jack Swagger (36:52), Kofi Kingston (38:28), Chris Jericho (39:56), Edge (42:02), and Batista (43:19)
Order of eliminations: Bourne by Punk after ramming him into Ziggler (2:27); Ziggler by Punk via a clothesline (2:29); after the eliminations, Punk said he could save all the WWE superstars; JTG by Punk (4:02); moments later, Punk took back the mic and said he would become the first ever Straight Edge Royal Rumble winner; Khali by Phoenix by kissing him as she stood on the apron and Khali falling over the top to the floor (7:04); Phoenix by Punk following the Go To Sleep (8:06); Ryder by Punk (8:42); after the elimination, Punk again took the mic and said that he was better than whomever was next, with Triple H then appearing; Punk by Triple H after blocking the Go To Sleep (12:08); MVP and Miz were eliminated following a clothesline by MVP (22:29); Hardy by Kane via a shove as Hardy was on the second turnbuckle (24:01); Kane by Triple H (24:05); Carlito by Michaels (25:14); Dibiase by Michaels (25:26); Rhodes by Michaels (25:31); Morrison by Michaels after missing the Flying Chuck (25:57); McIntyre by Michaels & Triple H via a double clothesline (26:28); Triple H by Michaels via the superkick (28:12); Benjamin by Cena via a back suplex after avoiding the Paydirt (29:15); Tatsu by Cena (30:25); Masters by Show via a throw as Masters attempted the full nelson (34:50); Henry by Truth (35:35); Show by Truth (35:36); Swagger by Kingston by hooking his legs around Swagger as Swagger tried to eliminate him (38:58); Truth by Kofi by hooking his legs around him and dragging him over the top (39:41); Kingston by Cena via the FU after Kingston hit the spin kick to the face to Michaels (41:19); Jericho by Edge (42:19); Michaels by Batista by shoving him off the apron after Michaels superkicked Edge from the apron back into the ring (45:56); after the elimination, Michaels threw the ringside referee out of his way and slid back into the ring; referee Charles Robinson blocked his path and told him to leave the ring, with Michaels then dropping him with the superkick; moments later, Michaels slowly made his way backstage; Batista by Cena (48:33); Cena by Edge (Edge’s surprise return after a 6-month absence)
Time in the Rumble Match
John Cena (22:00) *Ironman*
WWE Unified Tag Team Champion Shawn Michaels (20:46)
WWE Unified Tag Team Champion Triple H (17:52)
WWE IC Champion Drew McIntyre (14:42)
Ted Dibiase Jr. (12:34)
John Morrison (11:35)
CM Punk (10:03)
Cody Rhodes (8:00)
Kane (7:59)
Edge (7:09) *Winner*
Batista (5:14)
Carlito (4:35)
The Big Show (4:04)
Kofi Kingston (2:51)
Dolph Ziggler (2:29)
Evan Bourne (2:27)
Mark Henry (2:24)
Chris Jericho (2:23)
Jack Swagger (2:06)
Beth Phoenix (1:37)
The Great Khali (1:40)
Shelton Benjamin (0:48)
Zack Ryder (0:32)
Chris Masters (0:30)
Yoshi Tatsu (0:29)
JTG (0:25)
Matt Hardy (0:21)
WWE US Champion Mike Mizanin (0:06)
Jennifer Hudson was backstage at the show
R-Truth pinned Curt Hawkins
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, & Matt Striker on commentary; included a WrestleMania 27 ad to the tune of Tinie Tempah’s “Written in the Stars;” featured Josh Matthews conducting a backstage interview with WWE World Champion Mike Mizanin, alongside Alex Riley, in which Miz responded to claims that Lawler and Randy Orton should be champion if not for interference from Riley and Cole, then saying he would beat Orton in their upcoming match; included an ad promoting Elimination Chamber 2011; featured a backstage segment in which Todd Grisham read a written statement by Cody Rhodes in which Rhodes discussed the facial injury he sustained the previous week at the hands of Rey Mysterio Jr., the fact it would keep him out of the Rumble match, and that Mysterio has not apologized to him; included comments from fans earlier in the day as to who they thought would win the Royal Rumble match; featured Matthews conducting a backstage interview with WWE US Champion Daniel Bryan, alongside Gail Kim, about his upcoming participation in the Rumble match; moments later, Brie & Nikki Bella walked in with flowers and apologized for what happened the previous week; moments later, the Bellas started to insult Bryan and Gail before the three women had to be pulled apart by Bryan and a referee; included a video package recapping the history of the Rumble match:
World Heavyweight Champion Edge pinned Dolph Ziggler (w/ Vickie Guerrero) with the Killswitch at 20:46; stipulations stated Edge would lose the title if he used the spear against the challenger; prior to the bout, Vickie came out to the entrance stage to remind Edge that the spear was banned, then chanted “Spear, spear, spear” before introducing Ziggler; Kelly Kelly came out at the 18-minute mark and attacked Vickie as she attempted to interfere; during the closing moments of the match, with both Vickie and the referee knocked down, Edge hit the spear before using the Killswitch
WWE World Champion Mike Mizanin (w/ Alex Riley) pinned Randy Orton at 19:50 after CM Punk came out of the crowd as the referee was knocked down on the floor and dropped Orton with the Go To Sleep after Orton dropped Miz with the RKO; late in the bout, David Otunga, Husky Harris, Michael McGillicutty, & Mason Ryan appeared ringside, with Orton then throwing an interfering Riley onto them and the referee moments later
Eve defeated WWE Divas Champion Natalya Neidhart, Michelle McCool, and Layla to win the title at 5:12 by pinning Layla with a moonsault; following the ring entrances, Michael Cole read an e-mail from the Raw GM that said the GM was taking charge in Teddy Long’s absence and was changing the scheduled handicap match between Natalya and LayCool to a four-way match, with Eve then coming out; at the same time of the fall, McCool had Natalya pinned with a roll up but the referee didn’t see it
Alberto Del Rio won the 40-man Royal Rumble by last eliminating WWE Tag Team Champion Santino Marella at 1:09:52; stipulations stated the winner would challenge for a world title at WrestleMania 27; following CM Punk’s entrance for #1, Wade Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson came out, with Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater coming out of the crowd; moments later, Husky Harris, Michael McGillicutty, Mason Ryan, & David Otunga ran out and brawled with Corre until Michael Cole received an e-mail from the Raw GM that ordered everyone save Punk backstage and if they didn’t comply they would be disqualified from entering the match; Ricardo Rodriguez served as Del Rio’s ring announcer for the bout
Order of entry: CM Punk (0:00), WWE US Champion Daniel Bryan (0:00), Justin Gabriel (1:36), Zack Ryder (3:11), William Regal (4:42), Ted Dibiase Jr. (escorted by Maryse) (6:35), John Morrison (8:02), Yoshi Tatsu (10:00), Husky Harris (11:26), Chavo Guerrero Jr. (13:04), Mark Henry (14:46), JTG (16:12), Michael McGillicutty (17:34), Chris Masters (19:09), David Otunga (20:44), Tyler Reks (22:16), WWE Tag Team Champion Vladimir Kozlov (23:40), R-Truth (25:10), the Great Khali (escorted by Runjin Singh) (27:06), Mason Ryan (28:04) (Ryan’s TV in-ring debut), Booker T (29:51) (Booker’s first appearance after a 3-year absence), John Cena (32:13), Hornswoggle (34:13), Tyson Kidd (36:13), Heath Slater (37:45), WWE IC Champion Kofi Kingston (39:38), Jack Swagger (40:53), Sheamus (42:30), Rey Mysterio Jr. (44:26), Wade Barrett (46:13), Dolph Ziggler (47:40), Diesel (49:37) (Kevin Nash’s first appearance after a 7-year absence); there were numerous chants of “Let’s go, Diesel” while he was in the ring; Drew McIntyre (50:32), Alex Riley (52:12) (escorted by WWE World Champion Mike Mizanin, who joined the commentary team), the Big Show (53:04); Show and Diesel stopped and stared at each other as Diesel headed backstage after his elimination; Ezekiel Jackson (55:20), WWE Tag Team Champion Santino Marella (56:57), Alberto Del Rio (1:00:19), Randy Orton (1:00:20), and Kane (1:01:52)
Order of elimination: Gabriel by Bryan via a back suplex after Gabriel failed a 450 splash on Punk (2:34); Ryder by Bryan via a hiptoss (3:11); Regal by Dibiase after Regal knocked Morrison off the apron, with Morrison catching himself on the barricade and jumping back onto the ring steps to avoid elimination (8:52); Chavo by Henry via a press slam after catching Chavo coming off the top (15:05); Tatsu by Henry via a clothesline (15:35); JTG by McGillicutty via a dropkick as JTG was on the apron (18:00); Dibiase by Harris & McGillicutty via a double backdrop (18:51); Bryan by Punk (20:56); Masters by Punk (21:06); Morrison by Punk, Harris, McGillicutty, & Otunga as Morrison was on the apron (21:24); Henry by Punk, Otunga, McGillicutty, & Harris (21:49); Reks by Punk (22:50); Kozlov by Punk (24:20); Truth by Punk (24:40); Harris by Khali (27:25); Khali by Ryan (28:22); Booker by Ryan (30:59); Ryan by Cena when Cena pulled down the top rope (32:34); Otunga & McGillicutty by Cena via a double clothesline (32:41); Punk by Cena via a FU to the floor (35:22); Kidd by Cena after Kidd sustained a FU from Hornswoggle (37:05); Slater by Cena after Hornswoggle hit the frog splash on Slater (38:42); Hornswoggle by Sheamus via a boot to the face as Hornswoggle was on the top rope (43:52); Swagger by Mysterio via a 619, knocking Swagger off the apron (45:44); Diesel by Barrett via a boot to the face after Diesel missed his own boot to the face and crotched himself on the top rope (52:21); Diesel received several loud chants from the crowd after his elimination; Ziggler by Show (53:42); McIntyre by Show (55:18); Riley by Cena & Kingston (55:28); Show by Jackson (55:35); Kingston by Orton after hitting the RKO (1:00:43); Sheamus by Orton via a clothesline (1:00:48); Jackson by Kane via pulling down the top rope (1:02:34); Kane by Mysterio via a headscissors over the top rope (1:03:28); Mysterio by Barrett via a knee to the back as Mysterio was on the apron (1:03:34); Cena by the Miz behind the referee’s back after Cena fought off an interfering Riley (1:06:31); after the elimination, Cena confronted Michael Cole at the commentary table before then going backstage; Barrett by Orton (1:08:37); Orton by Del Rio (1:08:40); many believed the match was over, not realizing Marella had been knocked between the ropes several minutes earlier and had not been eliminated; as referee Charles Robinson told referee Mike Chioda that Marella was still in the match, Marella came to his senses in the ring and hit the Cobra on Del Rio as the match continued; Marella by Del Rio
Time in the Rumble Match
CM Punk (35:22) *Ironman*
John Cena (33:18)
Wade Barrett (22:24)
WWE IC Champion Kofi Kingston (21:05)
WWE US Champion Daniel Bryan (20:56)
Rey Mysterio Jr. (19:08)
Sheamus (18:18)
Husky Harris (15:59)
Michael McGillicutty (15:07)
John Morrison (13:22)
WWE Tag Team Champion Santino Marella (12:55)
Alberto Del Rio (12:33) *Winner*
Ted Dibiase Jr. (12:16)
David Otunga (11:57)
Hornswoggle (9:39)
Randy Orton (8:20)
Ezekiel Jackson (7:14)
Mark Henry (7:03)
Yoshi Tatsu (5:35)
Dolph Ziggler (5:02)
Jack Swagger (4:51)
Drew McIntyre (4:46)
Mason Ryan (4:30)
William Regal (4:10)
The Big Show (3:31)
Alex Riley (3:16)
Diesel (2:44)
Chavo Guerrero Jr. (2:01)
Kane (1:36)
Chris Masters (1:57)
JTG (1:48)
The Great Khali (1:16)
Booker T (1:08)
Justin Gabriel (0:58)
Heath Slater (0:57)
Tyson Kidd (0:52)
Zack Ryder (0:43)
WWE Tag Team Champion Vladimir Kozlov (0:40)
Tyler Reks (0:34)
R-Truth (0:30)
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Michael Cole, Booker T, & Jerry Lawler on commentary; included a video package on John Cena to promote his match against the Rock at WrestleMania 28; featured a backstage segment showin Zack Ryder wheeled down the hallway in a wheelchair, with John Laurinaitis welcoming him and showing him to his dressing room; Eve then appeared, blamed Laurinaitis for Ryder’s injuries, and said she hopes he gets fired the next night on Raw; included comments from David Arquette, Angus T. Jones, CM Punk, John Cena, Melissa Farman, Alicia Fox, Eve, Sheamus, and others about being bullied and the ‘Be A Star’ program; featured a video package on the Rock to promote his match with Cena at WrestleMania; included an ad on how to donate Slim Jims to soldiers overseas; featured an ad promoting Triple H’s return the next night on Raw; included an ad promoting new WWE content coming exclusively to YouTube on Wednesday; featured an ad promoting WrestleMania 28:
World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan defeated the Big Show and Mark Henry in a steel cage match by escaping over the top of the cage
WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix, Natalya Neidhart, Nikki & Brie Bella defeated Eve, Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox, & Tamina when Phoenix pinned Kelly with the Glam Slam
John Cena fought Kane to a double count-out when both men began brawling in the aisle; during the bout, there were dueling chants of “Let’s go, Cena” and “Cena sucks;” after the contest, the two continued fighting backstage before Kane assaulted Cena with a steel chair; Kane then spotted Zack Ryder’s dressing room, kicked down the door, and choked him out before wheeling him out, past Cena’s body, and to ringside; after Kane threw Ryder into the ring, Eve ran out and pleaded with Kane not to hurt Ryder; Kane then dropped Ryder with the tombstone, with Cena then running out trying to make the save but sustained the chokeslam; referees Charles Robinson, Mike Chioda, and Scott Armstrong as well as a trainer then tended to both men down in the ring as Eve was shown crying; moments later, Ryder was put on a stretcher and taken backstage
Brodus Clay (w/ Cameron & Naomi) pinned Drew McIntyre with the running crossbody
WWE World Champion CM Punk pinned Dolph Ziggler with the Go To Sleep after a slingshot in the corner, with the challenger striking his head on the ringpost; prior to the bout, Ziggler was escorted ringside by Vickie Guerrero, who guest referee John Laurinaitis sent backstage before the match began; following his entrance, Laurinaitis took the mic and said, in an effort to be impartial, he would make himself the outside referee while a second official would be the inside referee; Laurinaitis slid in the ring and, with the inside official, helped make the pinfall; after the bout, Laurinaitis stood at the entrance stage and applauded Punk’s victory
Sheamus won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Chris Jericho; order of entry: #1: Mike Mizanin, #2: Alex Riley, #3: R-Truth, #4: WWE IC Champion Cody Rhodes, #5: Justin Gabriel, #6: WWE Tag Team Champion Primo Colon, #7: Mick Foley, #8: Ricardo Rodriguez, who drove up in a beaten up car to Alberto Del Rio’s theme entrance, #9: Santino Marella, #10: WWE Tag Team Champion Epico, #11: Kofi Kingston, #12: Jerry Lawler, #13: Ezekiel Jackson, #14: Jinder Mahal, #15: Great Khali, #16: Hunico (w/ Camacho), #17: Booker T, #17: Dolph Ziggler (w/ Vickie Guerrero), #19: Jim Duggan, #20: Michael Cole, #21: Kharma, #22: Sheamus, #23: Road Dogg, #24: Jey Uso, escorted out by Jimmy Uso, #25: WWE US Champion Jack Swagger, #26: Wade Barrett (first appearance with new theme music), #27: David Otunga, #28: Randy Orton, #29: Chris Jericho, #30: Big Show; prior to the bout, Miz cut an in-ring promo about everyone backstage making fun of his being #1, just as they said he would never be WWE Champion nor main event WrestleMania; he then said he would prove them wrong just as he had done every other time; order of elimination: Riley by Miz; Truth by Miz; after the elimination, Truth pulled Miz out from under the bottom rope and dropped Miz with the What’s Up on the floor; Primo by Foley via a backdrop; Gabriel by Foley & Rodriguez; Rodriguez by Santino after giving Rodriguez a wedgie; after the elimination, Foley and Santino had a standoff between the Cobra and Socko; Epico by Foley after applying Socko; Santino by Rhodes; Foley by Rhodes as Foley had Miz in the Socko; Lawler by Rhodes after Lawler hit a fistdrop off the middle turnbuckle to Miz; Mahal by Khali; Jackson by Khali; Kingston avoided elimination by Miz by doing a handstand and walking his way to the ringsteps; Duggan by Rhodes; Booker & Khali by Rhodes, Ziggler, & ?; Cole by Booker, via yanking him off the apron after Cole backed away from Kharma; Hunico by Kharma; Kharma by Ziggler; Kingston by Sheamus; Road Dogg by Barrett; Uso by Orton; Barrett by Orton; Otunga by Jericho; Swagger by Show & Sheamus as Show walked to the ring; after the elimination, Show knocked Swagger out with a punch; Miz & Rhodes by Show; Ziggler by Show; Show by Orton; Orton by Jericho; Jericho by Sheamus via the boot to the face as Jericho was on the apron
YouTube pre-show – featured Tony Dawson & Matt Striker on commentary; included Josh Matthews conducting a backstage interview with the Big Show regarding his upcoming last man standing match against World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio; featured a “By the numbers” video package on the history of the Rumble:
WWE US Champion Antonio Cesaro pinned Mike Mizanin with the Neutralizer at 7:38 after ramming Miz’s shoulder into the side of the ring; late in the bout, Miz appeared to sustain a knee injury after coming off the top rope
Pay-per-view bouts – featured Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, & John Bradshaw Layfield on commentary; included an ad on how fans can donate Slim Jims to US troops, with Mike Mizanin, Kofi Kingston, and WWE Divas Champion Kaitlyn; featured Matt Striker conducting a backstage interview with Dolph Ziggler, alongside AJ & Big E Langston, about his chances lasting through the Rumble match with the #1 spot; after Striker left, Langston asked Ziggler what he would do after winning the Rumble, with Ziggler saying he would win unify both world titles at WrestleMania; included pre-taped comments from WWE US Champion Antonio Cesaro, Darren Young & Titus O’Neil, Randy Orton, John Cena, WWE IC Champion Wade Barrett, Sheamus, and Ryback; featured an ad promoting the 2013 Elimination Chamber; included a “By the numbers” video package on the Rumble match history; featured a backstage segment with WWE Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan & Kane and Vickie Guerrero, with Vickie giving them their entry numbers into the Rumble match; after she walked off, Bryan showed Kane his number but Kane refused to show Bryan his number; included an ad promoting the following night’s Raw Roulette; featured footage of the Royal Rumble Fanfest and city events, with comments from Lawler, Sheamus, Brodus Clay, Ted Dibbiase Jr., Alicia Fox, Ryback, Orton, Hornswoggle, footage of Bo Dallas earning a spot in the Rumble match, and footage of the Q&A panels; included a WrestleMania 29 ad to the tune of “I’m Coming Home” by Diddy Dirty Money; featured Matthews conducting a backstage interview with the Rock regarding his upcoming match against WWE World Champion CM Punk, during which the Rock noted his mother had cancer but had fought it and was in attendance; she was then shown sitting ringside:
World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio defeated the Big Show in a last man standing match at 16:58 after applying the cross armbreaker as Ricardo Rodriguez used duct tape to tie Show’s legs to the bottom rope; Rodriguez served as ADR’s ring announcer for the bout; prior to his entrance, Bret Hart met ADR & Rodriguez backstage, wished him well, and gave Rodriguez a pair of his trademark glasses
WWE Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan & Kane defeated Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow at 9:24 when Sandow submitted to Bryan’s No Lock
John Cena won the 30-man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Ryback at 55:04; prior to the bout, AJ & Big E Langston escorted Ziggler to the ring; following his entrance, Ziggler took the mic and said he would last the entire match; Clay was escorted out by Cameron & Naomi; the Godfather was escorted out by two hos; there were dueling chants late in the bout of “Let’s go, Cena” and “Cena sucks”
Order of entry: Dolph Ziggler (0:00), Chris Jericho (0:00), Cody Rhodes (1:49), Kofi Kingston (3:34), Santino Marella (5:22), Drew McIntyre (6:56), Titus O’Neil (8:36), Goldust (10:33), David Otunga (12:10), Heath Slater (13:38), Sheamus (15:14), Tensai (16:46), Brodus Clay (18:39), Rey Mysterio Jr. (20:13), Darren Young (21:48), Bo Dallas (23:30), Godfather (25:57), WWE IC Champion Wade Barrett (27:20), John Cena (28:55), Damien Sandow (30:19), WWE Tag Team Champion Daniel Bryan (31:51), WWE US Champion Antonio Cesaro (33:24), Great Khali (35:05), WWE Tag Team Champion Kane (36:25), Zack Ryder (37:39), Randy Orton (39:11), Jinder Mahal (40:44), Mike Mizanin (42:28), Sin Cara (43:53), and Ryback (46:14) Order of elimination: Marella by Rhodes (6:02); McIntyre by Jericho (9:26); O’Neil by Sheamus after sending Otunga into O’Neil, who was on the apron (15:54); Otunga by Sheamus via a boot to the face as Otunga was on the apron (16:46); Goldust by Rhodes after ramming him into the ringpost as Goldust was on the apron (19:47); Clay by Young, Jericho, Slater, & Rhodes (21:52); Tensai by Kingston (22:12); Young by Kingston by pulling down the rope while preventing a charge (24:34); Kingston by Rhodes via the Beautiful Disaster as Kingston was on the apron (24:39); Godfather by Ziggler via a dropkick (26:02); Slater by Cena (29:18); Rhodes by Cena (29:23); Mysterio by Barrett via a kick as Mysterio was on the apron (30:47); Khali by Kane & Bryan (37:47); Kane by Bryan (37:55); Bryan by Kane when Kane caught Bryan after Bryan was knocked out of the ring, held him, and then purposefully dropped him on the ground (38:42); Ryder by Orton after a RKO (40:05); Cesaro by Cena (40:59); Mahal by Sheamus via a knee to the head as Mahal was on the apron (42:42); Barrett by Dallas (44:29); Dallas by Barrett after Barrett pulled him out from the floor (45:22); after the elimination, Barrett hit Dallas with the Bull Hammer; Sandow by Ryback after being knocked off the apron (46:33); Sin Cara by Ryback after being tossed onto Sandow on the floor (46:58); Miz by Ryback (47:09); Jericho by Ziggler via a superkick as Jericho was on the apron (47:53); Orton by Ryback via a clothesline (48:21); Ziggler by Sheamus via a boot to the face as Ziggler was on the apron (48:47); Sheamus by Ryback after Ryback avoided the boot to the face (49:29); Ryback by Cena
The Rock pinned WWE World Champion CM Punk (w/ Paul Heyman) with the People’s Elbow to win the title at 26:40; Punk initially won the match at 21:27, moments after the lights in the arena went out and Rock sustained a triple powerbomb through the commentary table at the hands of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, & Roman Reigns; moments later, Vince McMahon appeared at the entrance stage and said he warned Punk he would strip him of the title if the Shield interfered, and knew they were behind it even if the fans didn’t see what happened due to the lights; Rock then took a mic from ringside and said he didn’t want McMahon to take the title because he wanted to take it himself and then demanded the match be restarted; McMahon agreed and had the match continue
Time in the Rumble Match
Dolph Ziggler (48:47) *Ironman*
Chris Jericho (47:53)
Sheamus (34:15)
Cody Rhodes (27:35)
John Cena (26:09) *Winner*
Bo Dallas (21:52)
Kofi Kingston (21:05)
Wade Barrett (17:09)
Damien Sandow (16:14)
Heath Slater (15:40)
Rey Mysterio Jr. (10:33)
Goldust (9:14)
Randy Orton (9:10)
Ryback (8:50)
Antonio Cesaro (7:35)
Titus O’Neil (7:18)
Daniel Bryan (6:51)
Tensai (5:26)
Mike Mizanin (4:41)
David Otunga (4:36)
Brodus Clay (3:13)
Sin Cara (3:05)
Darren Young (2:46)
Great Khali (2:42)
Drew McIntyre (2:30)
Zack Ryder (2:26)
Kane (1:30)
Santino Marella (0:40)
Godfather (0:05)
