WWE Royal Rumble PPV Results
January 27, 2013
Phoenix, Arizona
Report by: Adam Martin of Wrestleview.com
* Antonio Cesaro def. The Miz to retain the WWE United States Championship during the YouTube pre-show.
A video package runs focusing on the 30 Man Royal Rumble match and CM Punk defending the WWE Championship against The Rock tonight.
A graphic opening hits welcoming us to the Royal Rumble and the official start of the road to Wrestlemania. We go live to Phoenix where a huge display of pyro goes off in the entrance area. Michael Cole welcomes us to the 26th annual Royal Rumble.
Big Show is out first to kick off the show.
Backstage, Bret Hart wishes Alberto Del Rio good luck tonight. Hart calls Del Rio like a Mexican Bret Hart. Ricardo is nervous and asks to shake Hart’s hand. Hart puts his Hitman glasses on Ricardo and Del Rio yells at him to get going.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Last Man Standing Match
Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Big Show
The bell rings and Big Show immediately charges Del Rio in the corner with some body shots. Big Show with a huge chest chop. Del Rio rights back with a few right hands and kicks of his own. Big Show with a big shoulder block that drops Del Rio. Big Show with a quick scoop slam. Del Rio fights back in the corner, jumps off the second rope and Big Show catches him with a big chop to the chest. Big Show with a body charge to Del Rio, but Del Rio immediately responds with a dropkick to the knees taking Big Show off his feet. Del Rio with a quick kick to the chest. Del Rio counters a powerbomb attempt from Big Show into a quick huricanrana. Del Rio comes off the top rope and connects with a seated senton. Big Show counters an armbar attempt tossing Del Rio back in a fallaway slam. Big Show with a big chest chop to Del Rio on the outside against the ring. Big Show grabs a steel chair at ringside and heads back in the ring where Del Rio is against the ropes. Del Rio with a dropkick to the gut of Big Show. Del Rio grabs the chair and cracks it over the back of Big Show. Del Rio with a shot to the gut and two more shots to the back. Del Rio drives the chair down into the body of Big Show repeatedly. Del Rio comes off the second rope, Big Show catches him and connects with a chokeslam. The referee starts the count as Big Show looks on. Del Rio gets to his feet by 8.
Del Rio then falls out of the ring to the floor below. Big Show follows Del Rio to the outside. Del Rio with a low blow that remains legal due to the stipulation. The referee starts the count. Big Show barely gets up shortly after the 8 count by the referee. Big Show with knees to Del Rio and then drives Del Rio’s face into the floor. Big Show then tosses Del Rio into part of the Royal Rumble HD set. Big Show misses a kick on Del Rio and kicks part of the set. Big Show grabs part of the HD set and cracks it over the back of Del Rio. Big Show grabs a table nearby and sets it up near Del Rio. Big Show grabs part of the HD set, grabs Del Rio by the hair, pulls Del Rio up on the hanging set by one arm, they start scaling up the hanging set piece, Big Show grabs Del Rio by the neck and tosses him to the floor crashing through the table! The referee immediately begins the count when Del Rio goes through the table. Del Rio fights to his feet at 9 and is still dazed. JBL screams on commentary, “We got ourselves a fight!” Back in the ring, Big Show calls for the knockout punch and Del Rio bails out of the ring to the outside. Big Show picks up the steel steps and throws it at Del Rio. Del Rio moves and the steps hit the steel ring post. Ricardo attacks Big Show from behind and Big Show tosses Ricardo against the ring barricade.
Big Show then sees Del Rio near the timekeepers area, charges, Del Rio moves and Big Show crashes through the wall. Del Rio grabs a chair and starts cracking it over the back of Big Show repeatedly. Del Rio then drops a chair over the left arm of Big Show. Back in the ring, Del Rio applies his armbar. Ricardo then starts using duct tape wrapping it around the feet of Big Show and the bottom rope. Del Rio breaks the submission and gets on his feet. Big Show is trying to sit up favoring his left arm, but is unable to. The referee starts the count and reaches 10. Del Rio retains his title.
Winner and still WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Alberto Del Rio
After the match, highlights of Alberto Del Rio dropping a chair over Big Show’s left arm and then getting a big assist from Ricardo at ringside duct taping the feet of Big Show together against the bottom rope to secure the win.
Backstage, Matt Striker is with Dolph Ziggler, AJ Lee and Big E Langston. Ziggler reveals that No. 1 and No. 2 are exactly the same thing so he is picking to enter at No. 1 tonight since he is just that. AJ runs down Striker and gets him to leave quickly. Big E Langston interviews Ziggler. Ziggler says he will do something no one else has done before – he will cash in his “Money in the Bank” briefcase, win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, win the Royal Rumble and become the new WWE Champion to unify both titles at Wrestlemania 29.
We hear from Antonio Cesaro, The Prime Time Players, Randy Orton, John Cena, Wade Barrett, Sheamus and Ryback about the 30 Man Royal Rumble match tonight.
Highlights are shown of Antonio Cesaro defeating The Miz earlier tonight during the Royal Rumble YouTube pre-show to retain the WWE United States Championship.
WWE Tag Team Championships
Team Hell No (c’s) vs. Damien Sandow and Cody Rhodes
We start with Daniel Bryan and Cody Rhodes. Bryan with a quick counter early on wrapping up the legs of Rhodes and then applies a surfboard submission. Damien Sandow is screaming, “Cody, hang on!” Tag to Kane who hits the ropes and connects with a kick to the face of Rhodes. Tag to Sandow who takes a scoop slam and elbow from Kane. Kane tosses Sandow to the corner and tags in Bryan. Bryan with a corner dropkick. Bryan with repeated kicks to Sandow in the corner and tags in Kane. Kane with a quick kick to the head. Sandow with a quick elbow, but Kane quickly responds with a big boot sending Sandow out. Rhodes jumps in and Kane tosses him out. Bryan with a suicide dive taking out Sandow and Rhodes on the outside. Sandow quickly charges Bryan up against the ring and tosses him back in. Sandow with a few stomps and tags in Rhodes. Rhodes with more stomps to Bryan. Rhodes with a quick knee and scoop slam combo. Rhodes locks in a half boston crab. Tag to Sandow who connects with a side russian leg sweep to Bryan and then drops his trademark spinning elbow. Quick tag back to Rhodes who punches Bryan in the ribs and sends him to the corner. Bryan fights back with right hands and a big boot. Bryan with a big heel kick to the jaw. Tag to Sandow. Sandow with a few shots and quick tag back to Rhodes.
Rhodes gets Bryan up on his shoulder. Bryan breaks free, gets in a shot to Sandow and takes down Rhodes. Hot tag to Kane. Sandow also gets the tag. Kane with a series of clotheslines. Kane with a splash and side slam combo on Sandow. Sandow cuts off Kane up on the top turnbuckle. Sandow avoids a flying clothesline. Kane with suplexes on both Sandow and Rhodes. Bryan tags himself in and goes up top. Bryan catches Sandow with a dropkick. Kane with a chokeslam on Rhodes. Bryan applies the No Lock on Sandow. Sandow taps out.
Winners and still WWE Tag Team Champions: Team Hell No
A promo for the WWE Elimination Chamber PPV on Sunday, February 17 airs.
A video package airs looking at the history of the Royal Rumble match.
Backstage, Vickie hands the entry numbers to Kane and Daniel Bryan tonight. Kane refuses to show Bryan his number. Bryan says, “If I show you mine you should show me yours.” Kane says, “Trust me, if I did you would feel very inadequate.” Kane says it is bad luck anyway to reveal your Royal Rumble entry number. He says see you out there. Bryan says, “Not if I see you first!” Kane laughs saying that is highly unlikely.
Video is shown of the WWE Royal Rumble Fan Fest this weekend in Phoenix.
30 Man Royal Rumble Match
The winner will earn a world title shot at Wrestlemania 29 this year.
#1: Dolph Ziggler
Before the match officially starts, Dolph Ziggler grabs the mic saying he will start this match alone and finish alone. He said he doesn’t care who No. 2 is tonight and awaits the entry.
#2: Chris Jericho
Huge reaction for Jericho in Phoenix. The bell officially rings and here we go. Ziggler quickly tries to toss Jericho out. Jericho hangs on and comes off the top rope taking out Ziggler. Jericho clotheslines Ziggler over the top rope, but Ziggler holds on. Loud “YOU STILL GOT IT” chant from the crowd in Phoenix to Jericho. Jericho and Ziggler are tied up on the top rope. Jericho with a superplex on Ziggler. Time expires.
#3: Cody Rhodes
Jericho with repeated clotheslines to Rhodes along with some chops. Ziggler goes on the attack on Jericho. Ziggler and Rhodes work over Jericho in the corner. Ziggler uses the bottom rope to choke Jericho. Ziggler with a catapult sending Jericho into the bottom rope. Time expires.
#4: Kofi Kingston
Kingston comes off the top rope taking out Rhodes with a series of shots including a big dropkick. Kingston with right hands to Rhodes in the corner. Kingston misses a Trouble in Paradise attempt on Ziggler. Ziggler hangs on when Kingston tries to toss him out. Jericho tries to toss Rhodes out and Rhodes hangs on. Jericho with shots to Rhodes in the corner. Time expires.
#5: Santino Marella
Santino goes after Rhodes right away. Santino gets the cobra on. Jericho with a shot to Santino. Rhodes tosses Santino out.
Santino Marella is eliminated.
Jericho is trying to toss Rhodes out.
#6: Drew McIntyre
McIntyre with shots to Rhodes and Jericho. Kingston, Jericho and McIntyre are wrapped up in the ropes. Rhodes is trying to toss Ziggler out. Jericho is nearly tossed out and hangs out. Time expires.
#7: Titus O’Neil
Titus with a double clothesline on Rhodes and Kingston. McIntyre goes over, lands on the ring apron, Jericho with a springboard dropkick from the corner and McIntyre is out.
Drew McIntyre is eliminated.
Ziggler is almost tossed over and hangs on to the bottom rope as Jericho kicks him. Time expires.
#8: Goldust
Cody is shocked and is yelling at Goldust to hit the ring. Goldust and Rhodes exchange right hands. Ziggler breaks it up. Goldust with his knees to the mat and uppercut. Rhodes is nearly tossed over by Goldust, but Rhodes holds on. Goldust with rights to Rhodes. Time expires.
#9: David Otunga
Otunga with a quick spinning elbow to Goldust and some shots to Jericho in the corner. Titus with a big clothesline to Goldust. Kingston hangs on when Ziggler tries to toss him out. Time expires.
#10: Heath Slater
Slater starts working over Goldust against the ropes and then turns his attention to Kingston. Ziggler again holds on when Jericho tosses him over the top rope. Time expires.
#11: Sheamus
Sheamus with Irish Curse backbreakers to Rhodes and Ziggler. Sheamus takes out Jericho with a senton splash. Titus goes over and hangs on. Sheamus with forearm chops. Sheamus sends Otunga into Titus who is gone.
Titus O’Neil is eliminated.
Sheamus with forearm chest chops to Otunga on the ring apron. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick to Otunga and Otunga is out.
David Otunga is eliminated.
Slater and Rhodes go after Sheamus as time expires.
#12: Tensai
Tensai goes after Slater and Kingston right away. Sheamus with shots to Tensai. Tensai puts Sheamus in the corner and hits a series of shoulder charges. Ziggler and Jericho are trying to pick up Tensai. Tensai breaks it up and hits a big right to Jericho. Time expires.
#13: Brodus Clay
Clay slides in and hits some big rights to to Jericho. Tensai with rights to Clay. Ziggler again is tossed to the ring apron and still hangs on. Goldust tosses Rhodes to the ring apron. Rhodes with a shoulder charge when Goldust runs at him. Goldust and Rhodes are now on the ring apron. Goldust clotheslines Rhodes back in the ring. Rhodes sends Goldust into the steel ring post. Goldust bounces off and falls out. Rhodes smiles.
Goldust is eliminated.
Time expires.
#14: Rey Mysterio
Mysterio with a 619 to Ziggler and the another 619 to Jericho. Mysterio goes up top and connects with a splash to Jericho. Time expires.
#15: Darren Young
Brodus Clay is eliminated.
Tensai is eliminated.
Kingston falls out and lands on Tensai’s back. Tensai drops him over the Spanish announce table. Kingston is not yet eliminated, but he is now on top of the table. Kingston is teasing he will jump back to the ring. Kingston asks if he can use JBL’s chair. JBL gets up and says, “I gotta see this.” Time expires.
#16: Bo Dallas (NXT wrestler)
Kingston puts down JBL’s chair, puts his feet on it, pushes off the Spanish announce table and is starting to hop up and down using the chair to get close to the ring. Kingston gets back to the ring apron and remains in the Rumble.
Darren Young is eliminated.
Rhodes with a kick to the face as Kingston stands up on the ring apron.
Kofi Kingston is eliminated.
Time expires.
#17: The Godfather
Ziggler quickly tosses Godfather out as he enters the ring.
The Godfather is eliminated.
Time expires.
#18: Wade Barrett
Barrett quickly goes after Mysterio and Jericho. Barrett with a quick spinning side walk slam on Sheamus. Barrett tries to toss Sheamus over the top rope. Sheamus hangs on. Time expires.
#19: John Cena
When Cena hits the ring, everyone goes after him. Cena starts fighting them off one by one. Cena tosses Slater out. Cena also tosses Rhodes out.
Heath Slater is eliminated.
Cody Rhodes is eliminated.
Cena is trying to toss Jericho over. Jericho hangs on. Ziggler gets involved.
#20: Damien Sandow
Mysterio is kicked out by Barrett.
Rey Mysterio is eliminated.
Sheamus starts going after Barrett near the corner with big kicks and stomps. Jericho attempting Walls of Jericho on Cena. Time expires.
#21: Daniel Bryan
Bryan with kicks to Sandow, Ziggler and Barrett. He finishes off Barrett with a kick to the head. Sheamus is nearly getting Jericho over, but Jericho hangs on and pulls himself back in. Time expires.
#22: Antonio Cesaro
Cesaro goes after Bryan with repeated uppercuts. Cesaro with uppercuts to Sheamus. Barrett with a big Cena. Time expires.
#23: The Great Khali
Cesaro is trying to eliminate Sheamus.
Time expires.
#24: Kane
Michael Cole notes this is Kane’s 14th Royal Rumble appearance tonight. Kane goes after Ziggler and Jericho. Sandow is trying to eliminate Sheamus, but Sheamus hangs on. Time expires.
#25: Zack Ryder
Daniel Bryan tosses Kane out. Bryan celebrates.
Kane is eliminated.
Bryan is tosses out and he falls into the arms of Kane. Bryan tells him to toss him back in the ring. Kane says no. Bryan screams yes. Kane lets go, Bryan reaches outs and then hits the floor.
Daniel Bryan is eliminated.
Time expires.
#26: Randy Orton
Orton with a big uppercut to Bo Dallas. He tosses Dallas over the top rope and Dallas hangs on. Orton has Dallas and Ziggler through the ropes and connects with a double DDT. Orton with an RKO to Ryder. Orton tosses Ryder out.
Zack Ryder is eliminated.
Cesaro with a big uppercut to Orton. Time expires.
#27: Jinder Mahal
Cena tosses Cesaro out.
Antonio Cesaro is eliminated.
Time expires.
#28: The Miz
Miz starts attacking Cesaro who was coming up the ramp after being eliminated. Jinder Mahal is out.
Jinder Mahal is eliminated.
Barrett is working over Sheamus kicking his back trying to push him out. Orton is working over Ziggler in the corner. Time expires.
#29: Sin Cara
Sin Cara with a kick to the head of Ziggler and Miz right away. Sin Cara with kicks to Sandow in the corner. Sheamus is trying to toss Cena out near the corner. Bo Dallas tosses out Barrett.
Wade Barrett is eliminated.
Barrett pulls Bo Dallas out after Sin Cara sent Dallas into the ropes.
Bo Dallas is eliminated.
Barrett drops Dallas with a big forearm to the head.
Time expires.
#30: Ryback
Ryback hits the ring and levels Ziggler and Sandow. Ryback puts Sandow on the ring apron and tosses him out.
Damien Sandow is eliminated.
Sin Cara with kicks to Ryback. Sin Cara goes up top, jumps and Ryback swats him away. Ryback picks up Sin Cara and throws him out over Sandow.
Sin Cara is eliminated.
Ryback sends The Miz out.
The Miz is eliminated.
Jericho with a Codebreaker to Ryback. Jericho catches Cena with an elbow and Lionsault. Jericho sends Sheamus to the ring apron and Jericho connects with a springboard dropkick. Sheamus hangs on. Jericho with a Codebreaker to Ziggler. Ziggler bounces to the ropes and hangs on. Ziggler tosses Jericho to the ring apron. Ziggler with a superkick that sends Jericho out.
Chris Jericho is eliminated.
Sheamus and Orton are exchanging shots. Orton sends Ryback into the corner. RKO on Ziggler. RKO on Cena. RKO on Sheamus. Orton grabs Ryback, pulls him through the ropes and connects with a DDT. Orton calls for another RKO when Ryback clotheslines him out.
Randy Orton is elminated.
Ziggler with a DDT on Cena. Sheamus puts Ziggler on the ring apron. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick that sends Ziggler out.
Dolph Ziggler is eliminated.
We are down to Ryback, Sheamus and John Cena. Cena and Sheamus with a double suplex to Ryback. Cena and Sheamus exchange shots. Ryback with a big clothesline to Cena when he attempts Five Knuckle Shuffle to Sheamus. Sheamus counters a Shell Shock and connects with White Noise on Ryback. Sheamus is calling for the Brogue Kick in the corner. Ryback grabs the foot of Sheamus and tosses him over the top rope.
Sheamus is eliminated.
We are down to Ryback and John Cena. Ryback with a spinebuster to Cena. Cena with a drop toe hold and gets the STF applied on Ryback. Ryback appears to be passed out after Cena breaks the STF submission. Cena lifts up Ryback and puts him up on the top turnbuckle. Ryback with right hands and jumps over Cena with a Thesz Press. Ryback tries to eliminate Cena. Cena drops off and pushes Ryback over.
Ryback is eliminated.
Winner of the 2013 WWE Royal Rumble: John Cena
After the match, pyro goes off above the ring and in the entrance way as Cena points at the Wrestlemania 29 sign.
A promo for Wrestlemania 27 on April 7 airs.
A video package runs hyping CM Punk vs. The Rock for the WWE Championship.
Backstage, Josh Mathews is with The Rock. He talks about The Shield beating him up on Monday night. The Rock mentions facing adversity before not making the NFL and overcoming the odds. He talks about how his mom got cancer and she wasn’t given a shot to live, but she is still here and watching the main event live tonight in Phoenix. Rock said Punk may not think the fans count, but the WWE Universe inspires him. He said tonight we end 434 days of misery as Team Bring It becomes one all around the world.
WWE Championship
If The Shield interferes, CM Punk will be stripped of his title
CM Punk (c) w/ Paul Heyman vs. The Rock
Justin Roberts did ring introductions for the challenger The Rock and champion CM Punk. Punk got in Rock’s face holding up the WWE Championship as Roberts introduced him. Rock is fired up. Punk jumped up on the turnbuckle and showed off the title some more.
The bell rings and here we go. Rock and Punk immediately start throwing fists. Punk breaks it up with kicks. Rock with a quick clothesline, Punk avoids an early Rock Bottom and Rock clotheslines Punk over the top rope to the outside. Rock with a right to Punk and then tosses his head off the announce table. Punk eats a big right from Rock. Punk quickly tosses Rock back in the ring. Rock with right hands when Punk returns. Punk rolls out and then kicks Rock in the gut when he comes out. Rock sends Punk into the barricade, but Punk catches him with a boot. Heyman with a cheap shot to Rock. Punk with a jumping clothesline to Rock. Punk drops Rock off the barricade. Punk tosses Rock back in the ring as a loud “ROCKY” chant starts up. Punk with knees to Rock. Punk with a big kick to the back of Rock. Punk wraps up Rock on the mat and Rock breaks it up with elbows to the head. Punk with a knee to the gut that cuts off Rock when he hits the ropes. Punk keeps Rock grounded applying a modified triangle choke. Rock fights out, connects with big rights, an inverted atomic drop and Punk with a big heel kick that cuts off a Rock comeback. Punk stands over Rock and smiles as the fans boo. Punk with forearm shots to the chest of Rock against the bottom rope. Punk picks up Rock and drops him over the top rope, cover and Rock kicks out.
Heyman with another cheap shot with Punk distracting the referee. Punk with stomps to Rock in the corner and then connects with a springboard dropkick that sends Rock to the outside. Cole said Punk landed awkwardly on his knee when hitting the dropkick. Punk goes up top, jumps and connects with Rock. Punk favors his knee when he hit the floor. They return to the ring and Rock starts kicking the bad knee of Punk. Punk grabs Rock and tosses him through the ropes to the outside. Punk tosses Rock back in the ring, Punk is on the ring apron, springboards off the top turnbuckle and misses falling on his bad knee. Rock with kicks to the back of Punk and then to the chest of Punk. Rock with more rights. Rock with a quick russian leg sweep, hooks the leg and Punk kicks out. Punk counters a Rock Bottom with big elbows. Punk has Rock up for a GTS. Rock catches the knee of Punk, Rock attempts a Sharpshooter and Punk rolls applying an Anaconda Vice. Rock counters into a pinfall and Punk breaks it up to avoid the pinfall. Rock with a quick DDT. Rock goes for a Rock Bottom, Punk counters, Rock rolls through and Rock gets the Sharpshooter applied. Heyman is yelling at Punk to hang on. Punk is reaching for the bottom rope. Punk lifts himself up and gets to the rope. Rock breaks it up. Punk then rolls out of the ring to avoid Rock.
Rock clears the Spanish announce table and then sends Punk face first into it. Rock with right hands to Punk sending on top of the table. Punk with a kick to the head of Rock dazing him. Punk pulls Rock up on top of the table. Punk calls for the GTS smiling. Rock attempts a Rock Bottom, but the table gives and breaks. Rock favors his right knee. Rock rolls in the ring to break the count by the referee. Rock with a Rock Bottom to Punk on the floor. Both men are down and the referee starts a new count. Rock rolls Punk in the ring, hooks the leg and Punk kicks out. Punk with a huge kick to the head of Rock. The referee starts the count. Punk and Rock are both up at 9. Punk with kicks to the legs of Rock. Rock with right hands responding. Rock and Punk are exchanging shots. Rock with a flying clothesline and spinebuster on Punk. Rock calls for The People’s Elbow. Rock tosses the elbow pad, hits the ropes and just as he is about to connect, the lights go out. We hear brawling sounds. Cole is yelling it is The Shield. Cole is saying Rock has been powerbombed through the announce table. The lights come back on and Rock is out through the announce table. We see a shot of Punk sitting up and smiling. Cole is yelling, “It was The Shield!” Punk is asking Cole who did it. Cole tells him it was The Shield. Punk says he has nothing to do with them.
Punk grabs Rock and picks up him. Punk tosses Rock in the ring, covers and gets the pinfall.
Winner and still WWE Champion: CM Punk
After the match, CM Punk is handed the WWE Championship and starts to celebrate up on the top turnbuckle.
Vince McMahon’s music hits. McMahon reminds Punk of the stipulation if The Shield interfered. He is aware we couldn’t “see” The Shield technically. McMahon says it is his duty as Chairman of the Board to make this next announcement. The Rock cuts off McMahon. Rock said we aren’t ending things like this tonight. He says McMahon won’t take the title away from him – he will. Rock calls for the match to be restarted. McMahon officially restarts the match.
WWE Championship
CM Punk (c) vs. The Rock
The bell rings and Punk immediately goes after Rock in the corner with big kicks. Punk pulls Rock out, goes up to the top turnbuckle and connects with his flying elbow. Punk covers Rock and Rock kicks out. Punk calls for the GTS. Rock fights out and plants Punk with a spinebuster. Rock connects with The People’s Elbow. Rock hooks the leg and gets the pinfall.
Winner and the new WWE Champion: The Rock
After the match, the crowd in Phoenix explodes. We see a shot of The Rock’s mom in the crowd celebrating. The Rock is handed the WWE Championship and he holds it high. Rock goes over to the corner and holds the title up high some more. We see highlights of the match being restarted including the finish. Back live, Rock throws the title over his shoulder and holds it high on another corner. Rock continues the celebration on another corner. The PPV goes off the air with The Rock holding the title high in the middle of the ring.