Royal Rumble 2012

Royal Rumble 2012 Review

This is one of my favourite PPVs of the year, always enjoyed the concept of the Royal Rumble and this being the 25^th Royal Rumble is certainly a landmark for the WWE. Unfortunately due to my looking online (stupid move) I know the result of every match aside from the Kane match when writing this.

Match #1 = Triple Threat Cage Match. Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Big Show vs. Mark Henry

I am a fan of the Big Show, a fan of Mark Henry but I just can’t get with Daniel Bryan, I’m sorry. Its a shame that Bryan isn’t going to get KILLED!! Would love to see Henry add him to the “HALL OF PAIN”, but then again I would like to see Big Show knock him out. ;-)

It’s a major shame that Henry is injured, as it was pretty obvious that he was going be the champion till Wrestlemania. The build up to this match though has been quite good with regards to Big Show and Daniel Bryan with Bryan mocking the Big Show and then Big Show knocking out Bryan’s girlfriend AJ, but then adding Mark Henry to the mix just leaves me feeling that Henry is the 3^rd wheel, which is a shame.

Daniel Bryan wins the match after escaping the cage. Was a good match, Henry didn’t get overly involved which was good for him, some good interaction between Big Show and Daniel Bryan. What makes me laugh is that Bryan is supposed to be heel, yet Cole is still talking trash about Bryan on commentary.

JOHN CENA VIDEO PACKAGE

I quite enjoyed this, liked the music in the background. I don’t quite understand why people hate on Cena, I think the guy is awesome, this guy is THE FACE of the WWE and he a dedicated man, he represents the company in a manner that no one else has ever done, he is a machine. Him facing the Rock at Wrestlemania 28 will be EPIC!!

Match # 2 = 8 Diva Tag Team matc.h Bella Twins, Beth Phoenix and Natalya Vs. Kelly Kelly, Eve, Alcia Fox and Tamina.

The Heel divas are wearing matching clothes... ahhh thats nice.... Oh and so are the Face divas. Thats really sweet. ....

I really cannot get into the womens division, none of them really interest me outside of Natalya, the others just don’t get my attention.

Heel Divas pick up the win after Beth hits Kelly Kelly with a Glam Slam.

Match # 3 = John Cena vs. Kane

Well I haven’t been convinced that Kane with a mask has been good this time around, yet they have certainly been going an interesting direction with him since his return, but has been very cartoonish to say the least and I don’t think there is any point to the weird welding mask over the actual mask.

Again Cena is brilliant; he inspires such a reaction which is truly unique, I still love it when people say he only knows 5 moves, but let’s faces it, that’s 3 more than Stone Cold ever did. The build up for this match has been very cartoonish yet has been very entertaining, at least to me. The inclusion of Zack Ryder & Eve in the angle has also been interesting as it gets them both TV time.

Seems like every time Cena starts to get some momentum Kane just stops it dead, give Cena credit he certainly sells being smacked around by Kane. I am also still trying to figure out if the iron claw is supposed to be Kane’s new trademark finisher. Both guys have taken and hit some good spots during this match, suppose they needed to make Kane look like a legitimate challenge for Cena. Both men get counted out after they brawl out of the ring, this continues into the back area ending with Kane smashing Cena about.

Kane then gets his hands on Zack Ryder, wheels him to the ring and hits him with a Tombstone, despite the pleas from Eve, HA!! But Cena hits the ring but gets himself Choke slammed. Good Times. Wondering how this will continue, I imagine ending at mania maybe?

Was an interesting match for certain and liked the fact it was Kane who was standing tall at the end. Yet it could have been the download, but I couldn’t hear of a crowd reaction to the beat down at the end, no one seemed to care about Ryder, yet they cheered a bit when Cena got slammed.

THE ROCK VIDEO PACKAGE

The man is still over with the crowd, he is looking great and if the survivor series is anything to go by then he is still in excellent ring shape. He is very similar to Cena, his dedication to everything he does is awesome, and he is another guy who works 25 hours a day at what he does regardless. Quite interesting video, but must admit I thought Cena’s was better.

Match # 4 = Drew McIntyre Vs. Brodus Clay.

Jesus Christ, talk about filler match.

Very very quick match, with Drew getting squashed by Brodus with the WTF. Feel really sorry for Drew, just not getting a break.... Somebody should call his momma!! ;-)

Match # 5 = WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler with Johnny Ace as Guest Ref

Love Ziggler, really do, the guy is a bump machine, he sells everything like he has just been stabbed or shot, he is without a doubt one of the best heel wrestlers the WWE has had in some time. I am only recently became sold on CM Punk, mainly since the money in the bank 2011, he has been compared to Stone Cold, especially since his recent rivalry with Johnny Ace.

It’s a shame that the build for this match has focused on Johnny Ace and CM Punk, it has taken some of the spotlight away from Ziggler, he however got his moments to steal it back. Johnny Ace bans Vickie from ringside that is funny. Both these guys are so good in the ring and both have only shown more as of late especially Ziggler, he just seems to always be improving.

Both guys are getting in some good offence, trading momentum back and forth. Both guys have got a couple of false finishes. The ref gets bumped; CM Punk then gets 3 wins over Ziggler but Johnny Ace taking care of the bumped ref so misses all 3. CM Punk gets the 3 count for the win, wondering where this could go with Johnny Ace and CM Punk, may be the next Stone Cold vs. McMahon.

Very good match, both guys put on a good show, which was no shock at all.

Match # 6 THE ROYAL RUMBLE

This match is very much up in the air every year, there will be about 4 superstars you generally believe all have shots of winning the rumble.

The 1^st entry is the Miz and #2 is Alex Riley. The shock for me was Cody Rhodes being #4, I really thought he would be a later entry. Miz eliminates 2 guys pretty early one being Alex Riley and the other being R-Truth. First guest entrant is Mick Foley at number 7 and he quickly eliminates Primo. Looks like Del Rio was entrant 8 but it turns out to be Ricardo Rodriguez, very funny watching him to Del Rio’s entrance, fans are actually chanting for him, which makes it funnier. Instant highlight is Mr. Socko vs The Kobra, but Epico ends up taking both before being eliminated, classic. King gets up from commentary to enter the rumble but gets eliminated pretty quickly by Cody Rhodes. Great Khali is back from his injury at the hands of Mark Henry. Booker T is entrant number 17 in the match, he gets up from commentary strips to reveal his wrestling gear and gets in there. Kofi gets thrown out but handstands to the ring steps to stay in the match. Hacksaw Jim Duggan is entrant 19, our 4^th guest entrant if you also count Booker T and Jerry Lawler. Number 20 is Michael Cole, oh my god, that’s awful and then 21 is KHARMA!! I am contractually obligated to say that KHARMA kills bitches DEAD!!  Kharma eliminates Hunico and allows King and Booker T to eliminate Cole but then gets eliminated herself by Ziggler. Entrant 23 is ROAD DOGG!!! DX representing.

Jericho is number 29, probably a little pissed off that he thought he was going to win the rumble but instead they went with Sheamus. I think they should have gone a different way with his entrance, would have liked him to do what he has done up to now, nothing. Come down pandering to the crowd, and then eliminate himself.  Number 30 is the Big Show. The final 2 are Chris Jericho and Sheamus. Of course Sheamus eliminates Jericho to win the 2012 Royal Rumble match.

I actually quite enjoyed the rumble match itself, would have preferred Jericho to win, as now the whole “world will end” gimmick has just plainly died a death. Jericho is talented enough to bring it back but losing the rumble certainly loses the momentum he had built up. Will wait to see where they go with it. More importantly though, who will Sheamus challenge at Wrestlemania.