KWF Royal Rumble: 22nd January 2012. Scottrade Center. St Louis, MO.
We fade into a video of the Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario. The year is 1988 and the World Wrestling Federation is holding the inaugural Royal Rumble. The legendary Hacksaw Jim Duggan was the winner, the first ever. The event became an annual tradition, and we see successful Rumble wins from the likes of KWF co-Chairmen Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, the tie between Lex Luger and Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, The Rock, Brock Lesnar, Batista, Rey Mysterio, The UnderTaker, John Cena, Edge, and in the past two years of KWF Rumbles, Samoa Joe and The Icon Sting. 24 Royal Rumbles have been and gone, most of the winners have gone on to WrestleMania and won the World Title, the man standing tall at the end of tonight will get that very same opportunity. 30 Superstars. One Winner. The 25th annual Royal Rumble.
‘… And now, the Keystone Wrestling Federation presents… Royal Rumble!’ The pyrotechnic display is spectacular, even by KWF standards, as Jim Ross and William Regal bring us into the night. “Welcome everyone to the St Louis, Missouri! Welcome everyone to the Scottrade Center! Welcome everyone to the 25th Annual Royal Rumble!” JR introduces him himself and Regal, who exclaims his excitement for the night ahead. “The 25th Rumble, and the third since the beginning of the KWF. Samoa Joe and Sting have won the previous two, but who will emerge victorious tonight? It will be a ring full of world class Superstars both old and new, but only one can win and go on to main event WrestleMania, what an opportunity.” JR: “Who’s your money on William?” Regal: “I’m going to have to go with Wade Barrett Jim. In fact I’d go as far as to say he’s the favorite.” JR concedes that Barrett is impressive, but that there will be 29 other competitors who will be trying to ensure it is them who have their hand raised at the end of this evening. He goes on to tell us about the rest of tonight’s card, including the Triple Threat bout for the KWF Women’s Championship, although it will surely essentially be a Handicap match as Angelina Love and Velvet Sky challenge for Mickie James’ Title. We will also see old enemies who have both turned over new leaves recently go head to head for the X-Division Title, the Black Masked Rey Mysterio defends against the reformed fans favorite Justin Gabriel. There will also be some rematches as Beer Money get another shot at The Dudleys for the KWF Tag Team Championships, but at the demand of the Champs, in a Tables match, with Gail Kim banned from ringside on the order of co-Chairmen Hogan and Flair. The Intercontinental Title will be defended in an Ironman match for the first time ever, as Matt Morgan goes head-to-head with The Pope, D’Angelo Dinero for thirty non-stop minutes. We will also see CM Punk get his shot at the KWF World Title, after losing his TNA World Championship when John Cena crashed the party to strip both he and Mr. Anderson of their Gold in the Unification match at Starrcade. The self proclaimed ‘Best in the World’ will face the Doctor of Thuganomics later on… “but to kick things off, here’s the winner of the first ever KWF Royal Rumble, as he defends his Hardcore Belt against The World’s Strongest Man, Mark Henry.” Samoa Joe makes his way to the ring as St. Louis go wild for the Samoan Submission Machine.
Samoa Joe vs. Mark Henry – Hardcore match for the Hardcore Title
We kick off KWF’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view with Hardcore action between Mark Henry and Samoa Joe. “Henry was incredibly impressive versus RVD this past Wednesday JR, I’m certainly looking forward to him making light work of Samoa Joe here tonight, no pun intended.” “Aw, now I agree that Henry was brilliant versus Van Dam, but you can’t put this contest past Joe William. Samoa Joe has been an excellent Hardcore Champion and I know for a fact that he’ll fight for his life before he lets that Title go.” The match begins with Henry and Joe trading wrestling holds, but as Joe gets some momentum, Henry exits the ring in frustration. He bashes his hands on the ring apron and shouts abuse toward Joe. The fans chant ‘Joe’s Gonna Kill You’ as Henry barks harsh words toward them. JR reminds us that Joe and Henry had a rivalry back in 2010 here in the Keystone Wrestling Federation where they tangled for the WCW Championship. Henry got the best of Joe then, as JR reminds us of their contest at the 2010 Sovereignty pay-per-view. “Samoa Joe attempted a Muscle Buster, but failed because of Henry’s girth and his weight.” “He was stupid for trying such a move JR and he’ll be equally as dumb here tonight, if he thinks he can defeat Henry that way.” JR says that Joe’s gone on to a great career here in the KWF since his WCW Title run and now he’s the new benchmark of Hardcore wrestling. We watch as the World’s Strongest Man brings out a trash can full of weapons from under the ring. However, before he can make use of any of the weapons, Joe’s running along the ring apron and *WHAM* huge knee, right into Henry’s face! The audience gasp at the impact of the move and cheer as Samoa Joe picks up a cookie tray and smashes it over Henry’s head! Henry’s dizzy and groggy, but he instinctively puts his shoulder low toward Joe’s body and he tips Joe head over heels right over the announcers table! The crowd go wild as the move seemed to be executed in slow motion and Joe virtually bounced off the table. He gets up on the other side as Henry picks up a 2x4. Joe reaches over the barricade to ask a fan for their chair. He gets it and back toward Henry he swings, but Henry bats the chair down with the block of wood. We can barely hear JR and Regal as their headsets crackle due to being momentarily away from the announcers table and we watch as Samoa Joe evades a swing of the 2x4 to then grab a monitor off the announcers table and jab it right under the chin of Mark Henry. Henry’s taken aback as he bleeds from his lower face. Joe scrambles around the announcers table to grab the 2x4 that Henry’s just dropped. However, before he can do anything with it, Henry’s got a lifeline as he reaches under the ring for a tool box. He opens it to pull out a wrench and as Joe approaches, Henry swings for Joe’s knee! Back on commentary JR shouts “Good God, what a hellacious match and now Henry might well have shattered Samoa Joe’s knee.” Regal says that he believes the Hardcore Championship could be Mark Henry’s lifeline to a new venture. “Can you imagine if Henry’s the Hardcore Champion? A Belt that is fought for with weapons and no disqualification rules; he’ll be unstoppable.”
Back in the ring, as Regal finishes his last sentence, there’s a meeting of the proverbial unstoppable force and the immovable object as Henry and Joe collide upon both attempting clotheslines. Joe’s up first, but he’s limping as he goes to reach out of the ring for a steel chair. Mark Henry hooks Joe from under and then rolls him into a school boy pin attempt. He gets only Two as JR says “Henry with a school boy? Is he getting desperate William?” “Not at all JR, he’s proving what else he can do and showing another way in which he could defeat you. It’s mind games of the highest intimidation and it’s certainly going to throw Joe off his game.” Joe gets up as does Henry and they both slug out heavy right hands. Joe’s punches are cheered and Henry’s are booed as Joe then attempts to Irish-whip Henry toward the ropes, but Henry reverses and picks up Joe to administer an almighty World’s Strongest Slam! The whole arena seems to shake to its foundations here in St. Louis and Joe’s out for the count as Henry hooks the leg; One! Two! – “Oh my God Joe kicks out!” “He’s on his last breath JR, how could he have kicked out of that?!” “What a barbaric match this is William and Samoa Joe is not giving up. The Hardcore Championship is his Belt and this is what it means to him!” Henry gets to his feet to wipe the blood from his chin. He exits the ring to grab a steel chair and as Joe gets up he comes back in to smash him with the steel at full speed. The chair shot echoes around the arena and Samoa Joe is busted open as he falls back down toward the bottom turnbuckle. “Henry saw his own blood and he wanted to taste some of Joe’s JR, what a match!” Henry is booed by the audience, but then there’s a cheer as we see Rob Van Dam show up out of nowhere! The crowd go wild as RVD has brought a steel chair with him. He climbs to the top turnbuckle and he measures just as Henry gets to his feet and Van Dam flies off to side kick the chair right back in Henry’s face! St. Louis is going nuts as Henry falls to the far corner. Van Dam stands in the middle of the ring looking toward the audience and he feeds off them. Mark Henry is down and out in one corner, Samoa Joe is down and out in another corner and Van Dam with chair still in hand climbs the turnbuckles again. He taunts his thumb-taunt and the fans cry his name, but then Van Dam flies off with a Van Terminator – “On Samoa Joe!” yells JR. RVD Van Terminator’s Samoa Joe and boy does the crowd change it’s tune. “We all thought that Van Dam was here to get himself a piece of Henry after losing to him this past Turmoil, and he’s taken down Henry, but also damn near decapitated the Hardcore Champion! Why RVD? Why did you do this?!” The fans boo as Van Dam stands outside the ring. He’s holding his back and he shrugs his shoulders as if to say “Whatever.” Mark Henry is the first to wake within the squared circle. He goes to pick up Joe and just like he did to Van Dam this past Turmoil, Henry finishes off Joe with a crushing World’s Strongest Slam on a steel chair, the same chair that was left by Van Dam. The referee counts the inevitable Three and the crowd boo as we have a new Hardcore Champion.
Winner and New KWF Hardcore Champion: Mark Henry.
William Regal stands to applaud but JR maintains that it was Rob Van Dam that just cost Samoa Joe the Hardcore Championship. Regal: “I don’t know why he did it JR. He got himself a piece of Henry first and I feared the worst, but then he smashed Samoa Joe’s face in.” JR: “I’ve known Rob Van Dam for a long time and I wanna give him the benefit of any doubt, but like the fans, I just don’t understand this. Why RVD? Why did you Van Terminate Samoa Joe?!” Mark Henry shoves away the referee as he proudly roars and with both hands he raises the KWF Hardcore Championship to the booing audience.
Backstage we’re with KWF interviewer Jeremy Borash and he’s standing by with the lovely Women’s Champion Mickie James. James says that she wants to thank the fans for all the support they’ve given her over the years. She says that she’s never met a troublesome twosome like The Beautiful People. “They’ve done the business JB. They took out Kong almost a year ago. They won the Knockouts Title and even retired a woman that was once my idol, Trish Stratus. Now they’re after my KWF Women’s Championship, but rest assured, I’m not giving this up without a fight. I know I have my work cut out for me tonight. The match is a Triple Threat, but I know how well Angelina and Velvet work together. I’m going to have to be resilient, be strong and be smart enough to outwit those two hussies.” JB thanks Mickie for her time and says that neither he nor the KWF fans can wait to see Mickie and The Beautiful People in action Live later on here tonight.
We cut to a video chronicling the two month old rivalry between The Blueprint Matt Morgan and The Pope D’Angelo Dinero. It all began with the unification of the United States and Intercontinental Titles. Leading up to Starrcade, both men were riling each other up, certain that they would be the one to extinguish the other one’s Belt and consign it to the history books. They attacked one another, badmouthed one another, and even had a one-on-one basketball match, which of course ended in a full on brawl. At Starrcade they had an enthralling match, which ended when Morgan took advantage of an absent official to Hellavate Dinero onto a steel chair and pick up the win. Controversially, the United States Champion decided to dump his Belt and carry the Intercontinental Championship, seemingly as one last middle finger to Pope. However, it wouldn’t be the end of things. Pope came out the very following Wednesday to challenge Morgan to a rematch. Not one to back down, The Blueprint accepted, but on condition that he get to pick the match type. The weeks went by, and Morgan kept silent, trying to make Pope sweat, until last week when he revealed to the world that their rematch will be contested in a thirty-minute Ironman match. Dinero seemed relatively pleased by this, which took Morgan aback. The Blueprint has claimed he wants to not only beat Pope, but show just how superior he is by winning at a comfortable margin, suggesting he may even win 5-0. Will Morgan live up to his own hype, or can Pope regain the Title he lost in acrimonious circumstances at Starrcade? We’re about to find out. ♫The music of The Blueprint♫ «< click to play) hits and he comes down to the ring to a chorus of boos. As he enters, JR reminds us that this is the first time ever the Intercontinental Title is being defended in an Ironman match, and that he loves how the great old Title seems to mean something to the KWF Superstars. Regal concurs; “As a two-time Intercontinental Champion myself, I can tell you it’s such a thrill to hold that historic Belt. And both of these gentlemen will know it’s a very important checkpoint on the way to superstardom in this business. Most of the all-time greats have held that Title at one point or another, and I know young Matt Morgan believes he is already among those names.” JR: “I don’t think he’s quite there yet, but no doubt both he and Dinero are superb athletes, and this promises to be quite a match-up.” ♫Pope is Pimpin’! Aaaagggghhhh!!♫ «< click to play)
Matt Morgan vs. ‘The Pope’ D’Angelo Dinero – 30min Iron Man match for the Intercontinental Title
Both men are trying to psyche themselves up as the referee explains the rules to them. Thirty minutes long, most falls wins, Disqualifications and Count-outs will result in a fall, after every fall there will be a thirty-second recovery period. In the result of a tie, there will be five-minutes of Overtime, if the scores are still tied than the match will result in a Draw and Morgan will retain. The ref calls for the bell and we’re underway. Morgan seems quite tentative in the early moments, keeping a distance and trying to frustrate Pope as he retreats to duck between the ropes, causing the referee to back Pope up. He then heads all the way to the outside, laughing as Pope gets more frustrated and the fans boo. However, Dinero follows him out and grabs his head, before slamming it into the apron, to a great cheer from the fans. He then hurls Morgan into the barrier, causing him to crash through and into the timekeeper’s corner. Justin Roberts falls out of his chair as Pope comes over to collect Morgan. He grabs him again and slams his head into the announcers table, before rolling him back into the ring and following. He drops an elbow as he looks like getting the first fall quickly here. He goes for a pin but Morgan kicks out. Pope is well and truly in charge here as he picks Morgan up and launches him into the corner. He backs up and rolls down his knee pads, signaling for the DDE. He slaps his knees and races over, only for Morgan to duck and backbody drop Pope over the top rope and to the outside. Dinero crashes and looks to have hurt his knee in the landing. Morgan demands the referee Count him out, and he falls to the canvas to recover. Pope is in pain on the outside as he tries to crawl back into the ring. The official gets up to Five, and Pope has managed to get up to his feet, but he’s hobbling. Morgan runs over and hits a baseball slide into Pope, sending him into the barrier. The fans boo as the referee stops his count to talk down Morgan. The Blueprint ignores him and heads to the outside. He stomps away at the bad knee of Pope, before picking up his leg and throwing it hard into the barrier. Dinero cries out in pain as the referee begins to count them both out. Morgan continues to work the knee, as the Count gets to Eight, and he wanders over to Justin Roberts again, pushing him down and taking his chair. He slides back into the ring, sets the chair up and sits down in the middle of the ring, as the official reaches Ten. First Fall to Matt Morgan via Count-Out, 1-0. As Morgan sits in the ring looking pleased with himself, JR says Morgan got lucky that Pope blew his knee out when he landed outside. “That’s what got Morgan the first fall. He was getting his rear end handed to him by Pope before that. But now it seems Pope doesn’t have a chance in hell. 1-0 down and having to wrestle the next twenty minutes on one leg.” Regal says it was Pope’s fault for attempting such a high risk move, and not knowing how to land properly. We see that the clock has now passed ten-minutes, as Pope just about manages to get himself back in the ring before the referee restarts things. Pope uses the ropes to get up to his feet as the ref calls for the bell. Morgan stands up, picks up the chair, and whacks Pope across the head with it. The official looks on in shock, as he calls for the bell once more. Second Fall to Pope via Disqualification. 1-1. JR: “My God! What in the hell did he do that for? He just gave away a fall to crack Dinero’s skull open!” Regal: “It’s simple tactics JR. Do you remember when Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle fought in an Ironman match many years ago? Lesnar did exactly the same thing, and it won him the match in the end. Morgan has done his homework here.”
Morgan looks down at the unconscious Pope, as the recovery clock ticks down. He awaits the referee’s call for the match to restart, and when it comes, he pins Pope, getting a simple Three. Third Fall to Matt Morgan via pin-fall. 2-1. Morgan raises his arms and again gets in position waiting for the match to restart. He looks anxious to try and get another fall. Pope remains on his back, and the referee starts things again. Morgan pins, gets One, gets Two, gets… no! Pope kicks out! Morgan can’t believe it. He goes to pick up the chair again, but the referee kicks it out of the ring. Morgan looks incensed and grabs the official by the collar, but restrains himself when warned of another DQ. He looks back at Pope and goes to grab him, but Pope rolls him up in a small package, 1…2…no! Morgan gets free in time. Dinero nearly stole an equalizer there. Morgan is rattled, but nevertheless Pope is still in a bad way, and Morgan is still one score up. The minutes tick on and Morgan continues to dominate. He nails his piston-back elbow shots in the corner, before bringing Pope out and slamming him down with a sidewalk slam. He pins again, but only gets Two. Morgan doesn’t seem too happy with his progress. His pre-match prediction of a huge win isn’t coming to fruition as we pass the 20-minute mark. He has been in control of this match since about the seventh minute, thanks mainly to Pope’s knee injury and the chairshot to the head, but only a one score differential remains. Morgan thinks it’s time to put daylight between them, so takes Pope in for a Hellavator. He checks his imaginary watch and goes to lift him up, but Pope uses his leg to block it, and again, before firing shots into Morgan’s stomach, then head, and then he comes off the ropes to hit a huge flying clothesline. The knee doesn’t appear to be bothering Pope anymore as he gathers some momentum. Dinero is all fired up as he has Morgan in the corner, taking him down, before running up and hitting his handstand elbow drop off the corner ropes. He has Morgan in all sorts of trouble, as he waits for him to get up, then comes off the ropes, before *BAM!* Morgan stops him in his tracks with a Carbon Footprint that almost beheads The Pope. The audience is stunned as all Pope’s momentum is gone and Matt Morgan hooks the leg and gets the Three. Fourth Fall to Matt Morgan via pin-fall. 3-1.
We enter the final three minutes as Morgan keeps Pope at bay, seemingly happy to settle for the win he has now. Morgan himself is looking pretty exhausted, but that Carbon Footprint looks to have taken any wind Dinero had out of him. Morgan throws Pope into the corner, and looks to run up and crush him, but as he does Pope hops up onto the ropes and goes over with a sunset flip on The Blueprint. As he pins him he gets his feet on the ropes, but the official doesn’t see as he counts a crowd pleasing Three. Fifth Fall to The Pope via pin-fall. 3-2. Regal: “That’s cheating! Pope cheated! Strike that call from the records!” JR: “No way William, Pope has been screwed all through this match, it’s time he reminded Morgan exactly what he’s up against here. Dinero is one of the shrewdest operators in the business, and he has two minutes to find another fall from somewhere so he can take this into overtime.” Once the recovery time passes, Pope is full of energy again, and is desperately looking for another fall as the seconds tick down. He locks on a crossface submission hold, but this doesn’t get it done as Morgan’s long body gets to the ropes. He stomps away at Morgan before coming off the ropes and hitting a low dropkick to the face. He covers and gets a close fall, but not close enough. Pope looks up at the clock which has reached the final sixty seconds. The fans cheer him on as he hits a DDT, and gets Two once more. In one last attempt he throws Morgan against the ropes. Morgan comes back and tries to clothesline Pope, but Pope ducks and Morgan crashes into the referee, who falls out of the ring. Morgan stumbles back in a daze and *BAM!* gets taken down with a DDE! Pope covers, but the referee is out cold on the outside. The clock has reached the final 15-seconds, and Pope is waving frantically for another referee. Finally one emerges and he runs to the ring as fast as he can. He slides in and counts 1… 2… *BZZZZZ!!!!!* The referee keeps his hand from coming down for Three as the buzzer to signal the end of the thirty minutes goes before he can. Pope looks on as the official slides out and gives the official word to Justin Roberts.
Winner and Still Intercontinental Champion: The Blueprint, Matt Morgan.
Dinero cannot believe it. He had Morgan down for a Three-count that would have brought overtime, but the referee couldn’t reach the ring to count in time. Pope rolls out and initially goes to argue with the ref, but then just takes his frustrations out on the barrier and storms off up the ramp. Morgan is just coming back to his feet as the referee hands him his Title. JR: “What a damn shame. That match was ruined as soon as Morgan introduced the chair.” Regal: “Hey, like I said earlier. It was a tactic, and it worked. Morgan still got Disqualified and lost a score for that, but he knew it would be worth it. He hurt Pope in the process and in the end Morgan outsmarted Pope, and deservedly still holds that Intercontinental Title.”
Backstage we’re with Jeremy Borash; “Ladies and gentlemen would you please welcome my guest at this time” – he’s cut off as The Rock steps into the picture and holds his palm to Borash’s face. The fans scream in the background as The Rock looks as if he’s taking in the cheers and chants of his millions and millions of fans worldwide. The Rock says “Do you hear that JB? Do you hear the sound, the heartbeat of The Rock oozing through the people of St. Louis?…” The Rock looks at Borash. He removes his glasses and takes JB’s mic before shoving him off set. The Rock looks at the camera. He raises his eyebrow and says “Finally, The Rock has come back to St. Louis!” The crowd go wild as The Rock goes on to say that he’s rusty and a little off tune. “The Rock hasn’t been on Wednesday Night Turmoil, no matches, no television time and not even a phone call from Hogan and Flair to confirm The Rock for the Royal Rumble. So The Rock reads Turmoil this past week and sees that Goldberg retires. Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, the biggest pieces of collective horse manure and trailer park garbage The Rock has ever seen, the two of them drive Bill Goldberg to retire because he didn’t want to be the next one fired and out the door. Now The Rock and Goldberg have never been friends and never will be, but when The Rock saw this on Wednesday I called up a friend and that friend said Don’t do the same thing Rock, in fact, have my spot in the Royal Rumble match.” The crowd cheer as The Rock reveals that the friend who gave him his Rumble spot was none other than Mick Foley. The Rock says that Foley’s not cleared to wrestle, still down and out from losing the Hardcore match to Samoa Joe at Starrcade. “Hogan and Flair wanted Foley in the Rumble for further beat-downs, further humiliation for a man that barely has the energy to defend himself. Hulk… Ric… The Rock says that I am in the Royal Rumble match and whether you like it or not when the smoke has cleared, when all the dust has settled, for the second year in a row The Rock will go on to face John Cena at KWF WrestleMania, but this time it will be for the KWF World Heavyweight Title! If ya smeeelllll what The Rock is cooking!” The Rock raises his eyebrow and the most electrifying man in all of literary sports entertainment has St. Louis going absolutely crazy. JR says that he’s shocked to see The Great One here tonight – “and he’s in the Rumble match William! This is amazing!” Regal despondently replies “The man’s overrated. I give him five minutes in the Rumble at best.”
Mickie James vs. Angelina Love vs. Velvet Sky – Chickle Threat match for the KWF Women’s Championship
The bell rings and we watch as Velvet and Angelina circle Mickie. The James Gang are chanting ‘Lets Go Mickie’ but to no avail as Velvet trades punches with her from the front and Angelina takes her down from behind. The Beautiful People are booed for the manner in which they ground James and completely boot the hell out of her while she’s down. “Poor Mickie’s defenseless, how can a match like this even happen? Hogan and Flair know this is pretty much a Handicap match, Mickie’s got no chance in surviving this thing.” “Oh shut up and enjoy the view JR.” Velvet corners Mickie and Angelina chokes her with her boot before letting James’ body flop to the canvas. Velvet poses toward the audience and the male fans cheer as they like what they see, but the majority of the crowd boo as Angelina Love covers, but Mickie kicks out at Two. The Beautiful People’s domination continues for some time and it almost seems as if they’re taking it in turns to cover Mickie. “Only one of them can be the Women’s Champion and it seems like there’s some kind of understanding here.” “Of course there is Jim you pillock. We’ve seen Angelina and Velvet overcome any competition within their own ranks and this is the exact type of level playing field that has them on the same page. Taking turns is a fair way of doing it and whoever defeats Mickie will get the Belt. Simples.” After a lot of punishment from both Beautiful People, and a number of attempted covers and kick-outs, we watch as Love picks James up to throw her hard down to ringside and now Velvet goes round to attack Mickie by the foot of the ramp. Angelina uses this time to taunt the fans and pose for them in the ring, but meanwhile we watch as the crowd cheer because Mickie Irish-whips Velvet shoulder-first into the steel stairs! The fans love it as James musters up the energy to get back in the ring. Angelina runs at her with a clothesline, but James ducks, goes against the ropes and comes back with a Thesz press! She rains down punches on Love before getting kick-rolled off. Velvet comes in and she goes at Mickie as she gets up, but James ducks and Velvet accidently clotheslines Angelina! She turns round and *WHAM* “Mick-kick! Mick-kick! Velvet is down! Velvet is out! Come on Mickie, cover her!” JR shouts as James covers, hooking both legs for One! Two! – oh and Angelina saves her partner. Velvet Sky was almost pinned for Three and Mickie almost retained, but Love made the last stretch to break the referees count. She gets up to yank James by the hair and she takes her down with a backbreaker. Love goes to check on Velvet, but as she does Velvet grasps her by the head and rolls her into a small package! The ref counts, but Velvet seemingly lets go after Two. Both BP members get up. Angelina yells “What are you doing?!” Velvet replies “I’m sorry, I thought you were Mickie.” Meanwhile James has gotten herself to her feet in the corner and Angelina and Velvet both turn back toward her. James is quick to boot Love right in the mush before locking her legs round the head of Sky and taking her down in James’ trademark headscissor out the corner. The fans are on their feet as James gets up full of energy but Angelina Love is back up and she runs full speed at Mickie with a Botox Injection! An almighty finishing maneuver that connects and we watch as Love covers James. Velvet Sky sits on Love’s back to increase the weight of the pin and it’s academic, Mickie James is knocked out, we have a new KWF Women’s Champion.
Winner and New KWF Women’s Champion: Angelina Love.
Angelina and Velvet get up to look at one another as if to say “That was close.” The fans boo as Angelina is handed the Women’s Championship, but the Beautiful People haven’t come this far having not trusted one another. Love raises Velvet’s hand and the two of them hold up a strap each of the Women’s Championship. The fans boo as Mickie James is barely moving and the scene fades out.
We come into a video package telling the story of Rey Mysterio. The masked cruiserweight who took America by storm, winning fans over in ECW, WCW, WWE and KWF. His brightly colored attire was matched with his high flying, innovative and daredevil moves which shocked and excited not only the fans, but his fellow professionals. Rey Mysterio was the biggest little man and one of the most popular guys in the locker room. He won several Championships, including the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania. When he joined the Keystone Wrestling Federation, he decided to become a part of the fabled X-Division, and succeeded in winning the X-Division Title. However, after losing it a few months later, he picked up an injury that would put him on the shelf for several months. When he finally returned, he would win the Title back once again, but not in the way many imagined. At Survivor Series, Mysterio was a part of the X-Division Elimination match, in which two teams battled, and then the Surviving members would face off until one remained. Mysterio changed his colors in that match, literally. Wearing all-black, the Master of the 619 would use low blows, tight pulling, and other underhanded moves, to ensure that he won the Title back. In the weeks that followed, people questioned him, why had Rey Mysterio, the great fan favorite, resorted to such measures? He would tell the world exactly why, saying he was sick and tired of seeing young blood coming into the X-Division and being given success on a plate. He said that now he is the veteran in the locker room, and he’s not able to maybe pull off the same things he used to, unlike guys like Evan Bourne, Amazing Red, Sin Cara and Justin Gabriel, who fly all over the place. He gave his reasoning that he believes in success by any means necessary, and if taking less than savory routes to win the Gold is what gets him the Title, then that’s what he’ll do. He’s tired of being ‘flown all over’, and he’s tired of all the little kiddies in their lucha libre masks pretending to be something they’re not. Now he wants to put the young X-Division competitors in their place “… because those guys are also acting like something they’re not… Rey Mysterio!!!” Rey was called out a few weeks ago on Turmoil by his opponent tonight, Justin Gabriel, who said he didn’t see the strength behind Mysterio’s reasoning. He pointed out how he once became Champion through underhanded tactics when he was part of the World Elite, but that it was a hollow victory, and now he wants more than ever to win an X-Division Title purely on skill alone. Mysterio laughed this off, and challenged Gabriel to prove himself at the Rumble, before smashing the Title Belt across his skull to assert his authority. He did the same thing the following week, but now Gabriel gets his shot at Mysterio. Will the young South African finally end this dark reign of Mysterio, or will Rey continue his dominance over the X-Division?
Rey Mysterio vs. Justin Gabriel – X-Division Title on the line
Mysterio enters in his now token all black attire, ignoring the fans’ boos along the way. Gabriel enters looking confident, and he goes all the way around the ring to slap the fans’ hands. As he gets into the ring, JR reminds us how this is a complete topsy turvy on last year when these two rivaled. Back then it was Mysterio who was the fan favorite and Gabriel who was getting booed all the way up to the back seats. As the match begins JR continues that since Gabriel has left the old World Elite, he has been like a man reborn. He quit the group after becoming sick and tired of leader Wade Barrett interfering in his matches, often costing him. He is now flying alone and wants to show the world that he’s capable of winning an X-Division Title on his own. Mysterio won’t make it easy though and the San Diegan takes charge in the early going. He keeps things slow to begin with, working Gabriel over with shots, and then trips him down before hitting a low dropkick off the ropes. He applies a Fujiwara armbar, trying to work on the arm of Gabriel. He puts pressure on it and Gabriel refuses to tap. The South African is able to roll out of it and grab Mysterio’s arm, before putting on a Koji clutch. Rey is in trouble now, but manages to get to the ropes. As he gets to his feet, Gabriel nails him with a spin kick to the face. Gabriel increases the tempo as he springs back for an elbow off the middle rope, and he’s all fired up. Regal points out that it’s this brash cockiness that Rey was talking about, and that he sees it as his duty to take these young guns down a peg or two. JR dismisses this as nonsense, pointing out that Mysterio was doing exactly the same things when he started out. “He was a pioneer, but seems to have forgotten that.” JR and Regal discuss Rey’s injuries, and that he missed last week’s Turmoil due to a physio appointment. JR: “Personally I just don’t think Mysterio wanted any part of Gabriel before tonight. He doesn’t look at all injured to me.” Regal: “But that’s what great fighters do JR. They can fight injured and still look as if they’re fit as a fiddle. I won’t have you questioning the integrity of our X-Division Champion.” JR: “Of course not. The integrity of a man who uses his Championship Belt as a weapon any chance he gets.”
The match continues to go back and forth between both competitors, with Gabriel hitting some big spot moves such as a springboard cross body, a series of kicks, and after Rey escapes to the outside, he hits a corkscrew plancha which raises the volume from the fans. However, Rey turns the tide of the match when things move back into the ring, raking the eyes and launching Gabriel into the ring-post. He rolls him up and grabs the tights, but the official sees it and stops his count. Rey argues with him, and Gabriel then rolls him up, getting a near fall. As the referee turns to tell the corner that it was only Two, Rey gets up and spits green mist into the eyes of Gabriel. This blinds Gabriel who stumbles around the ring. Rey goes over and elbows him in the back of the head, before running against the ropes and hitting a headscissors takedown. He pins but Gabriel kicks out. The referee goes to check on Gabriel, who is in some distress, but Rey pushes him out of the way and gets back to work on his opponent. He goes for a back suplex, but Gabriel lands on his feet, and when Rey turns around, DDT! Gabriel floors the Champion, and the fans scream as he heads for the ring apron and makes his way up to the top turnbuckle. JR: “Never mind 619, its 450 time!” Gabriel measures up, but we see someone jump over the barrier and out from the crowd. The person jumps up onto the apron and push Gabriel’s leg, causing him to crash all the way down to the canvas. The mystery person has a Rey Mysterio mask on as he heads up toward the back. Rey himself rolls out to the apron, before springing off the middle of the top rope and landing a leg drop across the back of Gabriel’s head. He rolls him over and covers, getting One… Two… Three.
Winner and Still X-Division Champion: Rey Mysterio.
The fans are shocked as this apparent fan completely changed the outcome of this Title match. An echo of boos floods the arena as the masked intruder stands at the top of the stage. He removes his mask. JR: “That’s Konan! Konan was the mystery man who just helped Rey Mysterio to retain! This is outrageous!” Rey is handed his Title Belt back as he looks up to Konan and beats his chest, before raising his arm and Title in acknowledgement. JR reminds us that Konan signed with the KWF before Starrcade and he was a fan favorite, but now he’s aligned with Rey? Regal says that Rey, Konan and Billy Kidman were a threesome called the Filthy Animals back in WCW and now, as Rey raises the X-Division Gold again, Konan is here to watch over him. “People may not like this JR, but Rey remains the X-Division Champion and that’s the only thing that really matters.”
We head backstage where Jeremy Borash is standing by for an interview with a Royal Rumble participant. “Ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome my guest at this time, he is the leader of the British Invasion, Wade Barrett.” Barrett walks into shot. “That’s Mr. Barrett to you JB.” JB corrects himself and mentions how Mr. Barrett has been close to winning the Rumble before, but is this his year? Barrett says that there is no doubt in his mind that he is destined to win the Royal Rumble match tonight, and says it would take a very brave man to bet against him. He goes on to say that he respects Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, and he even respects the KWF World Champion John Cena, “but after I win tonight and get the opportunity to go on to the main event at KWF WrestleMania, then like any red blooded KWF superstar, I’m going to take that chance and become one of the greatest Champions in history.” JB asks him whether having fellow British Invasion members in the match is a benefit or not. “Are you kidding me JB? Of course it is. I’ll have Drew and Styler watching my back, and when the time comes and we are the final three, they know full well what the plan is.” Barrett smirks and walks off. JB hands it back to ringside.
The most decorated Tag Team in professional wrestling history has made it a clear mountain to climb for any challengers here in the Keystone Wrestling Federation. Tonight James Storm and Robert Roode challenge Bubba and Devon in a match that the Dudleys made famous; the Tables match. The objective to befall your opponent through a Table is a simple task that one must fight to come to fruition. In the KWF we have witnessed The Dudleys administer some dyer punishment to not only their opponents, but to their valets as well. Tonight, can Beer Money Incorporated finally prize the Tag Titles away from The Dudleys or will Bubba and Devon once again prevail in keeping their prestigious Tag Team Gold? We find out next Live at KWF Blogs’ Royal Rumble!
♫The Dudleys music♫ «< click to play) hits and we watch as they make their way to the squared circle. St. Louis roundly boos as JR reminds us that Bubba and Devon were initially looking forward to having Gail Kim accompany Beer Money to the ring tonight. “But all that changed because Kim proved to be a major help for Beer Money on Wednesday Night Turmoil just under two weeks ago.” “Yes JR and so it should have changed. I mean, Gail’s a nuisance and she shouldn’t be allowed out here for any match, let alone a World Tag Title fight.” “William it was The Dudleys who attacked her in the first place. They took Gail out and she came back to give as good as she got. Now the high and mighty Dudley Boyz wanna use their Championship prowess to get our co-Chairs to ban Gail from ringside for this match? It’s one rule for some and another rule for everybody else and The Dudleys are certainly using their experience and their political power to their advantage.” “Wrestling politics has nothing to do with this Jim. I maintain that this is a two on two Tag Team Tables match and the environment is no place for a woman. If anything, the Dudleys just spared Gail Kim’s life.” Bubba and Devon are booed heavily, but boos turn to cheers as ♫Beer Money’s music♫ «< click to play) hits and the Tag Title challengers make their way to the ring. JR says “Tables are set up everywhere and the stage is set. Dudleys versus Beer Money folks and the KWF Tag Team Titles are on the line!” Regal: “Oh I can’t wait, come on Dudley Boys!”
The Dudleys vs. Beer Money – Tables match for the KWF World Tag Team Championships
The bell rings and we instantly see Bubba Ray exit the ring and go to get a Table. He’s stalked by Robert Roode though and Roode slugs it out with him until he takes Bubba over the ringside barricade with a clothesline. The fans cheer Roode on as he climbs into the audience and goes after Ray. However, Bubba takes a beverage from a fan and splashes its contents into Roode’s face. Now the battle between them evens out and we watch as they go back and forth all the way up the stairs within the crowd. Meanwhile back in the squared circle we watch Devon administer a neckbreaker on James Storm before exiting the ring and getting a Table. He’s able to slide it in the ring, but as he gets in we see the Cowboy get up and he DDT’s Devon right on the Table. “That doesn’t count JR, the Table’s not even set up.” Says Regal as JR agrees because Devon didn’t go through the wood. Camera’s catch up with Roode and Bubba backstage and we watch as Roode has control now. He takes a beer bottle from a fan and takes a sip before shouting “This is for you Storm!” and he smashes the bottle right over Bubba’s head. The crowd surrounding the scene love the action as Beer Money have control of this match. Roode looks around and he cannot see any Tables. An oncoming referee, the second that’s just been allocated to the match, tells Roode to take the battle back to the ring. Roode tries to lift Bubba, but he’s dead weight. Spilt screen shows that James Storm meanwhile has set up two Tables in the ring. He’s looking to perhaps perform the Eye Of The Storm, but Devon never lets up and he despicably fights back with a devastating low blow! The fans boo as Beer Money were on the verge of winning the match, but now it seems they’re back on level terms. Devon exits the ring and he steps over the barricade and goes into the audience. The comms tell that he’s going to the aid of his brother and we watch as atop the stairs come Bobby Roode and Bubba Ray. Ray is busted open after that beer bottle shot, but while Roode has control of him, Devon is on the scene and Roode is outnumbered in a two on one. Bubba and Devon work well together to literally beat Roode up in the audience and then we watch as JR screams and the fans scream because The Dudleys throw Roode down the stairs. Roode tumbles down the staircase and the fans boo like hell as The Dudleys eventually throw him over the barricade and back to ringside. James Storm is back up though and he runs to Bubba and Devon to clothesline them both off their feet at ringside. Storm throws Bubba into the ring, but as he goes in Bubba low blows him and Storm takes another shot in the yam bag region. Devon and Robert Roode trade right hands at ringside, but as Roode tries a clothesline, Devon ducks and turns it into a Saving Grace reverse DDT! The Dudleys are back in control and Bubba sets the Tables into position in the ring. Devon gets in and Bubba shoves him and yells “Deeevoonnnn…” He then turns to the fans and puts up two fingers to shout “Screw you!” Bubba and Devon then set to 3D James Storm through a Table but then “Wait, what? That’s…” “That’s Gail Kim! What the blithering heck is she doing here? She was banned from ringside for goodness sake.” “She was banned to come out with Beer Money, but in a Tables match itself, there’s no disqualifications, so anything goes!” Gail is swift to get in the ring and just as The Dudleys administer the 3D, she drags the Table out the way. “That witch! She’s not supposed to be here JR, she just cost The Dudleys the match!” Bubba Ray is furious as he stands up to stalk Gail. Meanwhile we see Roode trip Devon from under the bottom rope and he drags him to ringside and then drops him with a Russian legsweep. Bubba goes after Gail, but she ducks his advances and climbs the top turnbuckle. JR yells “She’s nuts! Get out of here Gail, you’re gonna get yourself hurt!” Kim flies off quicker than a cat and she dropkicks Bubba right on the heart! The fans go wild as Roode gets in the ring, grabs Ray and lifts him to perform the PayOff right through a Table! *DING-DING-DING*
Winners and New KWF World Tag Team Champions: Robert Roode and James Storm, Beer Money.
“They’ve done it! They’ve done it! Roode and Storm have won the KWF World Tag Team Titles!” “Add Gail Kim to that sentence JR, this was a bloody Handicap match!” The audience applaud and cheer as Roode helps Storm to his feet and it’s Gail who hands them both their well earned Tag Team Gold. Beer Money celebrate as if this was their hardest fought for Tag Titles to date. They’ve been through a grueling rollercoaster with The Dudley Boys, but now is their time, they’ve finally won. JR finishes “At the Royal Rumble pay-per-view it seems there’s an overwhelming rumble in the Keystone Wrestling Federation! We’ve had a new Hardcore Champion, new Women’s Champion and by God, now we have new Tag Team Champs! What a night – and we’ve still got the World Title match and the Royal Rumble match to come!”
Backstage we’re with JB as he welcomes back a superstar who made his return to the KWF ring this past Wednesday night on Turmoil. “Chris Jericho you were last seen at KWF’s Survivor Series having survived a hellacious Joker’s Playground match. This past Wednesday you were the surprise opponent for CM Punk, but Punk defeated you and I understand his proclamations as being the Best In The World have certainly gotten under your skin?” Jericho angrily responds “Under my skin? Under my skin?! JB I was the one who carried the WCW Championship for the majority of 2011. I was the one who went held the TNA World Heavyweight Championship toward the end of 2011. Throughout my career I have held every major Championship Belt in this industry and this year in 2012, I will regain my status as the Best In The World at what I do! CM Punk hasn’t done a thing that can compare to my achievements and Wednesday, sure Punk got lucky. But I’m not going to come here with excuses. CM Punk I sincerely hope you win tonight. I do. That way, when I win the Royal Rumble, I’ll be booked for the main event of WrestleMania and that’s where I’ll hurt you most. I’ll take your Title, I’ll humiliate you for the phony that you are and I will prove that I, me, Y2J, am the best in the world. Always have been, always will be. (To JB) See you later, junior!” Jericho exits the scene as Borash sends it back to ringside.
John Cena vs. CM Punk – KWF World Heavyweight Championship on the line
St. Louis is rocking as the entire audience is fully voicing their support for CM Punk. They chant Punk’s name and follow it by yelling ‘Cena Sucks’ but the Doctor isn’t fazed as he shrugs his shoulders toward the fans and waves a You Can’t See Me taunt toward his challenger. CM Punk looks focused as both men lock it up and here we go. Cena corners Punk within the tie-up and he raises a hand to punch Punk twice in the head and then a couple more times in the gut. The crowd boo, but Punk comes back. He throws a forearm in Cena’s face and then a high knee before perching himself on the top turnbuckle and flying off with a clothesline and an instant cover. Punk gets One on the count, but Cena shoves him off right away. JR: “An intense opening to the match and we instantly see the dynamics by which this World Heavyweight Title fight may pan out.” Regal: “Oh no doubt about it JR. For Cena, the bonus here is the chance to hurt CM Punk. Punk’s a gnat in Cena’s world and John wants to squash him for the bug that he is. With Punk’s outlook we’re seeing him try to do exactly what he’s challenging to do and that’s take John Cena’s World Title.” As the contest goes on, we watch as Cena is thorough with his attacks. He throws thunderous punches toward all areas of Punk’s body. He performs his fisherman-like suplex and grounds and pounds Punk throughout. Punk’s reversals come often and Cena is frequently frustrated because Punk keeps following up his reversals with pin-fall attempts. The proverbial clash of styles is intriguing and after Cena kicks out from what must be the 15th pin cover, he exits the ring and kicks the steel stairs. Cena yells at the ref and the comms discuss how angry Cena is becoming with Punk’s offense. Regal: “Punk’s really getting under Cena’s skin JR. I mean what does he think he’s doing? He says he’s the best wrestler in the world, but all he’s hitting is move then pin, then reversal, move, pin again. He’s sending Cena dizzy.” “Well isn’t that what it’s all about William? Winning the KWF World Title?! I agree that this is clearly a tactic by Punk, but after what he’s had to endure these past few weeks on KWF’s Turmoil, I don’t blame him for taking this stance on this match. He’s not at a hundred percent and he’s adapting to facing Cena. You don’t have to beat up your opponent, you don’t have to hit them with every move in the Pro Wrestling handbook. It’s all about the Three-count or the submission and that’s what CM Punk’s going for here!” With JR’s words we see Punk and Cena go back and forth at ringside and it’s Punk who suffers the punishment as Cena launches him hard into the steel stairs. Cena stands to wave yet another taunt in Punk’s face, before backing up to run at him with an attempted knee to the face, but Punk ducks under and crawls under the ring apron. Cena’s knee bangs off the stairs and it hits so hard that the top set of the stairs disconnects and flings off in the opposite direction. JR yells “Good God almighty, what impact. If Cena nailed Punk then Punk’s head would’ve been caved in!” We watch as Punk crawls out from under the ring on the other side. He rolls in and out of the ring to re-start the referee’s count. He then exits the ring, runs along the apron, and just as Cena gets up Punk grabs him by the head and bulldog’s him right over the bottom panel of steel steps! Cena’s face crushes into the steel with an echoing thud and the crowd go wild as CM Punk looks well on his way to winning the Title.
Punk roars to the fans, yelling “It’s nap time!” He sets to pick Cena up, but he’s dead weight. Punk finds it tough to lift the body of Cena, but eventually he’s able to get him up and rolled into the ring. The crowd go wild as Punk gets in to pick Cena up. Regal says “He’s stupid, what have you got to prove you idiot, you should cover him instead!” JR replies “This crowd have been behind Punk all night long and they deserve a superstar finish from the best in the world, come on Punk, finish him!” Punk gets Cena up and over his shoulders for the Go To Sleep, but Cena’s awakened and he elbows Punk right on the jaw. Punk is forced to drop him and as Cena lands, the tides are turned as he goes to lift Punk. However, his knee gives out, the same knee he smashed into the stairs. However, the Champ is swift to adapt and he trips his opponent into the STFU! The audience gasp as they can’t believe how this match has turned around. John Cena’s in control and he may well have Punk dead to rights. Cena pulls back on the chin, administering a world of pain via the STFU. Punk claws as much as he can. It takes all his energy to just about reach the bottom rope. Cena holds the move for the full Five count before letting go, flipping Punk over and covering for a close Two. JR says “Just look at how the match has turned around William. It began with Punk as the one looking for a quick pin, but as the match has gone on it’s Punk who’s become the showman and Cena the one desperate to keep his Title and get this thing over with. What a scintillating contest this is, perhaps the best match I’ve seen since the Hogan/Flair takeover.” Cena gets up to receive even more boos from the fans and he picks Punk up to body slam him down in the centre of the ring before administering the Five Knuckle Shuffle. He covers, hooking the leg, gets One, Two – no, Punk kicks out. Cena gets up fast to intimidate the ref. He goes to pick up Punk, but a small package by Punk – One! Two! – wow, Cena kicks out. Punk and Cena both get up and Cena swings with a clothesline, but Punk ducks. Cena turns and Punk kicks him in the gut. He attempts a DDT, but no, Cena picks him up. Cena picks Punk up onto his shoulders and we fear the worst as he attempts an FU – but remarkably, CM Punk counters the attempted finisher by befalling the Doctor of Thuganomics right into an Anaconda Vise! JR screams as Regal yells “Noooo!” and the crowd go wild! “Punk’s got Cena, he’s got him, middle of the ring with the Vise! This could be over William!” “This can’t be done! Cena’s the strongest man I know, he can fight this. Come on John!” The fans chant Punk’s name as he pulls on the move, but then *BLACKOUT*… The lights in the entire arena go off. Some members of the audience scream, others flash their camera’s trying to spark some light on the situation. JR: “What on earth? Is it Jericho again? What the hell’s going on, CM Punk was about to become the World Champion!” Regal begins to respond but *BONG*… JR: “Oh my God.” *BONG*… there are screams from the fans as the lights come back on. The referee is down and The UnderTaker has CM Punk in Tombstone position! *BOOM* he executes the move and consequently executes CM Punk’s chances of becoming World Champion. The UnderTaker crosses Punk’s arms over his chest, just like a Darkness Pin. The lights go out again with yet another *BONG* and when they come back on, John Cena’s body is over CM Punk’s. A referee races down the ramp and into the ring. The audience explode with a chorus of boos as the ref counts Three and John Cena retains the KWF Championship.
Winner and Still KWF World Heavyweight Champion: John Cena.
The crowd boo like hell as nobody knows why The UnderTaker returned in the manner in which he did. Regal says that he had previously thought that The Absolute Lashley was the opponent for Punk this past Wednesday on Turmoil. That mystery opponent turned out to be Chris Jericho “and when the lights went out tonight I thought Jericho was going to come out here. But it was UnderTaker JR, The DeadMan has returned.” JR: “I’m shocked William, stunned. CM Punk’s lost his opportunity at becoming only the second ever KWF Champion, but it was because of The UnderTaker. What business did Taker have out here? And damn it Cena’s still the Champion!” Cena almost hugs his Title Belt as he exits up the ramp. CM Punk is left laid out.
We see a commercial for Wednesday Night Turmoil, as the show’s theme music video plays over ♫Isolation, by Alter Bridge♫ «< click to watch). This week’s show will include all the fallout from the Royal Rumble, as we begin our breathtaking journey on the Road to WrestleMania. Catch it this Wednesday, and every Wednesday, only at KWF Blogs!
We come back into the arena, where JR and Regal discuss further what we just saw occur in the KWF World Title match. “The UnderTaker is back, and he just Tombstoned CM Punk all the way to hell. And as a result, John Cena is still Champion.” Regal: “Never a dull day in the KWF huh Jim?” Justin Roberts is standing in the middle of the ring. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for the Rrrrroyal Rrrrrrumble match! The match will begin with two participants, and then every ninety seconds a new competitor will come down to the ring, until all thirty Superstars have entered. A Superstar can only be eliminated by being thrown over the top rope and have both feet touch the ground. The winner will be the last man remaining and will receive a KWF World Heavyweight Title match at WrestleMania!” The fans cheer as they eagerly await the first entrant. “Who drew number one?” JR asks as out comes Daniel Bryan. The X-Division Superstar gets a warm reception, and he doesn’t seem too put out by being the first man in. He awaits his opponent, ♫Toss my Salad and Peel my Potatoes♫ «< click to play) and then boos ring around the Scottrade Center as, for the second time tonight, we see Konan. “It’s Konan, Konan drew number two. That guy has already cost Justin Gabriel the X-Division Title tonight, and he has the cheek to enter the Royal Rumble.” Regal: “Have you lost you marbles JR, why shouldn’t Konan be in the Rumble?” JR: “Because he’s a no good cheat.” Regal: “Oh pipe down old man.”
30-man Royal Rumble match
The bell rings and the match begins. Konan smiles at Bryan, as he looks to piss off another X-Division superstar tonight. They lock up, but Bryan goes behind and trips Konan, before attempting to put on a LeBell Lock. Konan scrambles out of it, and isn’t smiling anymore. Regal questions Bryan’s intelligence as grounding Konan and making him tap in this match… “…is about as useful as a thumb sucking kangaroo.” Bryan continues to get the better of Konan, hitting him with kicks, then a shining wizard. He goes for an optimistic throw over the top rope, but Konan blocks it and elbows him away. He goes to punch him, but Bryan grabs the arm and now puts the LeBell Lock on properly. The fans cheer loud as Konan taps out, but of course it means nothing in this match. The clock counts down and the buzzer goes off. Entry No. 3: Jack Swagger! The All-American American heads to the ring to the sound of boos and immediately goes to work on Bryan, breaking the hold and freeing Konan. It’s now a two-on-one beatdown as Bryan is tossed from one to the other, with Swagger hitting a Gutwrench Suplex on him, followed by a corner slingshot splash. Konan grabs him and throws him over the top rope, but Bryan holds on and skins the cat, before hitting a double clothesline. He’s fired up, but not for long as Konan gets up to roll over and leap up to hit a hard clotheline. He and Swagger continue to hurt Bryan as the buzzer goes off again. ♫I hear voices in my head, they council me, they understand, they talk to me!♫ Entry No. 4: Randy Orton! Orton races to the ring as the fans go wild. JR: “It’s Orton! It’s Randy Orton! And The Viper is cleaning house!” The hometown hero is going down a treat as he hits both Swagger and Konan with shots, before hitting a powerslam on Konan and an RKO on Swagger. The fans cheer as he looks energized by them. Bryan gets to his feet not sure what’s going on, and backs off when he sees Orton. They stare at one another and Bryan suggests he’s going after Konan, so Orton decides to take on Swagger. They both attempt to throw their opponents out of the ring, but the struggling takes us up to the next entrant. ♫Awesome!! I came to play!!♫ Entry No. 5: The Miz! Miz takes his time getting to the ring, hoping it will be a couple of participants fewer by the time he gets there. He even circles the squared circle, refusing to remove his jacket. The fans boo as the referees are insistent he enter. He backtalks them, but Orton soon sees what’s happening, so rolls under the bottom rope, grabs Miz, and throws him in, jacket still on. He turns around and Bryan comes off the ropes to hit him with a clothesline. Orton then measures up for an RKO, but before he can he gets a boot to the face from Swagger. Konan is beating on Bryan once again, while Orton is getting double teamed by Miz and Swagger. The buzzer goes off again, to JR’s relief as he hopes this is the cavalry, but to Regal’s relief, it isn’t. ♫Out of time, so say goodbye, what is yours, now is mine!♫ Entry No. 6: Drew McIntyre! Regal champions the Scot as a potential winner. JR questions if he can win entering so early, but Regal points out that when Samoa Joe won KWF’s Rumble two years ago he entered at number 8. “And McIntyre is twice the competitor Joe is. Come on Drew!”
McIntyre gets in and aids Konan in the beating of Bryan, holding him while Konan lays some punches in. However, Bryan ducks one, and Konan hits Drew. Bryan seizes the opportunity and hits kicks to both of them, then grabs Konan to try and eliminate him. He doesn’t quite have the strength, and this costs him as Drew recovers to grab Bryan by the legs and dump him out to the arena floor. Daniel Bryan is eliminated. Konan wipes his brow as he knows how close he came to elimination, but his relief is short lived as McIntyre catches his by surprise and clotheslines him over the top rope. Konan is eliminated. JR: “Wow, the first two entrants have gone already, what a Rumble this is shaping up to be.” “Good one Drew! I told you JR, future World Champion material there.” The clock ticks down as we welcome Entry No. 7:… ♫Sting’s music!♫ The Icon, Sting! JR: “It’s The Stinger! Holy Cow It’s The Stinger!” JR’s excitement is shared by the crowd, as Orton is getting beat down 3-on-1, but not for long as Sting enters and “Whhooooo”’s before knocking down the on-rushing McIntyre, Miz and Swagger. He hits Miz with fists and backhands, before grabbing McIntyre and hitting a Scorpion DeathDrop. Randy Orton, in his home town, joined by Sting, as they stand tall over their three fallen opponents. They look at one another, and it almost seems as if they’re going to trade blows in the spirit of ‘every man for himself’, but before they can Swagger and Miz recover to fight back as we count down once more. Entry No. 8: R-Truth! Truth comes down to the ring and joins in the fun, grabbing Drew and straight away trying to throw him out. He struggles to do so, but gets him over enough so that McIntyre has to use his hand to grab the apron to stop from falling. He kicks back at Truth and gets back in, only for Truth to head against the ropes and come back with the Lie Detector. The fans cheer, as on the other side of the ring, Sting and Orton are fighting back against Swagger and Miz. Sting kicks Miz in the gut, before a running clothesline sends him down. Orton has Swagger in position for the inverted backbreaker, but Swagger gets free and punches him in the face. Orton just looks at him, wipes his mouth, stares angrily, and grabs Swagger by the head before launching him over the top rope and out of the Rumble. Jack Swagger is eliminated. The fans go crazy for Orton as the buzzer hits. Entry No. 9: Evan Bourne! The second X-Division superstar of the match enters, as Evan Bourne runs to the ring. He, somewhat surprisingly, goes after Orton. Regal says it’s a clear example of a small creature going after the biggest and baddest animal trying to assert an authority. With the crowd behind him and the momentum of eliminating Swagger, Bourne obviously feels it’s in his interests to get Orton out. He catches Randy off guard and gets him with some good shots, but soon gets stopped in his tracks by an RKO. Orton just stares at his lifeless body, before helping Sting with Miz. ‘5, 4, 3, 2, 1!’ count the audience *BZZZ!* Entry No. 10: Tyler Reks! Regal: “Oh dear, here comes one of the meanest men I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. I saw him backstage once chewing on a monkey wrench.” Reks doesn’t waste any time as the Hardcore competitor goes after Truth. He backs him into the corner and fires shots into his torso. The ring is looking a little busy with seven competitors filling it up. Elsewhere, Sting and Orton are up against Miz and McIntyre, while Bourne recovers from the RKO. Miz manages to hit Sting with a Skull Crushing Finale. But before he can celebrate it, Bourne is on him and tries to throw him out. Miz fights back and throws Bourne over the top rope. Evan lands on the apron, and lifts his leg to kick Miz in the head. Miz falls as Bourne heads to the top rope, going for Air Bourne. However, Reks sees this and runs over to push Evan, sending him crashing all the way to the floor. Evan Bourne is eliminated.
As Evan leaves, Entry No. 11: Christian Cage! comes out. Captain Charisma comes to the ring now, and he goes straight for Reks. The fans cheer Christian as he knocks Tyler down, before springing off the middle rope and hitting a cross body. The fans aren’t cheering much longer though as a cunning rope pull by Miz sends R-Truth crashing out. R-Truth is eliminated. Miz has a huge smile on his face as he waves bye bye to Truth, who scowls back at him. Miz is ecstatic, as the clock counts down. His expression soon changes. ♫*Breaking Glass*♫ Entry No. 12 is none other than Stone Cold Steve Austin! JR: “Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold is here!” The Rattlesnake comes to the ring, and as soon as he enters, comes face to face with the man they call Sting. They stand in the middle of the ring, almost nose to nose, just staring one another out. JR reminds us of all the bad blood between them recently over the Hogan/Flair takeover. They both blame one another for allowing it to happen. But before they can take their conflict further, they are both blindsided, Sting by McIntyre and Austin by Reks. But they soon turn the tables and start pounding on their opponents. “All hell is breaking loose here, and we’ve got another superstar on the way!” JR screams. Entry No. 13: Christopher Daniels! The Fallen Angel comes down and decides to make quite the entrance, by springing off the top rope and crashing into Christian and The Miz. He looks at his handywork and dusts his hands off, before bumping into Randy Orton, who administers yet another RKO. The fans cheer as Orton is clearly enjoying his night here at home. Sting and Stone Cold continue to beat down on Drew and Reks as the clock ticks down. ♫Hey! Hey! Ooohhh Mr. Backstabbin’ son of a b*tch!♫ Entry No. 14: Panther! The former United States Champion enters, without Kaitlyn by his side, which JR says is sensible. “A Royal Rumble is no place for a woman, who knows who might come flying over that top rope.” Regal: “It certainly would ruin a young gal’s night if she got hit on the head by a falling Miz.” It is indeed Miz who Panther goes after, even finding room for his crowd pleasing Trip-ya, Flip-ya, Kick-ya move. After he’s done, he very nearly turns into an Orton RKO, but as soon as he sees him he falls to the canvas and curls up in a ball. The crowd are amused. Regal: “I thought he was a Panther, not a hedgehog.” Orton just looks on bemused and goes after Christian. *BZZZZ!* ♫If ya smell… What The Rock… is cookin’!♫ Entry No. 15: The Rock! The fans go bananas as The Rock makes his way to the ring. As he gets in we see that Panther is down, Miz is down, McIntyre is down, Reks is down, Christian is down, Daniels is down, and standing tall are Randy Orton, Sting, Stone Cold and The Rock. JR: “What a picture here in St. Louis!” They all look at each other, and Rock heads for Stone Cold. The two old foes trade blows in an incredibly nostalgic scene. The fans are quite literally all on their feet as Rock and Stone Cold go at it, while Sting and Orton finally square off on the other side. Austin tries a Stunner, but it gets reversed and *BAM!* Rock Bottom! “Austin just got nailed by a Rock Bottom!” yells JR and the roof is raised as Rock sets Stone Cold up for the People’s Elbow, but before he runs, Sting grabs him from behind and hits a Scorpion DeathDrop! He looks down at Rock and Austin, but not for long as *BAM!* RKO from Orton on Sting! The fans are screaming louder than ever as their hero, Randy Orton, is the only one standing, surrounded by nothing but fallen bodies. He looks around not knowing who to go to, but as the clock ticks down, the bodies start to rise. Entry No. 16: Low-ki! As Low-ki comes to the squared circle, the ring is getting seriously full. There are now 12 superstars present, and this overcrowding does not go unnoticed. The old hands decide to clear some room, as Rock eliminates Daniels, Sting tosses out Reks, and Austin hits a Stunner on Miz, before Panther dropkicks him out. Christopher Daniels, Tyler Reks and The Miz are eliminated. Low-ki is on a kicking frenzy as he goes after McIntyre, then Christian, and even hits Rock in the head with a spin kick. Meanwhile, Sting is trying to eliminate Panther. He has him over by the corner, and is attempting to dump him out. Panther grabs hold of a turnbuckle pad to keep himself in, but it looks only a matter of time before… wait… “Oh my goodness!!!” JR shouts, as Sting is eliminated. The Icon looks back up, and there is the face of the man who eliminated him staring back. “Stone Cold just tossed Sting out of the Royal Rumble, and he looks damn happy about it!” Regal: “Ha ha, fantastic. I knew that little tiff wasn’t going to end with handbags. So long Stinger.” Sting can’t believe it as Austin flips a bird toward him. Entry No. 17: Kofi Kingston! The Ghanaian enters, but is almost overshadowed as the comms cannot stop discussing Sting’s elimination by Austin. Kofi tries to earn the spotlight early though as he smashes Randy Orton in the face with Trouble in Paradise. Elsewhere, The Rock is brawling with Drew McIntyre, while Christian and Low-ki go at it. Austin is trying to complete the job he stopped Sting from doing, but Panther keeps his claws in the turnbuckle pad. The next countdown is followed by a big explosion on stage and out comes Entry No. 18: Big Show! Regal: “Oh bloody hell, just when we thought we’d solved the overcrowding problem.” Show comes in and starts headbutting everyone in sight. He slaps Christian across the chest, headbutts Rock, and then hits a WMD Knockout Punch on Panther. He roars to the fans, who boo back. Superstars try to gang up on him, but he fights his way out. Show is looking invincible, as Frankie Kazarian makes his way out. Entry No. 19: Kazarian! He flies off the top rope to try and cut down the big tree, but Show grabs him by the throat and Chokeslams him down. Regal: “I bet when young Frankie was imagining how his Rumble might start this year, he didn’t think it would be quite like that, ha.” A lot of men are down as Show continues to take charge. Drew McIntyre is trying to avoid the firing line, attempting to eliminate Christian on the far side. The Canadian fights back, and manages to hit Drew with the KillSwitch! As the next buzzer is about hit, JR tells us that Orton has been in the ring for nearly 24 minutes, and as the buzzer goes off, so do the lights. The fans scream in terror. *BONG*… When they come back on we see standing in the middle of the ring Entry No. 20: The Absolute Lashley! JR: “My God it’s Lashley! That thing called Lashley, UnderTaker’s protégé. That masked horror is here to terrorize the Royal Rumble!”
Lashley is standing just staring at everyone, almost daring them to make a move. Sure enough, the Big Show is the first as he shows no sign of being intimidated, but in almost one movement, Lashley somehow throws him over the top rope and out with relative ease. Big Show is eliminated. JR: “Good Lord. That thing just threw Show out like he was a tin of beans!” Regal: “Err, JR I don’t say this often, but will you hold me?” Lashley gets to work, grabbing Low-ki and throwing him so far out that he nearly lands on the rampway. He looks round and next clotheslines Christian out. Low-ki and Christian Cage are eliminated. The clock is ticking down as The Absolute Lashley continues his dominance. “I’m not sure this person will want to come down here JR.” Entry No. 21: Styler! Sure enough, the British Invasion member comes out, but just stands at the top of the stage, watching on at the havoc Lashley is causing in the ring. The Absolute One has Kofi up in his grasp, and slams him down with a Sitdown Spinebuster, before turning to Panther. They stare at one another, as JR reminds us that before Lashley was demonized, Bobby and Panther were teammates in Edge’s ‘Thundercats’ faction. We can even hear Panther saying “Bobby, it’s me. You still in there buddy?” Lashley just looks at him, before grabbing by the throat and hurling him out of the Rumble. Panther is eliminated. The clock is counting down again, so Styler gets in the ring just before the buzzer goes. ♫I am perfection!♫ Entry No. 22: Dolph Ziggler! Dolph comes down a little quicker than Styler, but not by much, as Lashley is still in destruction mode. The Rock and Stone Cold raised the roof earlier as they fought one another, and they do so against as they team up to try and take down this machine. The both fire him with rights, back and forth. Austin goes to kick him in the gut to set up for the Stunner, but Lashley grabs his foot, then pulls him in and grabs his throat. Rock tries to take him down, but Lashley grabs his throat too, before lifting them up and down for an almighty Double Chokeslam! JR: “Lashley just Chokeslammed two of the biggest superstars this industry has ever seen! Even Rock and Stone Cold together couldn’t stop him!” Ziggler is in attacking Orton, picking off the tired Viper who beat him on Turmoil last week. The clock gets to zero again and out comes Entry No. 23: John Morrison! The Guru of Greatness races to the ring and starts immediately trading blows with Ziggler. They’re at it hell for leather as JR reminds us that these two had a furious rivalry over the Intercontinental Title on Impact SmackDown last year, and it seems the blood hasn’t cooled. Morrison hits a high kick on Ziggler, followed by a quickie Starship Pain. Elsewhere, Kofi is getting beat down by Styler, while Kazarian hits a springboard legdrop of the battered Drew McIntyre. Regal: “Never mind Orton, it’s heroic that Drew is still in there. He came in at six and is still in. And we have Styler here and Wade Barrett to look forward to.” Some of the fans are looking genuinely concerned now as Lashley is controlling the ring, and he looks towards Orton as the clock counts down. Orton is down and looking exhausted having been in the ring for almost 30 minutes. Lashley steps towards him as the buzzer goes off, and once again, so do the lights. JR: “What the? Not again, surely it’s not The Phenom?” The lights come back on and the fans scream as one. The comms are speechless as we see, standing in the middle of the ring, face to face, nose to nose with The Absolute Lashley… Entry No. 24: Masked Kane! Even the other competitors seem to have stopped to see what’s going to happen next. No-one is moving a muscle, until Kane tilts his head. Lashley grabs Kane by the throat, but quick as a flash, Kane pushes his arm away, grabs him, and administers a huge Chokeslam of his own all the way to Hell! The noise is deafening as the fans cheer for Kane. The other competitors look at Lashley, look at Kane, look at each other, and continue the fight. Randy Orton is up and sparring with Styler. He gets pushed away from an RKO attempt, but as Styler tries a Busby Kick, Orton moves and uses the Brit’s momentum to hurl him out. Styler is eliminated. The fans cheer, but that cheer is soon dampened as Dolph Ziggler seizes his opportunity and grabs Orton’s legs, before dumping him over the top rope and out. Randy Orton is eliminated. Orton sits on the mat outside and can’t believe it. All that work and he lost concentration for long enough that Dolph could eliminate him. Ziggler is beside himself with joy and self-congratulation in the ring. He races around cheering, until he gets an uppercut from Kane, bringing another cheer from the crowd. The fans applaud Orton as he heads backstage, coming past the next entrant. Entry No. 25: Shelton Benjamin! Out comes The Gold Standard to the ring, and he gets straight down there, going after McIntyre. He hits rights, then turns a blocked kick into a dragonwhip kick. He hits John Morrison with PayDirt and is all fired up. Meanwhile, Stone Cold is trying to eliminate Kofi Kingston, The Rock is working over Ziggler, but most eyes are in the middle of the ring where Lashley is back to his feet and trading uppercuts with Kane. The two monsters are going at it, and it seems Lashley is getting the better of things. He has Kane up against the ropes, and tries to eliminate him, but Kane fights back and gets away, but Lashley hits a devastating clothesline to ground him. On the far side we see Kazarian trying to eliminate The Rock, but Frankie gets too cocky and Rock turns the tables to send him over and out. Kazarian is eliminated. ‘3, 2, 1’… *BZZZ!!* ♫Get ready to fly!♫ Entry No. 26: AJ Styles! The Phenomenal One is the next participant, and he seems excited to get to the ring as the fans go wild at Styles’ return to the KWF ring. Regal dismisses it as over excitement which will cost him, but JR says sometimes the best defense is a good offense. AJ comes in and straight away goes after Lashley. Regal: “Well that was stupid.” He hits him on the back. Lashley doesn’t flinch, but slowly turns around. He stares right into the very soul of AJ, who looks like he may be regretting that move. We hear a loud shout of “Duck!” to which AJ responds, and from behind him Shelton Benjamin comes flying and hits a forearm smash on Lashley, sending the monster down. The crowd cheer as the former ‘Thundercats’ team up once more to take down their ex-partner. Their reunion doesn’t last long though as Kane attacks Shelton and Stone Cold goes after AJ. Kofi comes close to eliminating McIntyre, and Morrison is back attacking Ziggler again as the clock strikes zero. *BZZZ!!* Entry No. 27: Wade Barrett! Regal: “Here we go. Ladies and gentlemen. I give you your winner of the 2012 Royal Rumble, the soon to be ‘Sir’ Wade Barrett.” JR: “Don’t get ahead of yourself William, check out who’s still in the match, and we’ve still got three more guys to come out here.” Barrett saunters down and eventually gets in to help McIntyre to double team Kofi, and together they dump him out. Kofi Kingston is eliminated. “See that JR? Teamwork. With Wade and Drew in there, they’ll be unstoppable.” Elsewhere, The Rock and Dolph Ziggler are trading fists. Rock is getting the upper hand, but Dolph reverses one and jumps on his back to put on a sleeper hold. Rock stumbles about, looking like he’s fading. That is until he reaches over and grabs Dolph by the hair, launching him over his shoulder, over the top rope and out. Dolph Ziggler is eliminated. The clock ticks down once more as Dolph argues with the officials that he deserves back in as Rock pulled his hair. He’s denied.
*BZZZ!!* Entry No. 28: Jeff Jarrett! Double J makes his way out. JR: “Oh what a surprise, good friend of the co-Chairmen, Jeff Jarrett, got a late number. Come to think of it so did Barrett.” “Quiet JR. You and your paranoia.” “Tell you what Regal, if you’re number thirty then I call shenanigans.” Jarrett gets in and is immediately set upon by Stone Cold to the crowd’s pleasure. Austin beats him around the ring and into the corner, where he stomps a mudhole in him and walks it dry. Meanwhile, Kane and Lashley are dueling again, with neither able to put the other demon down. They tangle by the ropes, and like vultures, a number of the other superstars seize their chance. Rock, Austin, Morrison, Shelton and McIntyre race over and collectively grab and dump both monsters over and out. They both land on their feet, and somehow still in mid-brawl. Neither seems to have even noticed as they battle up the rampway. Kane and The Absolute Lashley are eliminated. JR thanks God they’re gone, but Regal says “You know what, I’m not sure either one had any interest in winning this thing. They’re both just hell bent on destruction, and at the moment it seems to be of each other.” The clock causes the buzzing noise as we’re set for our penultimate participant. ♫Oohh Radio, tell me everything you know!♫ Entry No. 29: Zack Ryder! Regal: “Oh I suppose you’re going to tell me this clown is friends of the bosses now are you?” JR makes no comment other than to say he didn’t expect Ryder here after Long Island Iced-Z got beat down by John Cena after Mr. Anderson allowed him to pick up a shock win against the KWF World Champ a few weeks ago on Turmoil. Ryder plays up to the crowd, and takes down Jeff Jarrett with a Rough Ryder as soon as he enters. The fans cheer, but Ryder isn’t Woo-ing for long as *BAM!* Stunner! The fans still cheer as Austin looks down at Ryder as if to say “Who in the hell are you?” Meanwhile, AJ Styles and Shelton Benjamin are up against Barrett and McIntyre. The four of them are battling it out. McIntyre looks set to hit Shelton with the Futureshock DDT, but Benjamin counters and sends him against the ropes. Styles gets in the way and McIntyre goes for a clothesline, but misses, and Styles nails him with a Pele! Drew stumbles back and Shelton pulls down the top rope, causing the Scot to fall out of the match. Drew McIntyre is eliminated. Barrett then comes over to straight away clotheslines Benjamin over and out as well. Shelton Benjamin is eliminated. AJ looks on in disbelief, before attacking Barrett. The two brawl as the clock counts down for the final time. Regal tries to emphasize how impressive McIntyre’s run was. The Scot was in the match for nearly thirty six minutes. But who is the last entrant as the buzzer hits… ♫Break the walls DOOWWWNNNN!!!!!♫ Entry No. 30: Chris Jericho! JR: “It’s Chris Jericho! Y2J returned to the KWF this past Wednesday as Hogan and Flair’s final challenge for CM Punk, and now it seems as his reward, he’s been given the final number in the Rumble. My God it makes me sick to the pit of my stomach how corrupt those guys are!” Regal: “What, those guys who pay your wages JR? Watch your mouth old man.” Jericho walks slowly and cockily to the ring as the other seven superstars continue to brawl. Austin is up against Jarrett, Rock has taken on Barrett, Styles and Morrison are squaring off in a spectacular duel, and Ryder is waiting for Y2J. Jericho and Ryder come together as the Broski tries to eliminate him quickly. Jericho uses his experience though and hangs on. Rock and Barrett are having a good battle, which ends with Rock hitting a Rock Bottom! He lines Barrett up, and this time is able to perform the most electrifying move in Literary Sports Entertainment, The People’s Elbow! The fans go wild as Rock gets up on fire, so fired up in fact that he races over and clotheslines Jeff Jarrett out of the Rumble, taking him right off the hands of Austin. Jeff Jarrett is eliminated. Stone Cold looks at Rock, who simply stands to taunt ‘Just Bring It’ toward the Rattlesnake. Stone Cold looks like he feels he’s been disrespected, and he gets that feeling even more a moment later as Jericho races over and knees him in the back, sending The Rattlesnake over the top rope and to the arena floor. Stone Cold Steve Austin is eliminated. JR: “No fourth win for Austin, but given his injury history it was an incredible feat he managed as long as he did. Remember he entered at number twelve.” “I told you JR, he’s past it. But it was tremendously funny when he threw Sting out earlier. The look on Sting’s face was priceless! Haha!” Austin looks pissed off, but there’s nothing he can do now. Morrison is trying to get the better of AJ Styles as they are trading off some tremendous moves and really putting on a clinic. JR: “To stay in the Rumble whilst performing these moves is an art and AJ and Morrison are two of the best in the biz.” Regal: “They’re idiots. One slip or one mistake could lead to their elimination.” Morrison attempts his version of the Pele, but a moment later so does AJ, and he succeeds in knocking Morrison into the hands of Wade Barrett, who lifts him up in WasteLand position, and dumps him out of the ring. John Morrison is eliminated. Jericho has gone back to Ryder, and is working him over. Meanwhile, Barrett is fighting with Rock, while Styles tries to recover from his battle with Morrison. Over on the far side, Jericho has lost out in a fist fight with Ryder, and is dangling precariously over the top rope. Ryder almost has him out. The fans are cheering him on, and one last kick does it! Ryder boots Jericho out and celebrates a big elimination. Or has he? Jericho has managed to hang on, and skins the cat, before coming back in and grabbing an unsuspecting Ryder and throwing him out. Zack Ryder is eliminated. Before Jericho can cheer his achievement too much, he has a flying forearm smash from AJ Styles to worry about first, as the Phenomenal One connects to the fans delight.
We are now down to the last four, and once Jericho has recovered, as is tradition, the four men retreat to a corner each. “Wade Barrett, AJ Styles, Chris Jericho and The Rock remain. One of these men will win the Royal Rumble and go on to WrestleMania.” They look to one another, and Rock heads for Barrett as Styles heads for Jericho. Rock throws Barrett against the ropes and hits a flying shoulder block, he then nails a DDT, followed by a kip up. The fans are on their feet for The Rock as he electrifies the Scottrade Center. He grabs Barrett’s legs, and administers a Sharpshooter. JR: “Shades of former Royal Rumble winner Bret Hart! Go Rock!” Regal: “Be quiet JR, this is unnecessary roughness. What has a Sharpshooter got to do with a Royal Rumble?” Rock has it locked on tight, just as Chris Jericho has grabbed Styles by the legs and synched on the Walls of Jericho. Jericho and Rock are face to face as they have their holds locked on tight. Styles and Barrett are both in a great deal of pain, but all the tapping out in the world makes no difference. Jericho stares at Rock while he has the hold on, and then, decides to let go of Styles and slap Rock right across the face. He smiles, until Rock looks back at him. Rock has let go of Barrett and stood up straight, staring a fiery hole into Jericho, who backs up. Y2J panics, and throws a punch. It’s blocked, and Rock comes back with a series of rights, including a final one that sends Y2J sprawling. Rock isn’t messing around now and is set to throw Jericho out. But before he can, Barrett has recovered and raced over to knock him down. Barrett and Jericho double team Rock, trying to work him over enough so that he can easily be tossed out. But it’s not that simple as Rock fights back. He hits both of them back and forth as the fans cheer, but is soon stopped as Jericho kicks him hard with a low blow. This is soon followed by Barrett grabbing him and throwing him out. The Rock is eliminated. JR: “Those damn cheats. Rock had so much momentum and could have won this thing, but that low blow from Jericho was a game changer!” Jericho and Barrett decide to work together again to eliminate Styles, who is still hurting from the Walls. They stand him up, but not for long as Jericho hits a Codebreaker on him. Styles is flat on his back as they both look down and laugh at him. It’s Barrett’s turn now. He goes over and lifts Styles up in WasteLand position, before slamming him down to the canvas. The fans boo as Barrett laughs. He looks over to William Regal, who by now is applauding. As Barrett looks over, Jericho grabs him and throws him out. Wade Barrett is eliminated. Regal: “AAAAHHHH!!!! Nooooo!” Barrett and Regal both look on in shock. Jericho looks down at Barrett and says “Sorry Junior, business is business.” Barrett tries to get back in to attack Jericho, but the referee’s surrounding the ring stop him. Regal has his head in his hands. “The one lesson I forgot to teach that man, never trust a Canadian.” JR: “Serves him and you right, but I’m afraid to say Jericho is likely to be the winner of the Royal Rumble.” The ending is academic as Y2J picks up the limp, lifeless body of AJ Styles and tosses him over the top rope. However, Styles holds on somehow. JR: “I didn’t even think he was conscious. He must be working on instinct.” Jericho tries to release his grip, as AJ’s eyes aren’t even open, he’s just dangling by his fingers. Jericho is trying to prize them off like ripping something from a dead person’s hands. He kicks at AJ, but that doesn’t budge him. He tries biting the fingers, but no release. He decides to come off the ropes and dropkick him, but he just swings out and back again to hit the apron, but he doesn’t let go. So Jericho tries it again. Styles gets his foot on the apron and gets the leverage to pull down the top rope. Jericho goes flying over it and AJ Styles is the winner of the 2012 KWF Royal Rumble!
Winner: AJ Styles!
JR: “He did it! He did it! By God the Phenomenal One did it!!! AJ Styles wins the Royal Rumble! AJ Styles is going to WrestleMania!” Styles collapses back in the middle of the ring as the referee tries to raise his hand. His music plays loud as the Scottrade Center attempts to drown it out with cheers. Regal: “He pulled the ropes down JR, now who’s a bloody cheat?” JR doesn’t dignify that with a response as Styles is soon joined in the ring by fellow Rumble participants and former Thundercat teammates, Panther and Shelton Benjamin. They get him to his feet and raise his arms, before lofting him up on their shoulders. Styles seems to be filled with more energy now, as he tries to process the magnitude of what he has achieved. He gazes out to the fans, and raises his own arms to their cheers, as Shelton and Panther parade him around the ring. He looks up to the WrestleMania sign at the top of the arena, and points up to it as the comms finish. “Ladies and gentlemen, what a Royal Rumble pay-per-view it has been. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading it, because we’ve had one hell of a time producing it! AJ Styles is the winner of the 2012 KWF Royal Rumble. He’s going to WrestleMania to fight for the World Heavyweight Championship! We’ll be there and so will you. Don’t miss Turmoil this Wednesday for all the fallout from tonight, but for now from me Jim Ross, and from my broadcast colleague William Regal, its goodnight from St Louis!” We fade out on the picture of an elated AJ still being hoisted up in triumph.
