What Happened at the 2012 Royal Rumble?

The Royal Rumble is a wrestling Pay-Per-View (PPV) presented by WWE. This years Royal Rumble took place Sunday, January 29 ^th at 8 PM EST. This year marked the 25 ^th Anniversary of the Royal Rumble Match. The 30-Man Royal Rumble Match is an over the top rope battle royal. Meaning that a Superstar must be thrown over the top rope and both feet must hit the floor for that Superstar to be eliminated. This years Royal Rumble winner was the number 22 entrant Sheamus.

Sheamus picked up the victory in the Royal Rumble Match. Sheamus ended up in the final four with The Big Show, Randy Orton, and Chris Jericho. The Big Show entered at number 30 eliminating the number one entrant The Miz along with Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, and Dolph Ziggler. Shortly after eliminating these Superstars, Show was tossed over the top rope by Orton. After eliminating Show, Orton was eliminated by Jericho, leaving him in the final two with Sheamus. Sheamus eventually eliminated Jericho by tossing him over the top rope and knocking him off the apron with a 'Brogue Kick'. This allowed Sheamus to pick up the victory and earn himself a Championship Match at WrestleMania XXVIII.

The Royal Rumble also featured two Championship Matches. The first was between WWE Champion CM Punk and the challenger Dolph Ziggler. The second was between World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan and the challengers The Big Show and Mark Henry.

The WWE Championship Match between CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler featured John Laurinaitis as the special guest referee. Even though Laurinaitis said he was going to screw Punk out of the Championship, Punk over came the odds to pick up the victory. Punk had the Match won when he locked in the 'Anaconda Vice' on Ziggler. Ziggler was tapping but there was no referee to be found. As Laurinaitis was on the outside of the ring checking on the other referee who was knocked off the apron. Punk went over to yell at Laurinaitis and got rolled up by Ziggler. There was still no referee to count the pin fall. Punk picked Ziggler up for the 'GTS' as he was spinning him around he inadvertently knocked Laurinaitis to the outside. Punk connected with the 'GTS' and covered but there was no referee to count the pin fall. Punk picked Ziggler up for another 'GTS' but Ziggler countered with a 'Rocker Dropper'. Ziggler pins but Punk kicked out at two. Ziggler attacked Punk with right hands and elbows knocking him to the mat. Ziggler waited for Punk to get up and got caught with a 'Sling Shot' into the corner. This allowed Punk to go for the cover and get the three count from Laurinaitis and the referee. The three count allowed Punk to pick up the victory and remain WWE Champion.

The World Heavyweight Championship between Daniel Bryan and the challengers The Big Show and Mark Henry was a Steel Cage Match. The Match ended with Henry breaking up 'The LaBell Lock'. Henry tried to throw Bryan into the cage wall but was nailed with a 'WMD' from Show. Show went for the cover but Bryan broke it up. Bryan tried to escape the cage with Show chasing. Bryan was hanging over the cage but Show had him by his neck and pulled him back to the top of the cage. Bryan fights Show off and tries to make it to the floor but Show grabbed him by the wrist with Bryan's feet dangling about the floor. Show was unable to hang on and Bryan fell to the floor. This allowed Bryan to pick up the victory and remain World Heavyweight Champion.

Besides the two Championship Matches the Royal Rumble also featured an Eight Woman Tag Team Match and two singles Matches. The first was between John Cena and Kane. The Second was between Drew McIntyre and 'The Funkasaurus' Brodus Clay.

The Eight Woman Tag Team Match featured the team of Beth Phoenix, Natalya and The Bella Twins (Nikki and Brie) facing the team of Kelly Kelly, Tamina, Alicia Fox, and Eve Torres. The Match ended when Phoenix tagged herself into the Match. Shortly after, Phoenix nailed Kelly Kelly with the 'Glam Slam'. Phoenix covered and got the three count, allowing her to pick up the victory for her team.

The singles Match between John Cena and Kane ended in a Double Count Out. The Match ended with both Superstars fighting up the entrance ramp. Once they were counted out they continued to fight. They fought backstage where Kane took out Cena with four chair shirts. After taking out Cena, Kane realized he was in front of Zack Ryder's dressing room. Kane kicked down the door and attacked Ryder. Kane than wheeled Ryder out to the ring. When Kane got Ryder to the ring Eve ran down begging Kane not to hurt him. Kane responded by nailing Ryder with a 'Tomb Stone'. Kane turned his attention to Eve but Cena came down to make the save. Instead of fighting off Kane, Cena was nailed with a 'Choke Slam'.

The singles Match between Drew McIntyre and 'The Funkasaurus' Brodus Clay was over before it started. McIntyre took the fight to Clay by attacking him in the corner, but Clay shook off the attack and nailed McIntyre with an 'Overhead Suplex'. Clay followed it up with a 'Splash' in the corner and nailing McIntyre with 'What The Funk'. Clay covered and got the three count, allowing him to pick up the victory.

Source:

Royal Rumble Results

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