Sheamus wins 2012 Royal Rumble. Punk and Bryan retain titles

Reported by Earnest I Aguilar

Since 1988, 24 years of Royal Rumble greatness has occurred with some of the greatest special entries, surprise winners, and the craziest way to start the year. The 25th year of greatness continues tonight. 30 men try to claim the one guaranteed ticket to WrestleMania in Miami, Florida. There is only one Road to WrestleMania, the starting line starts tonight, it's Royal Rumble time.

The Royal Rumble entry number with the most wins is No. 27. Big John Studd (1989), Yokozuna (1993), Bret "Hit Man" Hart (1994) and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (2001) all entered with this very number.

Rey Mysterio has the longest recorded time in the Royal Rumble with 1:02:12 in 2006.

Santino Marella has the shortest recorded time in the ring with just 1.9 seconds in 2009.

Tonight, WWE's 25th Annual Royal Rumble is live from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

There are 4 matches scheduled for the event tonight. I cannot wait, I love the Rumble!

We start with a promo video of multiple superstars stating they all want to be able to say, they won the Royal Rumble. The very large entrance is shown with the huge pyro show with the HD screen in the middle. Two large cylinder shaped LED graphic screens on either side with small LED screens below those.

Play by Play tonight will be given by Michael Cole, Jerry "The King" Lawler, and Booker T.

Our 1st Match is Daniel Bryan(c) vs. Mark Henry vs. Big Show in a Triple Threat Steel Cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Triple Threat time, NO friends. Daniel tries to run up the cage wall within 0.5 seconds of the ring of the bell. Bryan is taking out by both men. Big Show works on Henry with multiple runnings of the cage wall. Daniel tries to sneak out but is thrown to the mat by Big Show. Big Show continues to work on Daniel but a dropkick to the knee takes out Bid Show. He then begins to work mark with multiple kicks to the head.

Mark stops Daniel for escaping through the door. Big Show comes in and superkicks Mark to the head. Big Show throws Daniel all over the place; he is flying like a bird. Mark then comes back and takes out Big Show. A missed hit by Mark, a spear from Big Show allows Daniel a quick pin attempt but only gets a 2.

Big Show then tries to chokeslam Daniel. A quick DDT from Daniel allows Bryan to get Big Show to tap. Mark interferes but as Mark tries to slam Daniel, Big Show punches the face off Mark. A pin attempt is broken by Daniel. Daniel tries to escape but is right now caught by Big Show. He is now hanging from the side but one arm. Show has him but Daniel slip to the floor,

WINNER OF THE MATCH is Daniel Bryan via escaping the cage to the floor. He retains his World Heavyweight Championship.

Daniel does his huge celebration as we cut to Sheamus advertising our next PPV, Elimination Chamber. It's not a bad time to show another PPV that's coming up, WrestleMania, and one of the main stars of that card, John Cena. This was a really good showcase of John Cena.

Our 2nd Match is Beth Phoenix, the Bella Twins, and Natalya vs. Kelly Kelly, Alica Fox, Tamina, and Eve Torres.

8 women tag team time, hmmmmmmmm. It's like watching candy. Eve does a nice little dance before taking out Natalya. Tag allows Beth to take out Eve. Beth works Eve more before one of the Bella twins enter. Alicia gets in and both trade shots. Kelly Kelly in and is flying all over the place. Now all the Divas are fighting outside the ring. Kelly Kelly jumps from the top rope and takes out everyone outside the ring.

The fighting has stopped. Beth tags herself in and Glam Slams Kelly Kelly. Pin fall follows for a 3 count.

WINNER OF THE MATCH is Beth Phoenix, the Bella Twins, and Natalya via pinfall.

The events of what happen to Zack Ryder on Raw are shown. Then we cut to Zack entering the arena in a wheel chair. John Laurinaitis walks in to show he got him his own dressing room. Eve then enters and has a few choice words. She then pushes Zack into the room.

Our 3rd Match is John Cena vs. Kane.

John does get a mix reaction from the crowd and also plays to the boos. Both men open up the shots with Kane winning the punching fight but Cena comes back. Now to the outside of the ring (this should have been a no DQ match), Kane pounds down Cena, he then is thrown to the steps. As Kane enters, quick attempt at a slam is countered. Kane then works the head, gets a 2 count pin. Cena fights back but a huge right from Kane knocks him down again. Kick out at 2 for Kane.

Cena again begins to come back with a few punches but is knock down again. Cena tries to hit a bulldog but is thrown to the end of the ring. Cena buys himself some time but is again knocked down with a clothesline. Kane is now trying to choke Cena, but a quick counter tried top Kane. Kane broke the move then hits a sidewalk slam. Kane to the top rope and nails Cena. Chokeslam is missed and hits a few shoulder hits. Kane counters the You Can See Me and deliveries a kick to the head.

Kane props Cena on the top rope, but Kane is knocked down. Cena the flies to the mat with a 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Cena is then kicked out of the ring and both battle up the aisle towards the entrance but the ref has counted them both out.

NO WINNER DUE TO DOUBLE COUNTOUT.

They still continue to fight near the tech area to the backstage. They trade shots but Kane grabs a chair. Shot to the ribs, back, back again, and again but Kane sees Ryder's dressing room, kicks in the door down, Ryder tries to fight but is chocked out by Kane.

He then pushes him to the ring. Ryder then is dumped to the floor and thrown into the ring. Eve then runs to the ring, pleading Kane to stop. Kane ignores the request and laughs as he tombstones Ryder. Cena returns but is chokeslammed. Kane leaves the ring but both Ryder and Cena are still down as medical staff rush the ring.

As they did with Cena, they do a Career promo to the other superstar who will fight John Cena at WrestleMania, The Rock.

Our 4th Match is Drew McIntyre vs. Brodus Clay.

I have a feeling, somebody call Drew's mama. Drew has requested this match so he can be in the Royal Rumble. Brodus does his multiple dances in the ring and controls the match from the start. What the Funk is then hit to end this very quick match.

WINNER OF THE MATCH is Brodus Clay via pinfall.

We find ourselves watching a promo of the shortcomings and power abuse of John Laurinaitis. Judgment Day on Raw for John.

Our 5th Match is CM Punk(c) vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship.

John Laurinaitis, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and the Interim Raw General Manager, will serve as the special guest referee. John has revealed that he plans to screw Punk his title for disrespecting him for multiple months.

John was also told by the WWE Board of Directors via fax that they are concerned about his statement to screw Punk and his status as Raw General Manager is under review by Triple H. Will this play a role in this match? Will he fly straight?

Both Vickie Guerrero and Jack Swagger are banned from ringside.

Before the match begins, John now is claiming he will only officiate the match from the outside and allow a WWE ref to do the officiating inside the ring. Also, Vicki is in the corner for Dolph Ziggler.

Wait, nevermind, John is kicking out Vicki from ringside. Punk gets a quick pin attempt then hits a few body shots. Dolph not fazed and shows off a little. Both men trying to watch for one mistake, one wrong move to get started but Punk wins this battle and Dolph is thrown to the outside of the ring. Punk flies through the middle rope to take out Dolph. Dolph back to the ring, Punk to the top rope but is taking out and falls hard to the middle of the ring. Dolph pins for 2.

8 total, quick elbow drops to the chest of Punk. Dolph hits a sleeper hold but is countered but quickly places Punk the Sleeper again. Drop kick from Dolph gets another 2 count, but Dolph gets caught in the air then a huge slam from Punk gets him a 2 count. Punk with a high knee opens a series of moves, then a running knee to the head, and running bulldog to finish.

GTS is stopped but a cross body that rolled to far almost costs Punk with a 2. Punk goes to the top rope and hits a Flying Elbow but musters a 2 count. Another missed GTS takes out the ring ref. Dolph then arm drags but counters, Punk is able to hit the anaconda Vice and Dolph is tapping, no ref.

Punk is mad, and screams at John. Dolph from behind but Punk counters, rolls Dolph and he gets a 4 count. No ref again. John is trying to get the down ref into the ring. Both John and Punk scream at each other. Punk grabs Dolph for the GTS, spins him but Dolph's leg hit John in the head. Dolph gets out of the GTS again but is still rolled up for a pin for 1-2-3 but no ref still. John is steaming that he thinks Punk kicked him in the head.

Now the ring ref is stirring. Dolph hits a quick move and gets the closest 3 in history but no 3 count yet. The crowd is beyond into the match. I think the roof moved due to the sigh that Dolph didn't get a 3 count. Punk throws Dolph into the top ring buckle, Punk is able to hit the GTS. John runs into the ring and helps count CM Punks pin 1-2-3.

WINNER OF THE MATCH is CM Punk via pinfall to retain with WWE Championship.

Promo of the Royal Rumble facts. I love seeing this promo. Brings back memories of watching this awesome PPV when I was a kid.

Time for the Royal Rumble 2012!

The match is based on the traditional battle royal match, in which a set number of participants (30) aim at eliminating their competitors by tossing them over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor. The winner of the event is the last participant remaining after all others have been eliminated.

The Royal Rumble contestants do not enter the ring at the same time but instead are assigned entry numbers, usually via a lottery, although they can win guaranteed desirable spots via a number of other means, the most common being winning a match or in one certain case for this year, losing a match. The match begins with the two participants who have drawn entry numbers one and two, with the remaining competitors entering the ring at regular 90 second intervals.

The unlucky man that has been selected 1st entry is The Miz. He was given the #1 entry due to a match loss with R-Truth on Raw (1/23/2012).

#2 entry to the Royal Rumble is Alex Riley.

Both men walk to the center of the ring, both glance at the WrestleMania Sign in the background. Alex is the first to try to throw Miz but Miz takes over. Miz gets thrown over the top rope but catches himself. Alex runs to hit Miz, but Miz drops the top rope. Alex goes over.

Alex Riley is eliminated.

#3 entry to the Royal Rumble is R-Truth.

R-Truth gets busy controlling. Few shots and a slam by Truth. More shots to both with Miz getting tossed over the top rope but catches himself again.

#4 entry to the Royal Rumble is Cody Rhodes

Rhodes comes in and takes out Truth. Both Rhodes and Miz work on Truth. Now all three are fighting each other.

#5 entry to the Royal Rumble is Justin Gabriel.

He comes in and flies into Miz and Cody. Cody is able to take out Justin while Miz and Truth fight in the corner. Cody and Justin are trading chest shots.

#6 entry to the Royal Rumble is Primo.

Primo goes right after Justin and takes him out. Cody and Truth trade shots but Miz grabs Truth and throws him over.

R-Truth is eliminated.

#7 entry to the Royal Rumble is Mick Foley

Foley goes after Primo. Primo is thrown over the top rope.

Primo is eliminated.

Foley takes out Cody and nice DDT. Both Foley and Justin try to take out Cody.

#8 entry to the Royal Rumble is Ricardo, Alberto Del Rio's Ring announcer.

Everyone thought it was Alberto, until the car rolled up. He came into the ring in a POS car with broken out windows with plastic duct tape windows. He is trying to sport the same outfit Alberto wears, but let me tell you, its not working out. He then goes after Cody. Justin dropkicks Ricardo but he then tries to fight Justin. Both Foley and Ricardo throw out Justin.

Justin Gabriel is eliminated.

#9 entry to the Royal Rumble is Santino Marella.

Santino has already broken his in ring time from 2009. He goes right after Ricardo. Both men do some weird move that I cant explain. It looked like they were a wheel. He then throws out Ricardo.

Ricardo is eliminated.

#10 entry to the Royal Rumble is Epico.

Both Foley and Santino are trying to hit the cobra and socko against each other. Epico interferes but is thrown out.

Epico is eliminated.

Santino is thrown from the ring and is out.

Santino Marella is eliminated.

Then Mick is thrown over by Miz

Mick Foley is eliminated.

#11 entry to the Royal Rumble is Kofi Kingston

Kingston flies to the ring, takes out both Cody and Miz. He delivers the Boom Drop to both men. Kofi tries to eliminate Miz but Cody stops him. Cody with a drop kick slows Kofi.

#12 entry to the Royal Rumble is Jerry the King Lawler

He comes from the announce table and just take takes both Miz and Cody. Body slams to each man twice. Flying fist from King hits Miz. Cody comes in and throws King over.

Jerry the King Lawler is eliminated.

#13 entry to the Royal Rumble is Ezekiel Jackson

Jackson just dominates everyone in the ring. Showing his huge power. Everyone is down but Jackson. Sidewalk slam to Kofi. He goes to Cody and pounds him down.

#14 entry to the Royal Rumble is Jinder Mahal.

He slowly makes his way to the ring. Jackson is waiting while everyone else is still down. Mahal then takes out Jackson and Kofi. Miz back to hurt Jackson.

#15 entry to the Royal Rumble is The Great Khali.

Oh yea, the tower is here. He now enters and just hurts everyone. He throws Mahal out, then Jackson.

Jinder Mahal Is eliminated
Ezekiel Jackson is eliminated.

#16 entry to the Royal Rumble is Hunico.

He enters with his trusty bike and goes right after Kofi, then Miz, Then Cody. Khali takes out Hunico with one shot. Kofi back after the Miz. Khali works on Miz but Miz takes out Khali.

#17 entry to the Royal Rumble is Booker T.

He now comes from the announcer table. Hahaha, too funny. He directly goes after Cody, and everyone else. He stops when Khali hits him. Cody smiles as Khali hits Booker, Khali then grabs Cody and hurts him.

Miz tries to throw Kofi but he catches himself, then Miz gets the upper body of Kofi outside. Miz throws Kofi's legs to the outside. Kofi is doing a hand stand outside the ring to save himself. He walked himself, via his hands, to the stairs and re-enters the ring. That was really good but John Morrison still holds the best save.

#18 entry to the Royal Rumble is Dolph Ziggler.

He looks mad as he didn't win the title. Vicki walks him to the ring. Kofi still working with Cody but Dolph goes after Kofi. Booker T tries to throw over Hunico but Hunico crawls back in. Khali after Cody. Miz lays in the corner, waiting for this.

#19 entry to the Royal Rumble is Hacksaw Jim Duggan!

HHHOOOOO! 2x4 in hand!. He goes after Cody, Booker. USA chants from the crowd. Duggan clobbers Cody and Miz. Hunico works on Dolph. A cheap shot from behind by Cody gets Hacksaw over the top rope.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan is eliminated. Dang it!

Multiple men try to push Booker over. Cody runs over and throws Khali and Booker over the rope

The Great Khali is eliminated
Booker T is Eliminated

#20 entry to the Royal Rumble is Michael Cole

Your kidding me, nice. He undressed himself to show his ring attire. He is jumping in the ring celebrating. No action as everyone is pretty much trying to push someone over.

#21 entry to the Royal Rumble is Kharma

She's back! Cole looks scared. She looks right a Cole and takes him out. Cole pleads then jumps himself over the top rope. Booker and King walk over and pull Cole to the ground.

Michael Cole is eliminated.

Kharma then slams Dolph to the mat. She then throws over Hunico, Dolph walks up and throws her over.

Hunico is eliminated
Kharma is eliminated.

#22 entry to the Royal Rumble is Sheamus.

He runs and takes out everyone just as fast. Sheamus grabs Kofi and throws him over the top rope.

Kofi Kingston is eliminated.

#23 entry to the Royal Rumble is Road Dogg!

Oh, You didn't know!! Now it's on!! He goes after Cody, Does his dance and puts a hurt to Cody, then works on Miz. Cody goes after Road Dogg.

#24 entry to the Royal Rumble is Jey Uso.

One half of the tag team comes down and goes after Road Dogg, then a few kicks to Miz. Sheamus goes after Cody. Dolph holds on to the ropes as Dogg tries to push him out.

#25 entry to the Royal Rumble is Jack Swagger, the US champion.

He hits the ring and clotheslines one after another. Then goes after Sheamus, and Jay Uso. Everyone is working on someone right now while Cody just lays back. Cody then turns on Dolph. 7 men in the ring at this time

#26 entry to the Royal Rumble is Wade Barrett.

He takes his time while Sheamus tries to throw Miz over. Wade then turns to Road Dogg, throws him over.

Road Dogg is eliminated.

Sheamus and Wade trade shots in the corners while Miz and Jack fight.

#27 entry to the Royal Rumble is David Otunga.

He goes after Cody, Jack and Miz fight in the corner. Miz relaxing in the middle for now. Miz aims at Uso now.

#28 entry to the Royal Rumble is Randy Orton

He storms the ring and the crowd unplugs for the local boy. He goes right after Wade and everyone else. Cody breaks up Randy's RKO. Dolph tries to interfere but double DDT from the ropes to both him and Cody by Randy Orton. Uso then is thrown over by Randy, then Wade.

Wade Barrett is eliminated.
Jay Uso is eliminated.

#29 entry to the Royal Rumble is Chris Jericho.

Let's see if he stays. He is wrestling now! He goes after David, throws him over.

David Otunga is eliminated

Sheamus and Jack battle, Chris and Cody, Orton and Miz. Orton tries to Thrown over Miz but fails to do so.

#30 entry to the Royal Rumble is Big Show.

Oh Man, the curveball is thrown. He helps eliminate Jack from the floor.

Jack Swagger is eliminated.

Big Show then knocks out Jack. Big show then eliminates both Miz and Cody at once.

The Miz is eliminated.
Cody Rhodes is eliminated.

Big Show then throws over Dolph.

Dolph Ziggler is eliminated.

All remaining men attack Big Show at once but they all lose fast. Sheamus and Randy work together to throw over Big Show but Show counters. Randy then just lifts Big Show over the ropes.

Big Show is eliminated.

Then Jericho runs over, pushes over Randy.

Randy Orton is eliminated.

The remaining two men, Chris Jericho and Sheamus. Both ran at each other with Sheamus winning the hits battle. Jericho tries to jump the middle rope but misses his move. Sheamus almost throws him over.

Missile dropkick from Jericho takes down Sheamus. Irish curse back breaker catches Jericho. As Sheamus tries to Keltic Cross Jericho, He counters. Sheamus holds the bottom rope. He is almost gone but hasn't gotten back in. A battering ram over the top rope into the ring takes out Jericho.

Sheamus tries to throw over but isn't able to get rid of Chris. The walls of Jericho is applied after a quick hit from Jericho. He stand in the middle of the ring, waiting. As Sheamus stirs, Jericho gets thrown over, holds the top rope. He then climbs to the top rope. Sheamus is up there too now. They both fall to the apron. Jericho back in the ring, Sheamus back in. Jericho hits the Code Breaker and both men are down. Jericho tries to pin then remembers cant win that way.

Jericho tries to punch Sheamus but he gets all gets mad. Sheamus catches Jericho and attempts to throw him out again. He catches himself again. But a kick the head knocks out Jericho.

Chris Jericho is Eliminated.

Sheamus has won the 2012 Royal Rumble match.

I could not wait for the PPV. It is my favorite of the year. This was a very good PPV. Some legends returned, I had a hunch about Road Dogg since he was at the Slammy's and signed the Legends contract. Hacksaw was just awesome to see.

I still really wish the Kane/Cena match was no DQ but I don't think this battle is over so I might get my wish. If Kane really wants to have Cena show the "hate", a no DQ match needs to happen.

The Next PPV for the WWE will be the Elimination Chamber on 2/19/2012. See you there, what a great start to the 2012 year.

Now, to make sure next weekend, my teams wins the Superbowl. I ain't saying which team, not gonna say it! HAHA good night readers!