Original subtitles

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT,

INC.]

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE

NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,

WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS

CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]

ANNOUNCER: AND NOW, WWE NETWORK

PRESENTS ROYAL RUMBLE KICKOFF.

♪

JONATHAN: OH, THE COUNTDOWN IS

ON.

THE ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA 35

OFFICIALLY BEGINS HERE LIVE

TONIGHT IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

WE ARE AT CHASE FIELD, HOME OF

THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS.

OVER 40,000 FANS FROM THE WE'VE

UNIVERSE WILL BE HERE TONIGHT.

IT'S THE MOST UNIQUE, MOST

EXCITING NIGHT OF THE ENTIRE

YEAR.

IT'S THE ROYAL RUMBLE STREAMING

LIVE ON THE WWE NETWORK.

I LOVE THIS NIGHT SO INCREDIBLY

MUCH, AS DO ALL OF US HERE.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS COACH.

OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS, WE'LL

GET YOU SET AND SET THE TONE

FOR 2019 FOR MANY WWE

SUPERSTARS.

LET'S GET TO KNOW OUR PANEL

HERE TONIGHT.

ROYAL RUMBLE VETERANS, WWE HALL

OF FAMERS.

LET'S START WITH THE MAN IN THE

MIDDLE, MR. "ROOTED

COSMOPOLITANS: JEWS AND THE

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE TWENTIETH

CENTURY."

-- MR. BOOKER TFRPBL.

>> THEY KNOW WHO I AM.

FIVE-TIME CHAMPION AND WE'RE

GETTING YOU READY TO RUMBLE,

BABY.

JONATHAN: SO TO MY IMMEDIATE

LEFT, SHE WAS A PART TO HAVE

FIRST-EVER ROYAL RUMBLE WOMEN'S

MATCH, BETH BETH.

BOOKER T.: THE ROYAL RUMBLE IS

SO NEAR AND -- BETH: THE ROYAL

RUMBLE IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY

HEART.

SPEAKING OF ROYALTY, LOOK AT

THE ROYALTY ON THIS PANEL.

BOOKER T.: I APPRECIATE THAT.

JONATHAN: DO WE HAVE ISSUES?

AND ON THE END, THE ONE AND

ONLY WWE HALL OF FAMER, JERRY

LAWLER JERRY.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL

MEMORIES, ONE IN PARTICULAR OF

THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH?

JERRY: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES WAS WHEN

BOOKER AND IMTEACHED UP TO

DEFEAT MICHAEL COLE IN THE

ROYAL RUMBLE ONE NIGHT.

JONATHAN: I THINK MANY WOULD

SAY GETTING MICHAEL COLE

ELIMINATED FROM ANYTHING IS A

GOOD THING.

ALSO PART OF THE SHOW TONIGHT,

DAVID OTUNGA WILL BE HERE LATER

AND THE HEARTBREAK KID SHAWN

MICHAELS WILL BE HERE LIVE ON

THE SET AS WELL.

WELL, IT'S STREAMING LIVE

TONIGHT.

7:00 EASTERN, 4:00 PACIFIC,

ONLY ON THE WWE NETWORK.

IF YOU'RE NOT A SUBSCRIBER YET,

GO TO WWE NETWORK.COM.

IT IS FREE FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS

AND IN ADDITION TO THE ROYAL

RUMBLE IN THREE WEEKS' TIME,

IT'S WWE ELIMINATION CHAMBER

AND THAT NIGHT FOR THE FIRST

TIME EVER, WE'LL CROWN WWE

WOMEN'S TAG TEAM CHEAVERPS

CHAMPION.

BUT THAT'S IN THREE WEEKS.

WE HAVE BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO

HERE LIVE TONIGHT.

STARTING WITH WWE CHAMPIONSHIP.

A.J. STYLES, HE HELD THE TITLE

FOR OVER A YEAR.

HE IS DESPERATE TO GET IT BACK

BUT DANIEL BRINE SAYS THIS IS

BIG TIME AND HE'S NAUERT --

DANIEL BRYAN SAYS THIS IS HIS

TITLE AND HE'S NOT ABOUT TO

WALK OUT WITHOUT THE WWE

CHAMPIONSHIP.

JERRY: BIG NEWS.

LISTEN TO THIS DUE TO INJURY,

JOHN CENA WILL NOT BE COMPETING

IN TONIGHT'S ROYAL RUMBLE

MATCH.

BUT WE CAN NOW ANNOUNCE AND

TELL THAT YOU BRAUN STROWMAN IS

IN TONIGHT'S ROYAL RUMBLE

MATCH.

[CHEERS]

BETH: AND EXCITEMENT AT CHASE

FIELD KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AS

THE MAN COMES TO TOWN AND THE

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP.

BOOKER T.: TAG TEAM

CHAMPIONSHIP.

I SMELL IT.

HERE COMES THE MONEY.

SHAYNA BASZLER AND THE MIZ --

SHANE MCMAN AND THE MIZ TAKE ON

THE BAR.

BETH: 30 WOMEN WILL BATTLE FOR

A CHAMPIONSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT

WRESTLEMANIA.

JERRY: AND NOW, THE BEAST

INCARNATE IS BACK, BROCK

LESNAR, ALONG WITH PAUL HEYMAN

WILL PUT THE WWE TITLE ON THE

LINE.

BOOKER T.: HERE AT THE ROYAL

RUMBLE -- IN THE RING.

MAKING HER DEBUT.

TONIGHT MAY BE HER TOUGHEST

TEST, AGAINST SASHA BANKS.

RONDA ROUSEY.

JONATHAN: IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE

THAT IT'S BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE

RONDA ROUSEY MADE HER DEBUT AT

THE ROYAL RUMBLE IN

PHILADELPHIA.

LET'S SEVENTH SEND IT TO CHARLY

CARUSO AND J.B.L.

CHARLY: HEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH,

COACH.

WE ARE HERE.

IT IS THE FIRST STOP ON THE

ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA AND THE

ENERGY HERE AT CHASE FIELD IS

INCREDIBLE.

LOOK AT THESE PEOPLE.

ALL I HEAR IS "J.B.L.."

THEY'RE ALL FOR YOU.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE WONDERFUL

MEMORIES OF ROYAL RUMBLE IN THE

PAST.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR

FAVORITE ONE?

J.B.L.: OF COURSE I CAN.

IT TOOK KING AND BOOKER TO

THROW MICHAEL COLE OUT OF THE

ROYAL RUMBLE?

WHAT THE RELL HELL IS WRONG

WITH THOSE TWO HALL OF FAMERS?

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INCREDIBLE

MOMENTS.

ROMAN RANLSE ELIMINATING ALMOST

HALF THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

KOFI KINGSTON DEFYING THE LAWS

OF FILLS I SAID.

WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED AND

I'M EXCITED.

CHARLY: DEFINITELY GOING TO

MAKE SOME NEW MEMORIES AND A

LOT OF THEMES WE SEE OUT OF WWE

MATCHES AND EVENTS AND TONIGHT

I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST IS

RESPECT AND WE'RE ESPECIALLY

GOING TO SEE THAT IN THE "RAW"

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP TONIGHT

BETWEEN SASHA BANKS AND RONDA

ROUSEY.

>> SHE'S FULL OF HER OWN HYPE

INSTEAD OF HUNGRY WITH A DESIRE

TO BE BETTER THAN SHE WAS

YESTERDAY AND BETTER TOMORROW

THAN SHE WAS TODAY.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A

BOSS AND A CHAMPION AND AT THE

ROYAL RUMBLE, I'M GOING TO SHOW

HER THAT THE BOSS HAS TO ANSWER

TO SOMEBODY AND THAT'S ME,

RONDA ROUSEY.

THE WORLD KNOWS I'M A WORTHY

COMPETITOR.

I EARNED MY OPPORTUNITY AGAINST

NIA JAX.

I MADE HER TAP OUT AND THAT'S

EXACTLY WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TO

YOU AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

CHOIM WE TALKED ABOUT RESPECT.

IS SASHA BANKS RIGHT WHEN SHE

SAYS THAT RONDA ROUSEY DUDS NOT

HAVE RESPECT FOR THE "RAW"

LOCKER ROOM?

J.B.L.: NO, SHE'S NOT CORRECT.

ANYTIME SOMEONE COMES IN FROM

ELSEWHERE THEY'VE BEEN VERY

SUCCESSFUL, PEOPLE DON'T LIKE

THAT.

I THINK RONDA ROUSEY HAS GREAT

RESPECT.

TO ME, THIS IS GOING TO BE A

HELL OF A MATCHUP.

RONDA ROUSEY COMES IN AS ONE OF

THE GREATEST, MAYBE THE

GREATEST COMBAT SPORTS ATHLETE

OF ALL TIME, ESPECIALLY AMONG

WOMEN, THE GREATEST M.M.A. DRAW

OF ALL TIME.

WHAT SHE DOES IS BASED UPON

MERMENT AND MERIT THAT SHE HAS

MADE HER CHAMPION AND THAT'S NA

WHAT SASHA BANKS NEEDS TO PAKE

TAKE FROM HER IF SHE WANTS THAT

SAME RESPECT.

CHARLY: OUR DIGITAL PLMPLES

HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THEM.

CASH -- SASHA WAS TRAINING WITH

CHARLOTTE EARLIER THIS WEEK SO

SHE SHOULD HOPEFULLY BE

PREPARED FOR RONDA ROUSEY

TONIGHT.

J.B.L.: SHO SHE SHOULD.

BUT HAM STRENGTH VS. STRENGTH

AND BOTH YOUNG LADIES HAVE AN

INCREDIBLE CARDIOVASCULAR

THRESH HOLD OF THE I THINK THE

DIFFERENCE IS RONDA ROUSEY IS

MUCH MORE PHYSICAL AND A

STRONGER PERSON.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE

THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS MATCH.

CHARLY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BACK TO THE PANEL.

JONATHAN: LET'S CONTINUE THIS

DISCUSSION.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THESE BIG

MOMENTS AND BIG NIGHTS AND THE

ROYAL RUMBLE CERTAINLY IS

THAT.

RONDA ROUSEY HAS BEEN ABLE TO

INSTEAD OF UP MANY TIMES, AS

HAS SASHA BANKS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND HOW

BIG THIS NIGHT IS, WHAT DO YOU

EXPECT TO HAPPEN?

BETCHT: I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING

JFBLE SAID.

THERE'S NO ARGUMENT THAT RON --

RONDA IS AN COMPLETE

THREE-POINT.

SHE'S AN OLYMPIAN AND SHE HAS

BLEEN THE DOORS OFF THE WOMEN'S

DIVISION.

SOMETIMES IT COMES DOWN TO THE

HINGERIEST DOG IN THE FIGHT.

I'VE NOTICEABLE SASHA BANKS

SINCE SHE WAS 16 YEARS OLD AND

I THINK AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE

WE'LL SEE AN UPSET AND SEE

SASHA BANKS WIN.

JERRY: I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED.

ANYTHING COULD HAS BEEN IN A

MATCH BETWEEN SASHA BANKS AND

RONDA ROUSEY.

LIKE WHAT J.B.L. SAID.

RONDA ROUSEY HAS PROVEN SO MANY

THINGS SINCE COMING TO THE

WE'VE.

BOOKER T.: HEY, IT GOES LIKE

THIS.

GAME RECOGNIZES GAME, TALENT

RECOGNIZING THREAFPBLGTS.

SINCE RONDA ROUSEY STEPPED INTO

THE WWE, SHE HAS STEPPED UP.

SHE HAS BEEN UNSTOPPABLE.

ALMOST LIKE HAKEMA OLAJUWON

BACK IN THE DAY.

[LAUGHTER]

JONATHAN: SHE HAS CONTINUALLY,

WEEK AFTER WEEK, DAY AFTER DAY

PROVEN HERSELF HERE IN THE WWE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL

7:00 EASTERN TO GET ACTION HERE

ON THE ROYAL RUMBLE KICKOFF

SHOW.

THE FATAL FOUR-WAY.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THE

ACTION THAT'S GOING TO START

WELL BEFORE THE ACTUALLY

PAY-PER-VIEW BEGINS AT 7:00

EASTERN AND HOW ABOUT THIS?

ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH.

THE UNITED STATES TITLE IS ON

THE LINE.

RUSEV, SHINSUKE.

RUES EVEN IS AS POPULAR A

CHAMPION AS YOU'LL EVER FIND.

WILL THAT CONTINUE AFTER

TONIGHT?

WE'LL FIND OUT RIGHT HERE ON

THE KICKOFF SHOW.

>> I'M MUCH MORE THAN A PRETTY

FACE AND A PERFECT SMILE, AND

GREAT HAIR.

AND A KILLER BODY.

I MEAN, JUST ASK NAOMI.

I WENT AFTER NAOMI'S HUSBAND

JIMMY BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULD

DRIVE HER CRAZY.

I MEAN, SHE DESERVES IT.

>> I KNOW YOU DON'T ACTUALLY

LIKE JIMMY.

>> OBVIOUSLY, I AM WAY OUT OF

HIS LEAGUE.

TONIGHT IS THE PERFECT NIGHT TO

OPEN THE DOORS OF MY CAREER.

WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

MAINLY EVENT, PAY-PER-VIEW

POSTERS, TALK SHOALS.

AND

ONE NIGHT.

AND TONIGHT IT DOESN'T MATTER

WHAT YOUR LAST NAME IS OR HOW

MANY MAIN EVENTS YOU'VE BEEN A

PART OF BUZZ TONIGHT EVERYONE

HAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO PUT

THEIR HAIR UP AND SQUARE UP AND

GO ON TO HEADLINE WRESTLEMANIA.

>> NEARGET AND WHEN THERE'S 29

OTHER WOMEN, IT'S REALLY NICE

TO KNOW THAT THERE'S ONE PERSON

THAT HAS MY BACK.

>> NO, SHE DOESN'T.

>> UNTIL SHE DOESN'T.

JONATHAN: INTERESTING.

IT'S HARD TO PUT THOSE TWO NOT

INTO THE FAVORITE CATEGORY IN

THE 3046 WOMEN ROYAL RUMBLE

TONIGHT.

THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO

COUNTDOWN.

WE ARE UNDER 1:50 IN THE START

OF THE ROYAL RUMBLE HERE

TONIGHT.

SEND IT BACKSTAGE TO KAYLA

BRAXTON.

KAYLA: MOMENTS AGO, DRAKE

INFORMED ME THAT HE SPOKE TO

MR. MCMAHON -- EXCUSE ME,

DRAKE, WOULD YOU CARE TO SHARE

ABOUT YOUR CONVERSATION?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE QUICK.

I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD

TO THE WWE CRUISERWEIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP BUT AT THIS POINT

MANAGER OF I.O.P. AND I HAVE

THEIR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.

BIZARREO WANTS TO BE ONE OF THE

ROYAL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS AGAIN.

I'VE ALSO BEEN INFORMED BY MR.

MCMAHON THAT SO DOES THE RIVAL.

SO THIS ISN'T -- OPPORTUNITY IS

RY CZARO TEAMING WITH SCOTT

DORSON OF THE REVIVAL.

IF IN TEAM WINS, THAT MEANS

BOTH THE REVIVEPL AND I.O.P.

COULD BE IN LINE FOR A FUTURE

"RAW" OPPORTUNITY DOWN THE

ROAD.

CAN YOU HOLD THIS FOR ME?

>> THANK YOU.

JONATHAN: THAT IS QUITE THE

BREAKING NEWS.

I DON'T KNOW.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS EVEN THE

SLIGHTEST POSSIBILITY THAT HE

COULD BE IN LINE WITH THIS PLAN

HERE TONIGHT?

JERRY: NOT ONE BIT OF A

POSSIBILITY.

GOT -- NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

JONATHAN: THESE TWO TAG TEAMS

DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER.

WE KNOW THAT THE RIVAL DOESN'T

RESPECT THE I.O.P. AND I DON'T

KNOW THAT THIS HAS A CHANCE OF

WORKING WHATSOEVER.

BETH: BEING THROWN INTO A

COMBINATION LIKE THAT I'D SAY

THAT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

BOOKER T.: I DON'T KNOW.

DRAKE MAVERICK, YOU SEE THE

CRANIUM ON THIS GUY?

HAVE YOU GUYS LOOKED AT HIM

FROM A PHOTO?

YOU'D THINK HE WAS 6'8".

THE GUY IS SMART.

HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.

JONATHAN: --

JERRY: I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND

HIM.

THAT ACCENT IS WAY OVER THE

TOP.

JONATHAN: PLENTY MORE OF THAT

BREAKING NEWS COMING UP HERE ON

THE ROYAL RUMBLE KICKOFF.

BY THE WAY, I SAID A MINUTE,

50.

IT'S AN HOUR, 50.

SO WE HAVE PLENTY MORE TIME TO

COME.

THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH, TO

PREPARE AND ARE IT -- FOR IT IS

LIKE PREPARING FOR NOTHING ELSE

THE ENTIRE YEAR BUT AT THE END

OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THE

NIGHT, THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH,

IT'S ALL ABOUT NUMBERS.

♪ JO

>> THE ROYAL RUMBLE, THE

EPITOME OF OPPORTUNITY.

OUTLAST THE COMPETITION TO

SECURE A CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ON

THE GRANDEST STAGE OF HEM --

THEM ALL, WRESTLEMANIA.

>> TELL GANT, AND THE GREATEST

EVENT IN LIVE ENTERTAINMENT,

WRESTLEMANIA!

>> THE ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA

BEGINS HERE, AT THE ROYAL

RUMBLE.

THE RULES ARE SIMPLE.

30 COMPETITORS ENTER, EACH

TASKED WITH TOSSING THE OTHERS

OVER THE TOP ROACH.

IF YOUR TWO FEET HIT THE FLOOR,

YOU ARE ELIMINATED.

A FEAT THAT KOFI KINGSTON HAS

DONE HIS BEST TO ESCAPE OVER

THE YEARS.

THIS SPECTACLE HAS HAD A TOTAL

OF 1,110 COMPETITORS WITH 90%

OF THOSE FINDING THEIR TWO FEET

ON THE FLOOR BEFORE THE FIGHT

WHOOO! WAS THROUGH.

OF THOSE 946 ELIMINATIONS, 43

HAVE COME AT THE HANDS OF KANE.

A CHUME CUMULATIVE RUMBLE

RECORD.

THE DISTINCTION OF MOST IN A

SINGLE RUMBLELE -- RUMBLE

EVENT, HOWEVER, BELONGS TO THE

MONSTER AMONG MEN, BRAUN

STROWMAN AS 13 MEN GOT THAT AT

LAST YEAR'S ROYAL RUMBLE.

AMAZINGLY, ONLY 26 INDIVIDUALS

THERE WWE HISTORY HAVE THE

HONOR OF CALLING THEMSELVES A

ROYAL RUMBLE VICTOR.

SIX HAVE MANAGED TO PULL OFF

THIS MONUMENTAL FEAT TWICE, AND

"STONE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN DID

IT AN ASTONISHING THREE TIMES.

>> YEAH!

>> SO WHAT'S THE KEY TO WINNING

THE ROYAL RUMBLE AND WRITING

YOUR TICKET TO WRESTLEMANIA?

SOME WOULD SAY IT'S ALL ABOUT

ENDURANCE.

HOW LONG CAN YOU ASK?

CERTAINLY YOU HOPE TO AT LEAST

GET IN THE RING.

>> OH, MY GOSH, I CAN'T BELIEVE

WHAT I JUST SAW.

>> ONCE YOU DO, YOU'LL NEED TO

GO LONGER THAN SANTINO MORELA,

WHO LASTED A SINGLE SOL TERP

SECOND.

BUT ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE FOR

OVER AN HOUR?

IN 2006, REY MYSTERIO HELD ON

FOR AN INCREDIBLE 62 MINUTES

AND 12 SECONDS TO WIN THE ROYAL

RUMBLE.

>> HE DID IT!

>> THE LONGEST TIME IN HISTORY

FOR A WINNER.

HOWEVER, LAST YEAR DANIEL BRYAN

SHOTTERED THAT TIME, LASTING 76

MINUTES, ONLY TO COME IN THIRD

AT THE GREATEST ROYAL RUMBLE

AND ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE, SASHA

BANKS WAS THE ORIGINAL IRON

WOMAN, SPENDING MORE THAN 54

MINUTES IN THE INAUGURAL

WOMEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE, ONLY TO

END UP IN FOURTH.

OTHERS BELIEVE TO WIN THE

RUMBLE, YOU NEED A LITTLE LUCK,

AS IN HOW LATE A NUMBER DID YOU

DRAW?

CARMELLA AND R TRUTH ARE

CERTAINLY HOPING SO AS WINNERS

OF THE MAX CHALLENGE, THEY'LL

BE ENTERING AT NUMBER 30.

AND WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT 23

WINNERS HAVE EMERGED BY

ENTERING IN THE LAST 10 SPOTS

OF THE RUMBLE, ONLY THREE

WINNERS HAVE DONE SO FROM THE

VERY LAST ENTRY.

SO IS IT ENDURENLS OR LUCK?

THE TRUTH IS YOU NEED THEM

BOTH.

THIS YEAR, THE 32ND ANNUAL

ROYAL RUMBLE EVENTS HEADS TO

THE VALLEY OF THE SUN, WHERE

FROM THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE

ROYAL RUMBLE WILL EMANATE FROM

CHASE FIELD IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA

AND 40,000 MEMBERS OF THE WWE

UNIVERSE WILL WITNESS HISTORY

AS TWO STARS WILL OVERCOME THE

OLDS AND BECOME IMMORTALIZED.

JOTHE ♪ WE GOT

WE GOT THE POWER

>> 1 -- 60 SUPERSTARS, TWO

RUMBLE MATCHES, THE

OPPORTUNITIES OF A LIFETIME.

THE ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA BEGINS

AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

BETH: AND GUYS, WITH -- WHAT AN

AMAZING ANALYSIS.

THE WOMEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE.

30 WOMEN VYING FOR THE

TUFRPBLTS TO CHALLENGE FOR THE

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THEIR CHOOSING.

FOUR EVENTS, 29 OTHER WOMEN CAN

SEAL THEIR WRESTLEMANIA DREAM.

JONATHAN: THERE ARE SO MANY

WORDS THAT YOU CAN USE TO

DESCRIBE THE ROYAL RUMBLE

MATCH.

SKILL, LUCK, ENDURANCE BUT YOU

NEED ALL OF IT TO COME OUT

VICTORIOUS AND LET'S TALK ABOUT

SOME OF THE FAVORITES ON THE

WOMEN'S SIDE TONIGHT.

NIA JACKS CLEARLY WOULD BE THE

FAVORITE.

A YEAR AGO CHARLOTTE FLAIR DID

NOT PARTICIPATE MANY THIS

MATCH.

I THINK SHE'LL BE RIGHT UP

THERE WITH NIA JACKS.

BOOKER T.: CHARLOTTE FLAIR IS

ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE

NEAR THE NIGHT.

IT'S NOT JUST HOW GOOD YOU ARE.

LUCK HAS A LOT TO DO.

BEING AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE

RIGHT TIME -- THE BETTING ODDS

RIGHT NOW IS ALL ON NIA JAX.

IF I WAS BETTING THE SMARTS

MONEY FOR ME WOULD BE FOR NIA

JAX.

JERRY: DID YOU TELL THEM THAT

WE'VE ALREADY BELT?

[LAUGHTER]

HE BET ON NIA JAX, I BET ON

CHARLOTTE FLAIR.

JONATHAN: YOU PARTICIPATED IN

THE FIRST-EVER WOMEN'S ROYAL

RUMBLE MATCH.

WHAT KIND OF WENT THROUGH YOUR

HEAD IN PREPARING?

BETH: OH, MY GOSH, THERE ARE A

MILLION THINGS.

LIKE BOOKER SAYS, SO MUCH OF IT

IS UP TO CHANNELS.

YOU CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH

TRAINING.

A LOT OF IT IS PURE LUCK.

BOOKER T.: EXTRA, EXTRA, HEAR

ALL ABOUT IT.

BETH: HI!

[CHANTING]

>> BREAKING NEWS.

BREAKING NEWS.

BOOKER T.: WHAT'S THE BREAKING

NEWS?

>> I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE,

MYSELF AND CARMELLA, WE ARE

BOTH NUMBER 30 IN OUR

ELIMINATION CHAMBER MATCHES,

DOG.

NUMBER 90, DOG.

BOOKER T.: ELIMINATION CHAMBER?

BETH: THE REAL BREAKING NEWS IS

HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO THROW THE

WORLD'S LARGEST JAIL BREAK AT

WRESTLEMANIA.

BOOKER T.: YEAH, I LIKE IT.

I INVITE ME, DOG.

>> YOU'RE ALREADY INVITED.

JONATHAN: CARMELLA, LET ME ASK

YOU THIS.

I LIKE THE WORD ADVANTAGE.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A

DECIDED ADVANTAGE BECAUSE

YOU'RE THE LAST ONE?

>> NUMBER 30.

Y'ALL ARE BETTING ALL YOUR

MONEY ON CHARLOTTE FLAIR AND

NIA JAX BUT NO ONE IS BETTING

ON CARMELLA.

MELLA IS MONEY, NUMBER 30.

BOOKER T.: AMEN.

[CHANTING]

>> LISTEN, WE GET THE

ADVANTAGE.

WE GET TO WATCH WHAT EVERYONE

ELSE IS DOING.

WE GET TO SEE IF FAMILIAR ANY

ALLIANCES FORMED.

WE HAVE THE OLDS IN OUR FAVOR.

>> WE'RE COMING IN FRESH OFF

THE PRESS.

HANG ON.

I DON'T WANT TO RAIN ON YOUR

PARADE OR ANYTHING.

JERRY: AND I REALIZE THAT

NUMBER 30 IS THE BEST ADVANTAGE

THAT ANY SUPERSTAR CAN HAVE

GOING INTO THE ROYAL RUMBLE BUT

THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT ONLY

THREE SUPERSTARS HAVE WON FROM

THE NUMBER 30 POSITION.

SO DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT

YOU'RE GOING TO WIND UP

HEADLINING WRESTLEMANIA?

>> YES, WE DO!

[LAUGHTER]

THAT'S THE BEST NUMBER.

>> JAIL BREAK!

JAIL BREAK!

JAIL BREAK!

JAIL BREAK!

JONATHAN: ALL RIGHT.

JONATHAN: OK, OK.

R-TRUTH, CARMELLA?

SPEAKING OF -- SPEAKING OF

ADVANTAGES, THERE'S ONE OTHER

MEGAWOMEN'S SUPERSTAR WHO FEELS

LIKE SHE HAS A DISTINCT

ADVANTAGE HERE TONIGHT AND

THAT'S ALEXA BLISS.

>> I'M VERY EXCITED.

I'VE BEEN OUT OF THE RING FOR

ALMOST FOUR MONTHS NOW SO I'M

READY TO GET BACK IN.

I'M REALLY EXCITED.

I WANTED TO BE IN THE MATCH SO

BAD AND SO NOW I'M ABLE TO BE

IN THE MATCH AND IT'S WORKING

OUT PERFECTLY.

AS SOON AS EVERYTHING IS ALL

SET IN ORDER, I'M COMING AFTER

A TITLE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH ONE.

>> MUSTAFA ALI WAS RIGHT WHEN

HE SAID THAT MY EYES DO NOT

LIE.

BECAUSE MY EYES TELL A TRUE

STORY.

THE STORY OF A MAN FUELED BY

ANGER AND RAGE, A MAN WITH NO

CONSCIENCE, ONE THAT DOES NOT

SHARE YOUR PA KNELTIC SENSE OF

MORALITY, A MAN WITH A PERFECT

COMBINATION OF SIZE AND SPEED

AURAL WRAPPED TOGETHER WITH

VICIOUSNESS WHO CANNOT AND WILL

NOT BE MOVED BY ANYONE OR

ANYTHING.

A MAN BUILT TO DESTROY ALL

OPPONENTS, INCLUDING A VIPER

WHO THOUGHT IT WAS WISE TO

R.K.O. ME.

MY EYES TELL THE STORY OF A MAN

BUILT TO WIN THE RILEY RUMBLE

MATCH.

-- ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH.

JONATHAN: AND YOU DON'T THINK

THAT FACE AND THAT MAN IS READY

TO WIN THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH

TONIGHT?

SAMOA JOE, PUT HIM IN THE

FAVORITE CATEGORY.

YOU CAN SEE FANS CONTINUE TO

FILE INTO CHASE FIELD.

OVER 40,000 FROM THE WWE

UNIVERSE WILL BE HERE TONIGHT.

A REMAINDER, WWE ROYAL RUMBLE

IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN PART ANY

TOPPS NOW.

VISIT TOPPS NOW.COM AFTER EVERY

WWE PAY-PER-VIEW TO GET YOUR

FREE TOPPS CARD AVAILABLE FOR

24 HOURS.

CORE BONN -- CORBIN TOLD US

ABOUT BROCK LESNAR --

>> YOU CAN'T BEAT BROCK LESNAR.

YOU KNOW IT, I KNOW IT SO GET

IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE].

>> YOU BETTER RUN!

>> THAT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH YOU

HAVE WITH BROCK LESNAR AT THE

ROYAL RUMBLE, FORGET ABOUT IT.

YOU'RE OUT.

YOU'RE OUT.

HOW'S THAT, HUH?

JONATHAN: CLEARLY BRAUN'S

EMOTIONS GOT THE BEST OF HIM.

WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME AND

THEN HE DECIDED TO DO THIS TO

MR. MCHANNEMAN -- MCMAHON'S

LIMOUSINE.

JERRY: UNBELIEVABLE.

BETH: DOWNRIGHT CRAZY, GUYS.

JONATHAN: AND I WOULD CONSIDER

THAT A COSTLY MISTAKE BY BRAUN

STROWMAN.

AND THEN THAT WOULD LEAD TO A

FATAL FOUR-WAY MATCH TO

DETERMINE BROCK LESNAR'S NEW

OPPONENT AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW

IT, TO THE DELIGHT OF THE WWE

UNIVERSE, FINN BáLOR -- BEAT

THE THREE OTHER MEN AND IN A

TRUE DAVID AND GOLIATH STORY,

TONIGHT WE HAVE BROCK LESNAR

ONE-ON-ONE AGAINST FINN BáLOR.

BOOKER, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HOW THE

DEVELOPMENTS OF THE LAST TWO

WEEKS HAVE LED TO BROCK'S

OPPONENT HERE TONIGHT?

BOOKER T.: SEPARATION IS THE

ONLY LUCK.

RIGHT NOW FINN BáLOR, HE'S

ALMOST JUST SLIPPED ON A BANANA

PEOPLE.

HE'S GOT THAT LOTTERY TICKET.

HE JUST NEEDS TO GO OUT AND

CASH IT IN.

CAN FINN BáLOR GO OUT AND SLAY

THE BEAST?

THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE MOUNTAIN TO

CLIMB BUT FINN BáLOR IS AN

EXTRA EXTRAORDINARY TALENT.

HE CAN DO ANYTHING AND HIS

ENDURANCE, HE CAN GO ALL NIGHT

LONG.

THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE HOW

MUCH CAN HE TAKE TONIGHT?

WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT.

JONATHAN: BRAUN STROWMAN,

BECAUSE OF JOHN CENA'S INJURY

STILL WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY

TO GET TO WRESTLEMANIA AND BE

PART OF THE RUMBLE MATCH

TONIGHT.

FINN BáLOR, THIS IS A TITLE

THAT HE'S NEVER LOST AND FINN

BáLOR HAS FOR THE BEST PART OF

A COUPLE OF YEARS HAS SAID HE'S

A TOP-FLIGHT SUPERSTAR.

TONIGHT HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY

TO PROVE IT.

JERRY: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH

FOR BECAUSE YOU JUST MIGHT GET

IT AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY,

INCLUDING FINN BáLOR WHO WOULD

RELISH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOPE

TO BE IN A MATCH WITH BROCK

LESNAR.

IT'S SOMETHING YOU WOULD TRY TO

AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

BUT THE WWE TITLE IS ON THE

LINE.

I CAN'T GO AGAINST BROCK

LESNAR.

JONATHAN: WE KNOW THAT BROCK

LESNAR, UNIVERSAL CHAMPION, IS

A TICKET SELLER, A MAIN EVENT,

A BIG-TIME TALENT AND IT WOULD

BE EASY TO SAY THAT HE WOULD

OVERLOOK FINN BáLOR HERE

TONIGHT.

IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN I THINK

THERE IS A CASE FOR FINN BáLOR

TO SHOCK THE WORLD AND SHOCK

PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

BETH: WHEN IT COMES TO BROCK, I

DON'T THINK BROCK LESNAR

NECESSARILY UNDERESTIMATES ANY

OPPONENT BUT HE'S PRETTY GOOD

AT JUST EATING THEM ALIVE.

NOBODY IS GOING TO MEET BROCK

FACE-TO-FAILS WITH STRENGTH.

FINN HAS TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER

STRATEGY.

I THINK IF ANYBODY CAN, WITH

MOMENTUM AND A WE'VE SUPERSTAR

CAVENS FIRE AND FINN IS IN THAT

CATEGORY TONIGHT.

BOOKER T.: FINN BáLOR IS GOING

TO HAVE TO SLAY HIM AND NOT GET

WHIPPED.

JERRY: I'VE HEARD THAT

SOMEWHERE BEFORE.

JONATHAN: THE UNIFORM CHAMPION

BROCK LESNAR, WHO'S PROVEN YEAR

IN AND YEAR OUT THAT HE IS THE

ABSOLUTE MAN, TAKING ON A FINN

BáLOR SUPERSTAR WHO HAS TOLD US

TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT HE'S

WORTHY BUT NEVER QUITE GOT BACK

TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.

IT COULD HAPPEN HERE TONIGHT.

BROCK LESNAR, FINISH -- FINN

BáLOR.

>> I FEEL LIKE A CAGED ANIMAL

RIGHT NOW.

>> AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN THAT

DOES EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

>> OPEN A DOOR --

>> YOU CAN TELL FINN BáLOR IS

FIRED UP.

>> AND RUN FREE.

>> THE MIND-TWISTING STYLE ON

DISPLAY.

>> THEY SAY TO SHOOT AN ARROW,

YOU HAVE TO PULL IT BACKWARDS.

>> THE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION.

>> YOU SEE, DAVID, HE'S STILL

IN THE SHADOW OF A GIANT.

THEY SAID YOU'RE HALF THE SIZE

AND THEY LAUGHED IN HIS FACE.

BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO DAVID

WAS.

WHEN GOLIATH FELL, FACE DOWN IN

THE DIRT --

>> COULD IT BE BALOR?

>> IT'S BALOR AND THE BEAST FOR

THE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

♪

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I

PRESENT TO YOU YOUR REIGNING,

DEFENDING, UNDISPUTEDED

UNIVERSAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!

>> YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE EYES

OF AN ABSOLUTE BEAST.

>> ABSOLUTE DOMINANCE

PERSONIFIED.

>> BROCK LESNAR!

YOU CAN'T SURVIVE THE ONSLAUG.

YOU CAN'T SURVIVE BROCK LESNAR!

JONATHAN: AMAZING LOOK THERE AT

LESNAR AND FINN BáLOR.

TIME TO LOOK AT THE TALE OF THE

TAPE AND THE NUMBERS ARE

NOTHING SHORT OF ASTONISHING.

THE WEIGHT, NEARLY 100-POUND

DIFFERENCE.

11 INCHES IN THEIR CHEST SIZE,

THEIR REACH, 10 INCHES.

HOW ABOUT COMBINED DAYS AS

UNIFORM CHAMPION?

FOR FINN, ONE DAY.

FOR BROCK, NEARLY 00 DAYS.

YOU HEARD PAUL HEYMAN'S VOICE

AT THE END OF THAT PACKAGE AND

THE FIRST THREE WORDS OF EACH

SENTENCE WAS YOU CAN'T SURVIVE.

DO WE BELIEVE THAT FINN CAN

SURVIVE THE INITIAL ONSLAUGHT

OF BROCK LESNAR HERE TONIGHT?

BOOKER T.: AND JF CAN I ANSWER

THAT?

I LOOK AT THAT TALE OF THE TAPE

RIGHT THERE.

THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT VS. A

SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT

TONIGHT IN THIS MATCHUP AND I

HAVE TO GO BACK TO EARLY

1990'S.

A SMALL GUY VS. A SUPER

HEAVYWEIGHT.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT MATCH?

HE CHOKED HIS MAN OUT AND

WALKED AWAY THE WINNER.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT COULD

HAPPEN TONIGHT.

FINN BáLOR COULD COME IN WITH A

PLAN, EXECUTE AND WALK AWAY

CHAMPION.

JONATHAN: PLENTY MORE ON BROCK

LESNAR AND FINN BáLOR COMING UP

LATER ON ON THE KICKOFF SHOW.

THAT'S THE "RAW" CHAMPIONSHIP,

WHAT ABOUT THE "SMACKDOWN" LIVE

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT

CHAMPIONSHIP?

WE SEND TO IT CHARLEY LIVE.

CHARLY: THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP

BATTLE IS DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE EVENLY MATCHED

COMPETITORS AND HAVE BOTH

PROVEN THEMSELVES AS CHAMPIONS,

WOULD YOU SAY?

J.B.L.: ABSOLUTELY.

SHAWN MILES IN HI GENERATION

WAS THE -- SHAWN MICHAELS WAS

THE BEST PERFORMER WE HAD.

A.J. STYLES IS THE EQUIVALENT

OF SHAWN MICHAELS.

HE CAN GO 48 MINUTES, 0

MINUTES, WHAT'VE HE HAS TO DO.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A

MATCH TO REMEMBER.

CALL THE ARIZONA P.D., THESE

GUYS ARE GOING TO STEAL THE

SHOW.

BETH: THEY BOTH KNOW THAT

VICTORY TONIGHT IS THE ONLY

OPTION AND IT IS THE NEW DANIEL

BRYAN, PUTTING ASIDE HIS EM

BANCHTE OR FEAR, AS THE TWO GO

INTO THE RING TO CHALLENGE FOR

THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> I DESTROYED THE HOUSE THAT

A.J. STYLES BUILT.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

>> DANLE DANIEL BRYAN WITH A

LOW BLOW.

>> SOMETHING JUST SNAPPED IN

DANIEL BRYAN.

>> I AM CREATING A BRAVE NEW

WORLD.

>> YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW

YOU THE WAY.

THE NEW DANIEL BRYAN!

>> I'VE SEEN SUPERSTARS COME

AND GO.

THEY COME IN HERE AND WIN THEIR

CHAMPIONSHIPS.

AND THEN THEY BECOME

COMPLACENT.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT YOU.

THERE'S AN ANIMAL IN THERE.

I WANT TO SEE IT.

I WANT TO SEE THAT ANIMAL.

OH, YEAH, I WANT TO SEE IT,

A.J.

I WANT TO SEE IT AND I'M GOING

TO SEE IT.

I'M GOING TO SEE IT.

>> I WILL DESTROY THE HOUSE

THAT A.J. STYLES BUILT.

>> WHAT YOU PEOPLE CALL A

CONCESSION STAND BUT THE ONLY

CONCESSIONS BEING MADE ARE --

YOU'RE DESTROYING THE VERY

PLANET THAT GIVES YOU LIFE.

CHANGING THE PLANET.

>> SUBMISSION.

>> YOU TAKE AND YOU TAKE AND

YOU TAKE AND YOU GIVE NOTHING

BACK.

I NEED YOU PEOPLE TO CHANGE.

THE PEOPLE AND THE PLANET NEED

ME.

AND THAT IS WHY YOU HEAR A.J.

STYLES.

I WILL FILL THIS WORLD WITH

SOMETHING BE THAT'S ALL OF

THESE CHILDREN CAN BE PROUD OF.

>> THAT'S A.J. STYLES!

>> STYLES WANTS TO BRING IT

RIGHT NOW.

>> THE CALL FROM MANY OPPONENTS

AND I HAVE SEEN THAT LOOK

THROUGH THEIR EYES.

YOU'RE AFRAID LIKE YOU'RE

AAFRAID OF WHAT'S GOING TO

HAPPEN AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

AND DANIEL, YOU SHOULD.

BUT CORRUPTED YOUR LIFE FOR

THAT ONE THING, THE WWE

CHAMPIONSHIP.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS, DANIEL, WHEN

I TAKE THAT ONE THING AWAY FROM

YOU?

>> IT'S THE WWE CHAMPION 6.

THE NEW DANIEL FLYING.

SLOWING DOWN WITH A.J. STYLES

IN THE CONCOURSE AREA.

>> A.J. STYLES USES HIS POWER

TO GET FAME!

AND GET MONEY!

I USE MY POWER ARE THE ARE THE

GREATER GOOD.

DANIEL BRINE JUST PUT THE

CHAIRMAN IN FRONTS OF HIMSELF.

OH.

>> PEOPLE HAVE NOT SEEN WHAT I

AM CAPABLE OF BUT A.J. STYLES

WILL SEE, HE'LL SEE AT THE

ROYAL RUMBLE.

>> I'M THE NEW DANIEL BRYAN.

BETH: GOSH, WE HEARD A LOT OF

REALLY STRONG WORDS COMING FROM

DANIEL BRYANT.

I THINK HE WOULD BE REALLY

UPSET.

I'M SEEING COTTON CANLED BY, --

CANDY, CHOCOLATE STICKS.

I DON'T THINK HE'D BE VERY

HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

J.B.L.: I WAS IN WRESTLEMANIA

AT NEW ORLEANS WHEN KING WON

THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

TONIGHT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE

GOING TO BE CHANTING YES.

I DON'T THINK DANIEL GRIRNLTE

DANIEL BRYAN CARES.

THE CHAMPION YOU SEE USUALLY

WALKS OUT.

I BELIEVE DANIEL BRYAN WILL

WALK OUT AS WWE CHAMPION.

BETH: IS THAT MOMENTUM

MEANINGFUL TONIGHT?

J.B.L.: I DON'T THINK NEPHEW IT

IS MEANING AFTERFUL.

YOU HAD TWO OF THE BIGGEST

MATCHES IN HISTORY.

TWO OF THE GREATEST COMPETITORS

OF ALL TIME.

THIS IS A COIN FLIP TO HEE ME.

THERE ARE -- THESE ARE TWO OF

THE MOST EVENLY MATCHED.

IT'S LIKE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

IN THE NFL.

I THINK DANIEL BRYAN RETABLES.

CHARLY: ABSOLUTELY.

SPEAKING OF EVIL CONCESSIONS,

CHASE FIELD EARLIER DID TALK

ABOUT A BURGER THEY'REA

RELEASING FOR THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

IT'S 16 OUNCES OF PORK.

THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF STUFF ON

IT AND IT'S EVEN TOPPED WITH

FRIDAY BACK -- MAC & CHEESE

WEDGES.

THAT IS SPECIAL BUT NOT IN THE

EYES OF DANIEL BRYAN.

J.B.L.: I'M ALL WITH THE

VEGETARIANS ON THIS.

COWS EAT THE GRASS, EEAT THE

COWS.

CHARLY: DANIEL BRYAN ABSOLUTELY

HAD SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS

AND WE CAUGHT UP WITH HIM EARLY

IN -- YELL TODAY.

>> IN A COUPLE OF HOURS

THOUSANDS OF TONS OF HUMANITY

WILL BE HERDED INTO THE

STADIUM.

THOSE PEOPLE WILL FORCE

THEMSELVES INTO THESE

REINFORCED STREETS AND

UNDOUBTEDLY MOST OF THEM WILL

BE CHEERING FOR A.J. STYLES.

YET THEN, AS IT IS NOW, THIS

PLACE WILL BE EMPTY.

BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE, JUST LIKE

ALL OF YOU IN THE WWE UNIVERSE,

THEY LEAD EMPTY LIVES.

TOTS LOTS OF TIMES THEY TRY TO

REVIEW FILL IT WITH SOCIAL

MEEBLEDA NEWS.

AND ALL KINDS OF TOXIC POISONS

BUT IT'S NEVER ENOUGH.

THEY KEEP FILING AND FILING AND

FEELING AND THAT'S HOW WE END

UP WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS,

THE CHASE FIELD ROYAL RUMBLE

BURNER.

DOWN HOW MANY AN MARBLINGS HOW

MANY OF YOUR FELLOW EARTH I

THINK SO -- EARTHLES HAVE

SUFFICIENTED FOR THIS?

SHAME, SHAME ON ALL OF YOU.

AND NETTH THERE WILL BE

THOUSANDS AT THE CONCESSION

STAND JUST WAITING TO CLOG

THEIR ARTRIES WITH THAT.

YET SBITHE SPITE ALL THE

SUFFERING AND ALRACE, -- CAL

RILLS THEY'LL HAVE NOTHING

LEFT.

THEN THEY SI -- THINK MAYBE

IRKED LIVE VICARIOUSLY

INFLUENCE ONE OF MY IDOLS.

G WILES, WHEN HE WINS, I WIN.

HIS VICTORY IS MY VICTORY AND

THEY SMING THAT IF HE CAN MEET

ME FOR THE WWE CHAMPION, MAYBE

NOT ALL HOPE IS LOST.

MAYBE IT'S -- THERE'S STILL

ONLY -- SOME GOOD IN THE WORLD.

IF THAT'S THEIR LAST WOKE

HAPPY, -- HOPE, I CAN'T WAIT TO

DESTROY I789.

CHARLY: OH, MY GO, IT LOOKS

LIKE THAT MONSTROSITY OF A

BURGER IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE

MOTIVATION FOR HIM TONIGHT.

J.B.L.: I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT

AT ALL BUT I GET BEHIND THAT

LUMBERJACK JACKET AND BEAR IN

MIND IS ONE OF THE FIERCEST

COMPETITORS TO EVER BE SEEN.

TO TO ME IS GOING TO BE NOTHING

SORT SO OF AWESOME.

CHARLY: COACH, BACK TOMB.

CHARLY: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

A PROGRAMMING NOTE, NEXT

SATURDAY, WWE NETWORK, IT'S WWE

WORLDS COLLIDE.

SUPERSTARS OF NXT AND NXT -- UK

WILL BATTLE IN A TOURNAMENT

WITH THE WINNER FEIST FIGHTER

IF IF A -- FIGHTING FOR A

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THEIR CHOOSING.

WE KNOW THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE

FOR IN-RING ACTION.

TIME TO GET THINGS STARTED HERE

AT CHASE FIELD.

LET'S GO TO RINGSIDE, MICHAEL

COLE, COREY GRAVES.

MICHAEL: YOU'RE LOOKING LIVE AT

CHASE FIELD IN ARIZONA, HOME TO

THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS AND

TONIGHT HOME TO THE 32ND ROYAL

RUMBLE EVENT.

THEY'RE STILL FILING IN.

THERE IS A LINE AROUND THE

BLOCK AROUND THE STADIUM.

AS WE WELCOME YOU INSIDE.

MICHAEL COLE, COREY DRAVES.

-- GRAVES.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE EVENT OF

THE CALENDAR YEAR.

>> I AGREE 100%.

THIS OFFICIALLY KINGS OFF THE

ROAD TO RAIN DENY WRESTLEMANIA.

>> OOH, I'M FEELING IT.

MICHAEL: AND LET'S GET THINGS

UNDER WAY WITH THE "RAW" TAG

TEAM CHAMPIONS.

♪

>> MOMENT?

GLORIA

-- ♪ RING ANNOUNCER: THE

FOLLOWING CONTEST IS A TAG TEAM

MATCH SCHEDULED FOR ONE FALL.

INTRODUCING FIRST, THEY ARE THE

"RAW" TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, THE

TEAM OF CHAD GABLE AND THE

GLORIOUS BOBBY!

MICHAEL: HER FIRST ROYAL RUMBLE

AND YOU AND BETH PHOENIX WILL

HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL

THE WOMEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE

TONIGHT.

>> I'M SO EXCITED TO BE A PART

OF THIS, MAKING HISTORY TONIGHT

AND STARTING THINGS OFF WITH

THIS.

MICHAEL: AND COREY GRAVES AND I

WILL HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO CALL

THE MEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE TONIGHT

WITH JERRY LAWLER, THE

LEGENDARY HALL OF FAMER.

THAT IS GOING TO BE FUN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH

FUN.

THE ATMOSPHERE INSIDE CHASE

FIELD RIGHT NOW IS SURREAL.

YOU COULD SEE IT WHEN THEY

FIRST MADE THEIR ENTRANCE.

THEY TOOK IN AN EXTRA SECOND TO

TAKE IN THE MOMENT.

>> THE WORD IS GLORIOUS,

GRAVES.

RING SPOUNS ANNOUNCER: AND

THEIR OPPONENT, FIRST

ACOMPANIED TO THE RING BY DRAKE

MAVERICK, SHE PART OF O.R.P.,

REZAR!

MICHAEL: DRAKE MAVERICK GOT

THIS MATCH WITH SCOTT DAWSON OF

THE REVIVAL TONIGHT.

AN OPPORTUNITY, IF THEY WIN,

FOR BOTH TEAMS TO GET FUTURE

TAG TEAM OPPORTUNITY.

COREY: A WIN TONIGHT WOULD

DEFINITELY PUT ONE IN TAG TEAM

ACTION.

RING ANNOUNCER: HE'S ONE-HALF

OF THE REVIVAL, SCOTT DAWSON!

MICHAEL: AND RENEE, THIS PAST

MONDAY NIGHT ON "RAW," REVIVAL

HAD AN TUFPBLE.

HAWKINS INSERTED AS THE SPECIAL

GUEST REFEREE AND HAWKINS

CALLED IT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

REKNEE: HE DID.

BUT HERE AT THE REVIVAL, IT'S

AT -- ANOTHER GROWING MOMENT.

CORE CHRIS: VERY CURIOUS TO SEE

WHAT THIS TEAM IS CAPABLE OF.

BOTH GREAT DYNAMICS BUT A

DIFFERENT DYNAMIC WHEN YOU'RE

PAIRED WITH SOMEONE YOU'RE --

YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH.

MICHAEL: AS WE GET SET FOR THIS

MATCHUP BETWEEN THE TAG TEAM

CHAMPIONS.

WE'RE HERE AT CHASE FIELD IN

ARIZONA.

OF COURSE, THE ROYAL RUMBLE

EVENT COMING UP JUST MOMENTS

AWAY.

IT'S A UNIQUE FEEL INSIDE CHASE

FIELD.

WE DON'T DO MANY EVENTS INSIDE

BASEBALL STALMTS BUT IT'S A

REALLY DISTINCT FEEL IN HERE

TONIGHT.

COREY: THE ATMOSPHERE INSIDE

THIS BUILDING IS VERY, VERY

DIFFERENT ASIDE FROM MAYBE A

WRESTLEMANIA.

RENEE: THE ROYAL RUMBLE INSIDE

A BASEBALL STADIUM, THIS IS

AMERICA.

MICHAEL: THE COVER BY GABLE.

HOOK TO THE LEG AND A KICKOUT.

WE'RE ONE HOUR AND NINE MINUTES

AWAY FROM THE 32ND ANNUAL ROYAL

RUMBLE EVENT AND OUR FIRST

MATCH ON THE KICKOFF SHOW.

COREY: GOING TO LOOK TO CUTS

THE RING IN HALF, KEEP DAWSON

AWAY FROM RESAR.

LOOK AT THAT ATHLETICISM.

COREY: AND A KICKOUT.

AGAIN, AND A JACKKNIFE COVER BY

GABLE.

INCREDIBLE CORE STRENGTH BY SAW

-- DAWSON.

ABLE TO FIGHT UP, LOOKING FOR A

BACK SLIDE.

GABLE LANDS ON HIS FACE.

PAID OFF.

CROSS BODY, LATERAL PRESS.

NEAR FALL, KICKOUT BY DAWSON.

AND DAWSON TRY ADD CHEAP SHOT

AT BOBBY.

ROODE.

AND DRAKE MAVERICK SAYING

DAWSON MAKES A TAG AND HE DOES

AND HERE COMES REZAR OF THE

A.O.P.

GREAT DOUBLE-TEAM ACTION.

MAKE SHIRT SHIFT TAG TEAM.

AND COREY, WE WERE TALKING

ABOUT IT BEFORE, REZAR IS THE

REAL DEAL.

COREY: ABSOLUTELY, ONE OF THE

MOST DANGEROUS MEN ON THE WORLD

WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT ROSTER,

PERIOD.

HE'S AS DANGEROUS AS THE DAY IS

LONG.

MICHAEL: LOOK AT THOSE

CROSS-FACES BY REZAR AS GABLE

IS HUNG UP ON THE SECOND ROME.

DRAKE MAVERICK, WHO IS ALSO THE

GENERAL MANAGER OF 205 LIVE AND

LATER ON IN THE SHOW WE'LL HAVE

THE FATAL FOUR-WAY.

REZAR DOESN'T LOOK HAPPY.

COREY: NOT THE BEST

COMMUNICATION TO THIS POINT

BETWEEN DAWSON AND REZAR.

IT TAKES TIME TO MAKE

CHEMISTRY.

GABLE ABLE TO KICK OUT AT TWO.

RENEE: IS IT BETTER TO DO THAT

OR STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW?

COREY: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE AN

ANSWER FOR YOU.

REZAR IS JUST BRUT POWER.

MAYBE DAWSON LEADS THE CHARGE

AND REZAR DOES THE HEAVY

LIFTING.

MICHAEL: DOING A GOOD JOB

KEEPING CHAD OUT OF HIS CORNER

AND AWAY FROM BOBBY RO OFFENSE

DE.

KICK TO THE SPINE AND NOW REZAR

THE LYLE MAN.

COREY: LEGAL HAMMER FISTS FROM

THE ALBANEIAN PSYCHO.

TWO COULDN'T KICKOFF, NEAR

FALL.

WHAT WOULD IT DO FOR THE PSYCHE

OF THE TAG CHAMPS?

>> WHEN YOU'RE THE REIGNING TAG

TEAM, TO COME UP SHORT AGAINST

A TEAM THAT ISN'T FULL TIME,

THAT COULD BE VERY DETRIMENTAL

TO YOUR CAREER.

REZAR IS FUN TO WATCH AS LONG

AS YOU'RE NOT IN THE RING.

I'LL WATCH HIM BEAT PEOPLE UP,

THOUGH.

DAWSON AGAIN.

DAWSON NOW THE LEGAL MAN.

NITIS SUPLEX, HOOK OF THE LEG

AND GABLE KICKS OUT AT TWO.

ANOTHER NEAR FALL.

GABLE REALLY HAS TO MAKE A

CATCH FROM HIS PARTNER BOBBY

ROOD.

CUT THE RING IN HALF.

GABLE TRY TO FIGHT BACK INTO

THIS.

I THINK BOTH SUPERSTARS

COLLIDED INTEREST AND THIS

COULD BE THE TURNING POINT.

IF GABLE CAN SOMEHOW DEBT --

GET TO HIS CORNER.

REZAR, THOUGH, NOT GOING TO

ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN AND THIS

HUGE MAN, REZAR, JUST

OVERPOWERING GABLE WITH ONE

HAND.

LOOK AT THIS.

COREY: GABLE ABLE TO FIGHT OUT

OF IT.

ARMBARS APPLIED.

RENEE: SMART MOVE BY CHAD

GABLE.

MICHAEL: GABLE ABLE TO ROLL

THROUGH, MAKE A TAG AND HERE'S

COMES BOBBY RUUD.

LIKE A ONE-SET MOVIE.

MICHAEL: THIGH BUSTER PLANTING

DAWSON AND RADIOED IS FIRED UP.

BURYING THE SHOULDER INTO THE

MIDSECTION AS THE WORLD IS

TALKING ABOUT THE ROYAL RUMBLE

ALREADY.

OH!

BLOCKBUSTER BY RUDE.

MICHAEL A KICKOUT BY RUDE AT

TWO AND DAWSON WITH A KNEE IN

THE FACE.

AND KNEW A DOUBLE-TEAM COMING

FOR THIS MAKESHIFT TAG TEAM.

COREY: DUSTIN CONNECTS WITH

REZAR.

JONATHAN: OH, AND REZAR WAS

DRIVEN FROM THE ROAMS?

AND A KICKOUT AT TWO!

GABLE'S LEGAL.

COREY: ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP

ROAD.

MICHAEL: CHAD GABLE TAKES OUT

DAWSON.

HERE'S THE COVER, AND THE TAG

TEAM CHAMPIONS WITH THE WIN!

RING ANNOUNCER: HERE ARE YOUR

WINNERS, THE "RAW" TAG TEAM

WINNERS, CHAD GABLE AND RUDE!

MICHAEL: PLENTY MORE TO COME,

INCLUDING FROM "SMACKDOWN"

LIFE, THE UNITED STATES CHAMP

RUSEV DEFENDS AGAINST SHINSUKE.

LET'S GO UP TO OUR ALL-STAR

TABLE, OF COURSE ANCHORED BY

OUR FRIEND JONATHAN COACHMAN.

>> THANK YOU.

A MAKESHIFT TAG TEAM GOING UP

AGAINST CHAD GABLE AND BOBBY

RULED.

THEY TRULY DID BRING IT TO YOU.

J.B.L.: WE COULD SEE EITHER OF

THESE COMPETITORS LATER IN THE

ROYAL RUMBLE.

THE ROYAL RUMBLE IS ABOUT THE

ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA AND

CREATING AN IMPACT.

HEARTS ARE GOING TO BE BONE

BROKEN -- BROKEN AND SOMEONE IS

GOING TO EMERGE OUT OF THIS

>> THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE YOU

CAN WATCH THE ROYAL RUMBLE --

>> DOES ANYBODY HERE EVEN KNOW

WAIT MEANS TO BE ALMIGHTY?

>> THAT MAN LOOKS LIKE HE'S

ALMIGHTY.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO

BE A CHAMPION.

DO YOU?

YOU KNOW, RIGHT?

WE BEAT YOU FOR THE UNITED

STATES CHAMPIONSHIP.

LISTEN, BOBBY LASHLEY WAS MADE

FOR THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

HE CAME HERE TO DOMINATE.

HE CAME HERE TO ELIMINATE AND

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE IS GOING

TO DO.

THIS IS YOUR TIME, BIG MAN.

YOUR TIME.

JERRY: LOOK OUT.

IF YOU DROP A CHAMPION, THAT'S

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT THERE.

IT'S A TRUE STORY.

CHARLY: IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S

ENJOYING THE ATTENTION OUT

HERE.

J.B.L.: HE SHOULD BE.

I LOST THE CHAMPIONSHIP TO

BOBBY LASHLEY.

I KNEW WHEN HE CAME UNTIL HE

WAS DESTINED FOR GREATNESS AND

RIGHT NOW HE'S PRETTY MUCH

CALLED HIS AWARD.

HE FAILED FOR THE ROYAL RUMBLE

AND I WOULDN'T BET AGAINST HIM.

CHARLY: ABSOLUTELY.

TONIGHT WE'LL SEE TWO OF THE

MOST DOMINANT WOMEN IN WWE GO

HEAD TO HEAD.

THE EMPRISS -- EMPRESS OF

TOMORROW, ASUKA, GOING

ONE-ON-ONE WITH BECKY LYNCH

BECKY LYNCH FOR THE SMACKDOWN

LIVE WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE FIRST EVER WOMEN'S TLC

MATCH, RONDA ROUSEY REALLY

PUTTING HER TWO CENTS IN HERE,

SHE DID NOT WANT TO SEE THESE

TWO LADIES WIN.

SHE DID NOT WANT TO FACE THEM.

THEREFORE, ASUKA BECOMING THE

NEW SMACKDOWN WOMEN'S CHAMPION.

JBL: ONCE WE KNOW FOR SURE

RIGHT NOW IS THOSE TWO

COMPETITORS RIGHT THERE, ASUKA

AND BECKY LYNCH ARE COMPETING

FOR THAT CHAMPIONSHIP.

CHARLIE: AND IT LOOKS LIKE

NEITHER OF THEM ARE AFRAID.

WALKING INTO AN EYE WITH EXTREME

CONFIDENCE.

THERE REALLY IS NO TELLING.

CHARLOTTE VALE -- CHARLOTTE

FLAIR COMMODITY SHE IS THE

RIGHTFUL ONE.

JBL: CHARLOTTE FLAIR WANTS TO

INJECT YOURSELF IN THIS

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH.

ASUKA WAS LAST YEAR'S ROYAL

RUMBLE CHAMPION.

SHE WAS TO BE THIS YEAR'S ROYAL

RUMBLE CHAMPION.

SHE'S GOING TO FACE ONE OF THESE

TWO COMPETITORS.

CHARLIE BANK SHE WILL FACE IT IF

SHE WERE TO BE THE ONE TO WIN

THE WOMAN'S ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH.

THERE IS NO TELLING WHO WE COULD

SEE WALKING INTO WRESTLEMANIA AS

THE WOMEN'S CHAMPION.

JBL: ASUKA CAME IN, SHE WAS LAST

YEAR'S ROYAL RUMBLE WINNER.

UNDEFEATED STREAK HERE IN WWE,

YOU DON'T FIND OUT ABOUT

SOMEBODY UNTIL THEY FACE

ADVERSITY COME UNLESS YOU ARE

ROCKY OR FLOYD MAYWEATHER, YOU

DON'T RETIRE UNDEFEATED IN THIS

WORLD.

WE FOUND OUT A LOT ABOUT ASUKA

ONCE SHE FINALLY LOST.

SHE'S A GREAT CHAMPION.

SHE'S FACING A FORMER NUMBER ONE

DRAFT PICK IN BECKY LYNCH.

THIS IS A GREAT MATCHUP ON A

GREAT STAGE.

THIS IS THE PERFECT SET UP FOR

WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN AT

WRESTLEMANIA.

MORE PORTLY TONIGHT, WE ARE

GOING TO SEE ONE HECK OF A

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH.

CHARLIE: -- MORE IMPORTANTLY

TONIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO SEE ONE

HECK OF A CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH.

CHARLIE: RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY

THE ODDS -- I WOULDN'T SAY

STACKED IN HER FAVOR, BUT THEY

ARE NOT LOOKING BAD.

JBL: RIGHT NOW BECKY HAS THAT.

CHARLIE: THE WILL RUMBLE IS LIVE

AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR.

JONATHAN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

WE ARE OFFICIALLY

UNDER 60 MINUTES UNTIL THE START

OF THE ROYAL RUMBLE LIVE.

40,000 FANS CONTINUE TO FILE

INHERENT SHE'S FIELD IN PHOENIX,

ARIZONA.

OUR ROYALTY HAS TAGGED OUT, KING

AND BOOKER ARE GONE.

WE ARE HONORED TO WELCOME OUR

NEW PANEL MEMBERS.

ALL THE WAY AT THE END, --

AND OF COURSE, A MAN WHO NEEDS

NO INTRODUCTION.

HE WON THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH

TWICE, WWE HALL OF FAMER, THE

HEARTBREAK KID.

>> THE WORST DRESSED MAN FOR

THIS PARTICULAR EVENT.

JONATHAN: LET'S BE HONEST, IT'S

ABOUT THE WOMEN'S 30 ROYAL

RUMBLE MATCH AND THE MEN'S 30

-MEN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PARTICIPATE

BUT TO WIN TONIGHT?

-- WHAT DOES IT TAKE, NOT JUST

TO PARTICIPATE, BUT TO WIN

TONIGHT?

SHAWN: MY ANSWER IS I DON'T

KNOW.

EVERY TIME, EVERY 30 PERSON COME

I FEEL IT I'VE BEEN IN THE RING

WITH THEM AT LEAST ONCE.

NOW YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S COMING

OUT.

THAT'S SOMETHING, AGAIN YOU'VE

BEEN IN THE RING AND MIGHT KNOW

WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT YOU MAY HAVE

SOME A COMING DOWN THAT AISLE

YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN THE RING

WITH COME OF IT HAVEN'T SEEN IN

10 YEARS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SURPRISES WE

DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

YOU CAN PREPARE AS BEST AS YOU

CAN BUT YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO

GO ON THE FLY.

JONATHAN: FOR THOSE FANS THAT

HAVE WATCHED OVER THE YEARS, YOU

HAVE HAD THE MOST SPECTACULAR

MOMENTS THAT THIS MATCH HAS EVER

SEEN.

WHEN THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, DO YOU

KNOW WHAT'S COMING, OR DO YOU

KIND OF GO WITH THE FLOW?

SHAWN: I'M VERY BLESSED TO WEAR

SOME OF WHAT I DID I HAD NO IDEA

-- BLESSED TO WHERE SOME OF WHAT

I DID, I HAD NO IDEA.

BEING CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT

ALWAYS WORKS FOR ME.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, I AIN'T

TRYING TO FIX IT.

>> THE ROYAL RUMBLE LIVE

TONIGHT.

7 P.M. EASTERN, FOUR PACIFIC.

IF YOU ARE NOT A SUBSCRIBER,

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

GO TO WWE NETWORK.COM.

IT'S FREE FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS.

YOU ALSO GET, FOR FREE, THE WWE

ELIMINATION CHAMBER.

AND HISTORY WILL BE MADE, WE

WILL CROWN THE WWE WOMEN'S TAG

TEAM CHAMPION THAT NIGHT.

TONIGHT IS A SPECIAL NIGHT.

WE START WITH A MATCH THAT WE

WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE, HOW YOU GET

READY, HOW DO YOU KNOW?

THE ANSWER IS, YOU DON'T.

30 MEN WILL ENTER, ONE MAN WILL

LEAVE, A SHOT AT THE MAIN EVENT

AT WRESTLEMANIA.

ALSO COMING UP HERE TONIGHT, HOW

ABOUT THIS?

DANIEL BRYAN, AJ STYLES.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

DAVID: THE PHENOMENAL ONE WILL

TRY TO RECLAIM THE TITLE OVER

CAPTAIN PLANET, THE NEW DANIEL

BRYAN.

BETH: THEN WE HAVE THE EMPRESS

OF TOMORROW, ASUKA, SHE WILL BE

DEFENDING HER TITLE AGAINST THE

MAN BECKY LYNCH.

TENSIONS HAVE BOILED BETWEEN THE

TWO COMPETITORS AS THEY SET OFF

TO PROVE WHO RULES THE SMACKDOWN

WOMEN'S DIVISION.

DAVID: AND AFTER A BRUTAL HEAT

DOWN ON SMACKDOWN LIVE, WILL

SHANE MCMAHON AND THE MIZ LIVE

UP TO THEIR NICKNAME AS THE BEST

TECH TEAM IN THE WORLD BY

OVERTHROWING THE BAR AND

BECOMING THE NEW SMACKDOWN TAG

TEAM CHAMPIONS?

BETH: WE HAVE ANOTHER FIRST, THE

RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP IS ON

THE -- ON THE LINE IN A MATCH WE

HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING SINCE

RONDA ROUSEY DEBUTED IN WWE, SHE

WILL BE TAKING ON THE BOSS SASHA

BANKS.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE THEM BATTLE.

JONATHAN: AND IN A BATTLE OF

BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS, A TRUE

DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH.

BROCK LESNAR WILL DEFEND THE

UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST

THE MAN WHO CAN DO EXTRAORDINARY

THINGS, FINN BALOR.

BETH: WE HAVE A HUGE WOMAN'S

ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH, ONLY THE

SECOND TIME IN HISTORY.

30 WOMEN WILL DO BATTLE FOR A

CHAMPIONSHIP OPPORTUNITY AT

WRESTLEMANIA.

JONATHAN: COMING UP LIVE, THE

ROYAL RUMBLE STREAMING AT 7 P.M.

EASTERN, FOUR PACIFIC.

RUSEV IS PRIMED TO CLIMB THE

MOUNTAIN.

HE FINALLY GOT THERE.

WE WILL SEND IT BACK TO

RINGSIDE.

♪

[ENTRANCE MUSIC]

[BELL RINGS]

RING ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING

CONTEST IS SCHEDULED FOR ONE

FALL IS FOR THE UNITED STATES

CHAMPIONSHIP.

INTRODUCING THE CHALLENGER, FROM

KYOTO JAPAN -- GENTLE, JAPAN --

KYOTO, JAPAN, HE'S THE ARTIST

KNOWN AS SHINSUKE NAKAMURA.

MICHAEL: WE ARE SET UP FOR THE

FIRST OF MANY CHAMPIONSHIP

MATCHES TONIGHT.

YOU CAN HEAR HAMILTON'S VOICE

ECHOED THROUGHOUT THIS CAVERNOUS

ARENA.

COREY: I HAVE A STRONG FEELING

THAT THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS ABOUT

TO BE RELOCATED TO THE UNITED

STATES OF NAKAMURA.

A UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP

OPPORTUNITY, ON RUSEV DAY.

♪

[ENTRANCE MUSIC

]

RING ANNOUNCER: AND HIS

OPPONENT, ACCOMPANIED BY THE

RAVISHING RUSSIAN LANA, HE IS

THE UNITED STATES CHAMPION, THE

BULGARIAN BRUTE, RUSEV.

MICHAEL: RUSEV SET TO DEFEND THE

UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP.

HIS WIFE LANA WILL COMPETE LATER

ON TONIGHT IN THE READY-WOMEN --

IN THE 30-WOMEN ROYAL RUMBLE

MATCHUP.

RUSEV -- DIDN'T BELIEVE RUSEV

WAS WORTH THE COMPETITION AND

THAT ALL CAME FROM THAT ALL

CHANGED ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

-- ALL CHANGED ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

HE HASN'T LOOKED BACK SINCE.

COREY: RUSEV HAS TO BE CAREFUL

AND BE AWARE NOT TO FALL TO THE

MIND GAMES OF SHINSUKE MY --

SHINSUKE NAKAMURA.

TONIGHT NAKAMURA CAN REALLY

CAPITALIZE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL

ADVANTAGE.

TOM: AS THE WWE UNIVERSE LOOKS

ON THE ROYAL RUMBLE KICKOFF

SHOW, IT WAS AN ALTERCATION

BETWEEN SHINSUKE NAKAMURA AND

RUSEV WHERE THINGS GOT OUT OF

CONTROL.

COREY: LANA PUT HER NOSE AND

SOMETHING THAT SHE DID NOT

BELONG IN.

LANA DECIDED SHE WANTED TO

PROTECT HER HUSBAND WITH A

COMPETITOR OF HIS OWN RIGHT AND

SHE PAID THE PRICE FOR IT.

TOM: A LITTLE LESS THAN 50

MINUTES UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF

THE ROYAL RUMBLE EVENT,

STREAMING LIVE ON THE WWE

NETWORK.

BYRON: SHINSUKE NAKAMURA USE

THAT INCIDENT AS A PLOY.

RUSEV ATTACKING.

TOM: HERE COMES THE LINE OF

BULGARIA, RIGHT TO THE

MIDSECTION.

NOW A THREE TIMES UNITED STATES

CHAMPION.

THIS IS PERSONAL AS WELL.

HOPE TO THE LEG, COVER ON

NAKAMURA.

COREY: HE NEEDS TO STICK TO HIS

GUNS, NOT GET TOO CAUGHT UP

EMOTIONALLY YOU DON'T WANT RUSEV

TO MAKE A MISTAKE THAT YOU WANT

RUSEV TO MAKE A MISTAKE.

-- CAUGHT UP EMOTIONALLY, YOU

WANT RUSEV TO MAKE A MISTAKE.

>> THE FACTORY MAINS LANA PUT

HERSELF IN HARM'S WAY THAT

NIGHT.

YOU CAN'T PUT THAT AGAINST

SHINSUKE NAKAMURA.

BYRON: PEOPLE ARE HOLDING

AGAINST SHINSUKE WHAT HE STARTED

WITH THAT INCIDENT, HE USED TO

TO GET INTO THE HEAD OF RUSEV.

COREY: WHAT GOING ON RIGHT NOW,

SHINSUKE NAKAMURA HAS ANOTHER

OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE UNITED

STATES CHAMPION.

TOM: AND OTHER SUPLEX FROM RUSEV

-- ANOTHER SUPLEX FROM RUSEV.

THERE GOES SHINSUKE.

BYRON: YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHAT

THE BALANCE IS GOING TO BE

BETWEEN BEING EMOTIONALLY IN

CHECK AND EMOTIONALLY FOCUSED ON

YOUR OPPONENT.

COREY: LANA MAY GET WOUND UP

AGAIN AND TRY TO ATTACK

SHINSUKE.

TOM: COME ON.

NAKAMURA KICK RIGHT TO THE FACE

OF RUSEV.

BYRON: NAKAMURA REALIZING HE'S

GOING TO WANT TO GET RUSEV BACK

INSIDE THE RING.

GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE

ENVIRONMENT AT THE MEANTIME.

NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THE

REFEREE'S COUNT.

TOM: ACCOUNT OF FOUR AND GETS

RUSEV BACK INSIDE, BREAKS THE

COUNT FOR THE MOMENT.

-- A COUNT OF FOUR AND GETS

RUSEV BACK INSIDE, BREAKS THE

COUNT FOR THE MOMENT.

NEED TO THE CHEST.

A MASTER CLASS IN PSYCHOLOGICAL

-- COVER -- PSYCHOLOGICAL

MANIPULATION FROM THE FORMER

UNITED STAYS CHAMPION SHINSUKE

NAKAMURA.

BYRON: LOOK AT THE ANGER YOU

HAVE DRAWN OUT OF RUSEV, CAN

NAKAMURA ANGLE RUSEV IN THIS

MATCH?

TOM: WE ARE NOT PUNISHED FOR

ANGER, WE ARE PUNISHED BY OUR

ANGER.

THAT COULD BE THE CASE FOR RUSEV

TONIGHT.

SHINSUKE WILL MAKE HIM PAY.

NAKAMURA, BAD VIBRATIONS, USING

HIS LONG LIMBS.

NOW HAS RUSEV ON THE TOP

TURNBUCKLE.

NAKAMURA RIGHT TO THE

MIDSECTION.

COREY: EVA'S RATING KNEE.

TOM: HOPE TO THE KNEE, INSIDE

LEG, RUSEV KICKS OUT -- HOOK TO

THE LEE -- HOOK TO THE KNEE,

INSIDE LEG, RUSEV KICKS OUT.

YOU HAVE TO EARN YOUR

OPPORTUNITY, OR IN THE CASE OF

WHAT NAKAMURA DID COME UP WITH

OPERA TO GIVING YOU A MATCH.

COREY: YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE

RESULTS -- NAKAMURA DID, --

COREY: YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE

RESULTS.

NAKAMURA DEFENDED IT AS MUCH AS

HE WAS CAN GRANT -- HE WAS

CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO DO

SO.

SHINSUKE CAN SIT BACK AND ENJOY

HIS TITLE REIGN.

TOM: RUSEV SLINGS OFF NAKAMURA.

DROP BY THE SUPER ATHLETE.

-- DROPKICK BY THE SUPER

ATHLETE.

45 MINUTES AND CHANGE UNTIL THE

ROYAL RUMBLE BEGIN STREAMING

LIVE ON THE WWE NETWORK.

IT COULD BE A GREAT RUSEV DAY,

IT COULD BE A GREAT LANA DAY.

BYRON: HAVING LANA AT RINGSIDE

IS GREAT MOTIVATION FOR RUSEV.

HOPEFULLY IS NOT BUILT AROUND

WHAT HAPPENED AT -- HAPPENED TO

LANA.

SHE WILL GET A CHANCE TO DEFEND

HER HONOR.

TOM: NAKAMURA CAUGHT IN THE

FALLAWAY SLAM.

NOW RUSEV TAUNTING.

A KICK FROM THE SUPER ATHLETE.

COVER TO RETAIN THE TITLE, AND A

KICKOUT.

COREY: DETERMINED AND FOCUSED

LOOK ON THE FACE OF RUSEV.

TOM: I SEE FRUSTRATION.

RUSEV IS STARTING QUESTION WHAT

DO I HAVE TO DO TO PUT NAKAMURA

AWAY?

RUSEV HAS TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO

BECOME OVERLY EMOTIONAL.

WE UNDERSTAND HE'S FIGHTING FOR

THE HONOR OF HIS WIFE.

REMEMBER NAKAMURA AND THE UNITED

STATES CHAMPION.

COREY: SHINSUKE ROLLING WILDLY

TO THE OUTSIDE.

BYRON: PUNCH RIGHT TO THE SIDE

OF THE FACE.

TOM: NAKAMURA ON THE OUTSIDE,

RUSEV IS CALLING FOR IT.

A CALL AND A KICK BY NAKAMURA.

BYRON: THE LETHAL STRIKING

ABILITY OF NAKAMURA.

TOM: WHAT A KICK BY RUSEV.

THIS COULD DO IT.

TO HOLD ONTO THE TITLE, AND A

KICKOUT.

COREY: THAT WAS CLOSE, THAT WAS

REALLY CLOSE.

YOU CAN SEE THE FRUSTRATION NOW

VISIBLE ON THE FACE OF THE

CHAMPION.

MEANWHILE, A BIT DAZED AT THE

MOMENT AS RUSEV GETS BACK UP TO

HIS FEET WITH PURPOSE.

TOM: I THINK RUSEV KNOWS EXACTLY

WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

SHOT TO THE SPINE AND NAKAMURA

SAW THE ACCOLADE COMING.

HE BRINGS AND -- BRINGS RUSEV

DOWN TO HIS KNEES.

RIGHT TO THE SIDE OF THE FACE.

NAKAMURA, TO WIN THE UNITED

STATES CHAMPIONSHIP.

KICKOUT.

RUSEV STAYING ALIVE.

COREY: JUST BARELY, NAKAMURA

COULD TASTE THE UNITED STATES

CHAMPIONSHIP.

SHINSUKE NOW IT NEEDS TO STAY

THE COURSE, KEEP HIS FOOT ON THE

GAS PEDAL, DO NOT RELENT.

-- NOW NEEDS TO STAY THE COURSE,

KEEP HIS FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL,

DO NOT RELENT.

NAKAMURA THINKING ABOUT IT,

RUSEV GETTING BACK TO HIS FEET.

COULD THIS BE THE END OF HIS

UNITED STATES TITLE REIGN?

LOOKING FOR THE MATCHKA KICK.

COREY: DOUBLE ASKED KENDALL --

DOUBLE AXE HANDLE TO TURN

SHINSUKE INSIDE OUT.

TOM: AND THE KICK.

RUSEV IS CALLING FOR IT AGAIN.

RUSEV JUST THRASHED NAKAMURA.

COREY: SHINSUKE'S GOT AN ARM

BAR.

RUSEV TRYING TO FIGHT IT.

SHINSUKE DOESN'T HAVE THE ON

COMPLETELY STRAIGHTENED.

TOM: LOCKING HIS HANDS.

NAKAMURA TURNS IT AROUND.

COREY: RUSEV IS AN A LOT OF

JEOPARDY RIGHT NOW.

SHINSUKE HAS TO BE CAREFUL NOT

TO PUT HIS OWN SHOULDERS ONTO

THE MAT.

TOM: NAKAMURA, SLOWLY IT LOOKS

LIKE RECEPTORS FADING -- LIKE

RUSEV IS FADING TO NAKAMURA.

WHAT A MOMENT ON THE ROYAL

RUMBLE KICKOFF SHOW.

BYRON: HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S BACK

ON HIS FEET.

OH.

TOM: RUSEV TRYING TO LIFT HIM

UP, THERE IS THE ONE COUNT.

STILL NAKAMURA HOLDING ON.

COREY: HE CONTINUES TO STICK --

HE CONTINUES TO SQUEEZE THE

TRIANGLE.

TOM: LOOK AT THE ANKLE.

AND STILL RUSEV POWERING OUT.

-- THE ANGLE.

AND STILL RUSEV POWERING UP.

BYRON: THAT ONE LAST GASP OF

RUSEV.

TOM: THE UNIT STATES CHAMPION --

UNITED STATES CHAMPION HOLDING

ON.

AND A SUPLEX BY RUSEV, COLLAPSES

INTO A COVER.

HOAX THE LEG ON NAKAMURA --

HOOKS THE LEG ON NAKAMURA.

COREY: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PURE

MUSCLE, ALMOST INTO A JACKHAMMER

-LIKE MANEUVER.

CANNOT KEEP HIM DOWN FOR THREE.

BYRON: YOU SAY HOW MUCH THAT

MANEUVER TOOK OUT OF THE

CHAMPION.

HE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT

OF TIME INSIDE NAKAMURA'S

TRIANGLE.

THERE'S NO WAY RUSEV IS FEELING

100% AFTER THAT.

TOM: NOW RESULT TRIED TO WORK

HIS WAY BACK UP TO HIS FEET,

TOSSES NAKAMURA IN THE CORNER.

-- RUSEV TRYING TO WORK HIS WAY

BACK UP TO HIS FEET, TOSSES

NAKAMURA IN THE CORNER.

COREY: THIS IS SOMEWHAT

UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY FOR RUSEV.

TOM: NAKAMURA IS ABLE TO SLIP

FREE, AND FACE FIRST INTO THE

TURNBUCKLE.

A GREAT MOVE BY SHINSUKE

NAKAMURA.

LOOK AT THE POWER.

NAKAMURA TO WIN THE UNITED

STATES TITLE.

RIGHT SHOULDER OFF OF THE MAT.

COREY: THE CHALLENGER NOW

FEELING THE FRUSTRATION OF NOT

BEING ABLE TO PUT THROUGH

SEVERAL WAY -- PUT RUSEV AWAY.

THE CHAMPION FIGHTS ON.

COREY: HOLD ON A SECOND -- TOM:

HOLD ON A SECOND.

BYRON: NAKAMURA IS TRYING TO

UNTIE THE TURNBUCKLE PAD.

>> OH NO.

TOM: TO THE BACK OF THE NECK.

NAKAMURA, CAN HE TAKE ADVANTAGE?

NAKAMURA IS UNITED STATES

CHAMPION ONCE AGAIN.

[BELL RINGS]

RING ANNOUNCER: HERE IS YOUR

WINNER, AND THE NEW UNITED

STATES CHAMPION, SHINSUKE

NAKAMURA.

KNEE STRIKE.

COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY.

COREY: NAKAMURA'S PLAN WORKED TO

PERFECTION.

ONCE AGAIN WE ARE RESIDING IN

THE UNITED STATES OF NAK

-AMERICA.

BYRON: IT'S HARD TO FAULT RUSEV

THERE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY

SHINSUKE TOOK ADVANTAGE.

-- JONATHAN: IT'S HARD TO FAULT

RUSEV THERE, BUT AT THE END OF

THE DACIANS GET TOOK ADVANTAGE.

30 MINUTES -- AND OF THE DAY

SHINSUKE TOOK ADVANTAGE.

30 MINUTES.

WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE WWE

DIGITAL PLATFORM THROUGHOUT THE

DAY.

HUGE NEWS EARLIER TODAY, JOHN

CENA, BECAUSE OF AN INJURY

SUFFERED BY DREW MCINTYRE I

COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WILL NOT BE

PARTICIPATING IN THE ROYAL

RUMBLE.

IN THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

IT MATCH HE HAS WON SEVERAL

TIMES BEFORE.

-- A MATCH HE HAS WON SEVERAL

TIMES BEFORE.

HOWEVER NOW BRAUN STROWMAN WILL

HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

HE WILL STEP IN IN JOHN CENA'S

PLACE.

LET ME ASK YOU, HOW DOES A

CHANGE IN THE MINDS OF THE OTHER

WWE SUPERSTARS NOW THAT BRAUN

'S IN?

SHAWN: I DON'T THINK FUNDAMENT

LEE CHANGES TOO MUCH.

-- I DON'T THINK FUNDAMENTALLY

IT CHANGES TOO MUCH.

HE HAD A BIG CARGO ON HIS BACK,

JOHN CENA.

ANY GUY WHO ELIMINATED JOHN CENA

, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO

DOWN AS SOMETHING PRETTY

HISTORIC, NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING

AWAY FROM BRAWN.

-- FROM BRAUN.

IT'S MORE OF A PERSONALITY

DYNAMIC.

HE HAS TO BE THE FAVORITE FOR AS

BIG AS HE IS.

I KNOW WHO THE VARIETY ASPECT.

I THINK IT BALANCES OUT.

HE HAS TO BE THE FAVORITE FOR AS

BIG AS HE IS.

I COULD SEE A LOT OF GUYS HAVING

THEIR TARGET ON CENA AND SAYING,

I'M THE GUY WHO WILL ELIMINATE

JOHN CENA.

DAVID: I THINK BRAUN IS GOING

HAVE JUST AS BIG OF A TARGET ON

HIS BACK.

YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE THE

BIGGEST THREAT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT SO COOL

ABOUT THE ROYAL RUMBLE, THIS

MATCH LENDS ITSELF TO GUYS WHO

ARE PERCEIVED AS THE UNDERDOGS.

THEY CAN BAND TOGETHER,

ELIMINATE WHOEVER'S THE BIGGEST

THREAT COME AND HANG ON TO WIN.

JONATHAN: LET'S KEEP IN MIND,

FOR BRAUN STROWMAN, IT WAS HIS

OWN FAULT HE LOST HIS

OPPORTUNITY AGAINST BROCK LESNAR

TONIGHT WHEN HE ATTACKED THE

MCMAHON'S LIMOUSINE.

DAVID THINK IT DEFENSE ATTORNEY

-- DAVID: THE DEFENSE IN TERMS

-- THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND HE

WOULD SAY NO.

BETH: I DON'T THINK LOGIC REALLY

CAME INTO PLAY, LAWYER LOGIC,

BRAUN'S A MONSTER PIT HE REACTS

ON EMOTION.

THE PROBLEM BEHIND THAT EMOTION,

HE'S GOT FREAKISH SIZE, FREAKISH

STRENGTH.

YOU LOOK AT THE PATHWAY OF THE

ROYAL RUMBLE, SIZE ALONE LENDS

YOU THAT ADVANTAGE.

I THINK BRAUN STROWMAN IS GOING

IN THERE WITH A GREAT ATTITUDE.

>> ONCE AGAIN JOHN CENA IS OUT

TONIGHT DUE TO INJURY, BRAUN

STROWMAN IS IN JOHN CENA'S PLACE

IN THE 30 MAN ROYAL RUMBLE

MATCH.

THE SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM TITLES

WILL BE ON THE LINE WHEN THE BAR

TAKES ON THE MIZ AND SHANE

MCMAHON.

LET'S GO BACK LAST WEEK ON

SMACKDOWN LIVE, ALL HELD BROKE

LOOSE AND SHANE MCMAHON AND THE

MIZ -- TAKE ME THROUGH WHAT

HAPPENED HERE.

DAVID: SHANE THREW CAUTION TO

THE WIND.

LOOK AT THIS.

YOU KNOW THERE IS NO WAY SHANE

IS GOING TO BE 100% TONIGHT.

IT DIDN'T STOP THERE.

THE BOSS CLEARLY SENDING A

MESSAGE TO THE "BEST TAG TEAM IN

THE WORLD."

JONATHAN: YOU HAVE TWO GUYS

TAKING ON, INDIVIDUALLY, TWO

GUYS WHO ALWAYS SEEM TO RISE TO

THE OCCASION.

THEY WILL GO TOE TO TOE TONIGHT

HERE AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

LET ME ASK YOU, YOU'VE BEEN A

GUY WHO REALLY KIND OF LIKES TO

DO YOUR OWN THING, LIKE SHANE,

LIKE THE MIZ.

DO YOU THINK THEY CAN COEXIST

ENOUGH TO BE A TAG TEAM LIKE THE

BAR?

SHAWN: I DON'T KNOW.

AGAIN, GOING EVEN ON THE --

WHEN YOU HAVE ENOUGH EMOTION AND

IT WORKS FOR YOU IN THE POSITIVE

WAY, IT'S GOOD TO REACT ON THAT

EMOTION, BECAUSE IT WORKS.

HUNTER WAS ALWAYS A LOT MORE

CENTERED AND A LOT MORE GROUNDED

THAN I WAS.

COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER, WE DID

WELL.

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE

THE -- MIZ IS GOING TO HAVE TO

BE THE ONE.

THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A

YEN AND YANG.

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK AGAINST

THE TEAM AS GOOD AS THE BAR.

DAVID: I AGREE WITH THAT.

THE MAIN THING WITH TAG TEAM

SUCCESS IS TRUST, BEING ABLE TO

TRUST YOUR PARTNER.

I MEAN THE BAR OBVIOUSLY TRUSTS

EACH OTHER, THEY ARE I WELL

OILED MACHINE.

-- ARE A WELL OILED MACHINE

PICKED THAT COULD BE A DETRIMENT

TO THEM -- WELL-OILED MACHINE.

THAT COULD BE A DETRIMENT TO

THEM.

JONATHAN: LET'S KEEP IN MIND,

THIS RELATIONSHIP IS SOMETHING

THE MIZ WANTED.

IT IS SOME THING HE IMPLORED

SHANE MCMAHON TO DO.

AND TONIGHT, FOR MS.'S MIND --

FOUR THE MIZ'S MIND, THIS IS THE

CULMINATION -- FOR THE MIZ'MIND,

THIS IS THE CULMINATION.

>> [LAUGHTER]

[INDISCERNIBLE]

TONIGHT AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE, 29

OTHER WOMEN WITH NIKKI CROSS.

BODIES ARE GOING TO FLY.

FLY, MY PRETTIES, FLY.

AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT GOING TO

HAPPEN.

NO ONE KNOWS EXCEPT NIKKI.

I KNOW.

NIKKI KNOWS.

[LAUGHTER]

AND TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT,

TONIGHT, TONIGHT -- NIKKI CROSS

IS GOING TO WIN THE ROYAL

RUMBLE, BECAUSE CHAOS ALWAYS

WINS.

[LAUGHTER]

JONATHAN: HOW ABOUT TRYING TO DO

WITH THAT TONIGHT IN THE ROYAL

RUMBLE MATCH?

YOU SEE THE INCREDIBLE SCENE

INSIDE CHASE FIELD, AS OVER

40,000 FANS CONTINUE TO FILE IN.

THE ROW RUMBLE IS JUST OVER 30

MINUTES AWAY.

THE ROYAL RUMBLE WEEKEND STARTED

LAST NIGHT IN A RATHER IMPACT ON

THE -- IMPACT THE WAY --

IMPACTFUL WAY.

NXT TAKEOVER: PHOENIX.

>> ROYAL RUMBLE WEEKEND KICKS

OFF WITH THE GOLD STANDARD IN

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT.

THIS IS NXT TAKEOVER: PHOENIX.

>> WE ARE IN THE VALLEY OF THE

SUN, WHERE THE ACTION PROMISES

TO BE HOTTER THAN THE ARIZONA

ASPHALT.

THE NXT WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP --

ALL ABOUT THE NXT WOMEN'S

CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND SHAYNA BASLER -- SHAYNA

BASZLER RETAINS THE NXT

CHAMPIONSHIP.

JOHNNY WRESTLING HAS FINALLY

DONE IT.

NXT CHAMPIONSHIP HANGS IN THE

BALANCE IN THE MAIN EVENT OF NXT

TAKEOVER: PHOENIX.

AND THIS MATCH GET STARTED IN A

HURRY.

-- GETS STARTED IN A HURRY.

SHE BUT -- CIAMPA, OH MY GOD.

NIGEL: WHERE IS HE COMING FROM?

MAURO: BLACK INJURED HIS LEG.

TOMMASO CIAMPA'S REIGN OF

TERROR CONTINUES.

JONATHAN: AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT

LAST NIGHT FOR NXT TAKEOVER:

PHOENIX.

FROM ANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW,

SHAWN MICHAELS IS A BIG-TIME

PLAYER WHEN IT COMES TO NXT.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, WHAT DID YOU

MAKE OF NXT TAKEOVER: PHOENIX?

SHAWN: THERE'S A RUMOR THAT I

INFLUENCE NXT ARSENAL HE, I

DON'T SEE IT, BUT THAT IS THE

RUMOR.

-- NXT PERSONALLY, I DON'T SEE

IT, BUT THAT IS THE RUMOR.

THEY TORE DOWN LAST NIGHT, AS

THEY ALWAYS DO.

YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT ON THE

WWE NETWORK.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS, IT

DIDN'T JUST STOP WITH THE MAIN

EVENT, IT UNFOLDED MORE IN THE

BACK.

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS.

>> [SHOUTING]

>> [INDISCERNIBLE]

, CALM DOWN.

-- >> COME DOWN.

, I'M CALL HIM -- >> CALM DOWN.

>> I'M CALM.

SHAWN:: ONE OF THE THINGS I

THINK ABOUT NXT -- WE SEE ALL

THAT AND SAY, OK, THOSE ARE THE

TWO TOP DOGS IN NXT.

WE HAVE TO RESOLVE IT AS QUICKLY

AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GO BACK TO

BUSINESS.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BIG GAME

COMING UP.

SOMETIMES DURING THAT, I

UNDERSTAND IS GOING TO BE A LOT

OF TIME ON YOUR HANDS.

WE DECIDED TO THROW TOGETHER A

SIX MAN TAG TEAM MATCH --

SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH DURING

HALFTIME.

HALFTIME HEAT BETWEEN THE TOP

DOGS OF NXT.

THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION TOMMASO

CIAMPA, THE NEWLY CROWNED

AMERICAN CHAMPION JOHNNY

GARGANO, AND THE FIRST EVER

NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION ADAM

COLE ARE GOING TO TEAM UP

AGAINST ALEISTER BLACK,

RICOCHET, AND THE VELVETEEN

DREAM.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS DURING

THE HALFTIME OF SOME REALLY

SUPER --

DAVID: YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE

COMMENTARY THAT DAY.

SHAWN:: I'VE GOT A BE A PART OF

IT, I DON'T CARE MUCH ABOUT THAT

GAME ANYWAY.

DAVID: I THINK IF ANYBODY

WATCHED LAST WEEK -- WATCH LAST

WEEK -- WATCH LAST NIGHT --

HALFTIME HEAT, NEXT WEEK RIGHT

HERE ON WWE NETWORK.

JONATHAN: TIME FOR MORE GREAT

ACTION HERE ON THE KICKOFF SHOW.

A LITTLE 205 LIVE.

I WILL SEND AT RINGSIDE.

-- SEND IT RINGSIDE.

, RIGHT NOW THE CRUISERWEIGHT

TITLE IS GOING TO BE ON THE

LINE.

WE'VE SEEN ONE TITLE CHANGE

HANDS ALREADY.

ARE GOING TO SEE THEM CHAINED --

SEE ANOTHER CHANGE?

NIGEL: --

VICK: IT IS TIME FOR THE

CRUISERWEIGHT -- VIC: IT'S TIME

FOR THE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMP HE

CHIPPED TAKE PLACE HERE AT THE

ROYAL RUMBLE.

♪

[BELL RINGS]

RING ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING

CONTEST IS SCHEDULED FOR ONE

FALL IS A FATAL FOUR WAY MATCH

FOR THE WWE CRUISERWEIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP.

INTRODUCING FIRST, REPRESENTING

THE LUCHA HOUSE PARTY, KALISTO.

VIC: YOU CAN SEE, 24 MINUTES,

THE ROYAL RUMBLE EVENT WILL KICK

OFF.

YOU HAVE QUITE THE HISTORY WITH

KALISTO.

AIDEN: THE MAN FORMERLY KNOWN AS

THE KING OF FLIGHT, HE HAS TO

HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE COMING

INTO THIS BOUT IS THE MOST THAT

GREAT A MAN IN TO BE DO WE OUT

OF ALL FOR CONTESTANTS.

NIGEL: I QUESTION A MAN WHO

FINDS INSPIRATION IN A CARDBOARD

DONKEY.

♪

RING ANNOUNCER: NEXT, FROM KOBE,

JAPAN, AKIRA TOZAWA.

VIC: MUCH LIKE A LEAST A, AKIRA

TOZAWA TO BECOME A TWO TIME

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION -- MUCH

LIKE KALISTO, AKIRA TOZAWA

LOOKING TO BECOME A TWO-TIME

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION.

VIC: HOWELL TOZAWA RESPOND?

-- HOW WILL TOZAWA RESPOND?

RING ANNOUNCER: FROM TOKYO,

JAPAN, WEIGHING IN AT 181

POUNDS, HIDEO ITAMI.

VIC: AIDEN BRINGS UP A GOOD

POINT ABOUT AKIRA TOZAWA, WHAT

ABOUT HIDEO ITAMI?

HE'S THE ONLY SUPERSTAR IN THIS

MATCH TO NOT HOLD GOLD IN THE

WWE?

NIGEL: ARIYA DAIVAR MENTIONED

THAT, HE SAYS THAT MAKES ITAMI

THE MOST DANGEROUS.

VIC: BOTH OF YOU HAVE STEPPED IN

THE RING WITH HIDEO ITAMI.

AIDEN: HARDEST I'VE EVER BEEN

KICKED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

RING ANNOUNCER: FROM MELBOURNE,

AUSTRALIA, HE IS THE WWE

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION, BUDDY

MURPHY.

VIC: NIGEL MENTIONED THE

CHAMPIONSHIP.

DO YOU BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO

HAVE A NEW CHAMPION?

AIDEN: SHAKESPEARE WROTE IT, THE

HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN AND

BUDDY MURPHY HAS TO BE FEELING

IT EASY TO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE

CEMENTED TO LOSE -- BE SUBMITTED

TO LOSE.

NIGEL: WHAT I DO KNOW IS THE

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION, BUT HE

-- BUDDY MURPHY.

VIC: WWE ROYAL RUMBLE IS

PRESENTED BY GOLDEN CRISP.

CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT GOLDEN

CRISP, IT'S GOT THE CRUNCH WITH

A PUNCH.

AND THERE YOU SEE THE

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP WILL

BE CONTESTED IN THIS FATAL FOUR

WAY MATCH UP.

ALL THE SUPERSTARS WANTS THE

GOLD AROUND THEIR WAIST.

-- ALL THESE SUPERSTARS WANT THE

GOLD AROUND THEIR WAIST.

HIDEO ITAMI, AND OF COURSE THE

CHAMPION HIMSELF BUDDY MURPHY.

AIDEN: ALL FOUR OF THESE MEN

TRAVELED THE WORLD, AND NOW THE

WORLD'S EYES ARE ON THEM.

VIC: IT IS ALL ABOUT THE #

CRUISERWEIGHTTITLE.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR STRATEGY?

NIGEL: EXACTLY WHAT HIDEO ITAMI

JUST DID.

DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART.

VIC: SHOULDERS DOWN ON TOZAWA.

THAT HE MURPHY INTERRUPTING ONE

MORE TIME.

-- BUDDY MURPHY INTERRUPTING ONE

MORE TIME.

AIDEN: YOU HAVE TO WONDER, HIDEO

ITAMI IS MISSING OUT ON THESE

COVERS.

NIGEL: IT'S ONLY A ONE COUNT IN

EACH OPPORTUNITY.

THESE THREE SUPERSTARS ARE

SPENDING A LOT OF ENERGY FOR NO

PURPOSE.

VIC: TOZAWA TYING UP THE

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION.

THE POWER OF BUDDY MURPHY ON

DISPLAY.

AND NOW THE SPEED AND QUICKNESS

OF KALISTO.

NIGEL: HAD A LOT -- HIDEO ITAMI

ON THE OUTSIDE STILL WATCHING.

VIC: LOOK AT KALISTO GET CAUGHT

AGAIN, THE POWER ON DISPLAY ONCE

MORE.

KALISTO QUICKENING THE PACE IN

THIS MATCHUP.

HURRICANRANA TO TAKE ON THE

CHAMPION.

GETS CAUGHT BY TOZAWA.

AIDEN: YOU HAVE TO HAVE EYES IN

THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD.

VIC: WHAT A DROPKICK, GIVE THE

ASSIST TO ONE THIRD OF THE LUCHA

HOUSE PARTY.

NOW TO ZALA, STERNUM FIRST.

THERE COMES KALISTO, WHO GETS

CAUGHT.

LOOK AT THE STRENGTH OF BUDDY

MURPHY.

AIDEN: THAT'S THE POWER THAT

GAVE BUDDY MURPHY THE

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

NIGEL: INCOMES -- IN COMES

ITAMI.

VIC: ITAMI PINUP A LOT OF

MOMENTUM, -- PICKED UP A LOT OF

MOMENTUM WINNING A TRIPLE THREAT

MATCH.

AIDEN: I DON'T THINK ITAMI IS

ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

VIC: YOU, OF ALL MEN, MENTIONED

THE STRIKING ABILITY OF ITAMI.

AIDEN: BUDDY MURPHY GETS RIGHT

BACK UP.

VIC: AND ANSWERS RIGHT BACK WITH

A KICK TO THE SPINE.

NIGEL: ONE OF THE STRONGEST

KICKS ON THE BRAND.

AIDEN: IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO

GO STRIKE FOR STRIKE WITH ITAMI.

NIGEL: MAY BE, LOOK AT THIS,

THIS IS INCREDIBLE.

VIC: ITAMI SAID IT IS NECESSITY

TO BECOME A CHAMPION IN THE WWE.

ONCE HE BECOMES CHAMPION, HE

WILL EARN EVERYONE'S RESPECT.

SPEAKING OF THAT, HE CERTAINLY

DOES HAVE A HISTORY WITH AKIRA

TOZAWA, FORMER FRIEND TURNED

BITTER RIVALS IN 2018.

NOW LOOK AT ITAMI, TRYING TO

BRAY'S BACK IN KALISTO.

NIGEL: A LOT OF FANFARE FOR

HIDEO ITAMI'S ARRIVAL HERE AND

TO BE DEBBIE WE -- HERE IN LITA

VIDA BE WE -- HERE IN WWE.

VIC: AND NOW -- KALISTO ABLE TO

HURRICANRANA BUDDY MURPHY INTO

THE BARRICADE.

LOOK WHO STANDING, THE ONLY ONE

STANDING IS ITAMI.

NIGEL: IF YOU TAKE ANOTHER LOOK,

BAM.

BOOM.

AIDEN: THE UNINTENTIONAL ASSIST

ON THE DODGE THERE.

NIGEL: INTERESTING STRATEGY

THERE, ITAMI THROWING TWO OF HIS

OPPONENTS INTO THE RING INSTEAD

OF JUST ONE.

VIC: ITAMI HOOKS THE LOVE --

HOOKS THE LEG FOR THE

CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE.

ANOTHER COVER BY ITAMI.

THIS TIME TO ZALA KICKING OUT.

-- THIS TIME TO HIS A LA -- THIS

TIME TOZAWA KICKING OUT.

NIGEL: HE'S HAD A LOT TO

ELSEWHERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE

RISING SUN.

VIC: BACK IN COMES THE

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION.

BUDDY MURPHY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE

PINNED OR SUBMITTED.

MURPHY TO THE OUTSIDE AND ITAMI

CONTINUING TO PICK APART THE

FIELD IN THIS MATCHUP.

NICE KICK BY KALISTO.

AND KALISTO NOW LOOKING OVER.

OH.

TOZAWA INTO MURPHY.

NOW KALISTO CATCHING ITAMI.

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMP IN CHIP ON

THE LINE HERE AT THE ROYAL

RUMBLE.

-- CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE HERE

AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

KALISTO ABLE TO GET BY.

AIDEN: KALISTO CATCHING STEAM,

HE HAS TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS.

VIC: KELLY'S TO HOISTS UP ITAMI,

ROLLS THROUGH.

KALISTO INTO THE COVER FOR THE

TITLE.

AND ITAMI AGAIN ABLE TO

KICKOUT AT TWO.

AIDEN: ALISA HAS THE RING ALONE

WITH ITAMI.

HE HAS TO HIT THE MOVE --

KALISTO HAS THE RING ALONE WITH

ITAMI.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN.

HE HAS TO HIT THE MOVE.

NIGEL: AWARENESS FROM THE FORMER

CHAMPION KALISTO.

VIC: MURPHY ABLE TO COME IN.

UP AND OVER, MURPHY CATCHING

KALISTO, LAUNCHING INTO THE

MIDSECTION OF ITAMI.

LOOK AT TOZAWA.

A DROPKICK.

AND HERE'S THAT ELUSIVE THIS --

ELUSIVENESS BY TOZAWA.

OVER MURPHY.

TOZAWA COULD BE CLOSING IN ON

BECOMING A TWO-TIME

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION.

HOOKS THE LEG.

MURPHY KICKS OUT.

NIGEL: TAKING INSPIRATION FROM

BRIAN KENDRICK, THE WILY

VETERAN.

VIC: TO ZALA LOOKING OUT AT THE

BW UNIVERSE HERE ON CHASE FIELD

-- TO ZALA -- TOZAWA LOOKING OUT

AT THE WWE UNIVERSE HERE IN

CHASE FIELD.

NICE REVERSAL.

NIGEL: THAT WAS NOT COMFORTABLE.

FACE FIRST.

VIC: TOZAWA ABLE TO STOP ON A

DIME.

AIDEN: YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF

ITAMI HIT HIS HEAD ON THAT

HURRICANRANA, IF HE STILL IN

THIS ONE.

VIC: THERE GOES KALISTO.

NIGEL: QUESTION NOW, WHAT DOES

THE CHAMPION DO YOU GO --

CHAMPION DO?

VIC: MURPHY LOOKING TO TAKE

FLIGHT.

THIS IS WHAT 205 LIVE IS ALL

ABOUT.

AND, NIGEL, THE LENGTHS BUDDY

MURPHY IS WILLING TO GO TO

RETAIN HIS CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE.

NIGEL: THE CHAMPION GETTING A.

.

LOOK AT THIS.

KEEPING HIS EYES -- A.

.

-- A FULL STRIKE.

LOOK AT THIS.

KEEPING HIS EYES ON THE

OPPONENTS.

AIDEN: HE HAS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE

OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.

LIKE I SAID, THEY DO NOT COME

OFTEN IN A FATAL FOUR WAY.

VIC: A SPIKE ON KALISTO, DO WE

HAVE A NEW CHAMPION?

BUDDY MURPHY JUST ABLE TO

SURVIVE.

NIGEL: KALISTO HOOKING BOTH OF

THOSE LEGS, UNABLE TO GET ENOUGH

BODY WEIGHT A CROSS THE

SHOULDERS OF THE CHAMPION.

AIDEN: WILL OF THE CRUISERWEIGHT

CHAMPION IS SO MUCH, HE IS NOT

GIVING THAT TITLE UP WITHOUT A

FIGHT.

VIC: MURPHY MAY NOT REALIZE

WHERE HE'S AT.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ONE MORE

TIME.

NIGEL: THE IMPACT WAS ABSOLUTELY

DEVASTATING, THERE HAVE TO BE

SOME CONFIDENCE HERE.

LET ME ASK YOU, YOU BEEN IN

FRONT OF A CROWD OF THIS SIZE,

GOT TO BE NERVOUS.

AIDEN: NERVES ARE A HUGE FACTOR,

THE UNIVERSE IS WATCHING YOU.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS.

VIC: CODY STILL LOOKING FOR

ANOTHER HIGH-IMPACT MOVE ON

BUDDY MURPHY.

TOZAWA ABLE TO COME IN, BUT

THERE'S ITAMI.

AS YOU CAN SEE, JUST OVER 10

MINUTES UNTIL THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

WE COULD BE MOMENTS AWAY FROM

BUDDY MURPHY RETAINING HIS

TITLE.

TO RETAIN -- TOZAWA SAVING

THINGS.

JUST AT THE LAST MOMENT.

NIGEL: NOW THE ACTION IS

BREAKING DOWN WITH FOUR

SUPERSTARS HAVING EXPENDED A

CONCERTED WILL AMOUNT -- A

CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY.

AIDEN: YOU TALK ABOUT NERVES,

THAT'S WHAT THESE GUYS ARE

CONDITIONED FOR, TO FIGHT THOSE

NERVES.

VIC: NOW IT'S TOZAWA, GOING TO

THE OUTSIDE.

HIGH CROSS BODY, MURPHY ABLE TO

ROLL THROUGH, AND MURPHY, AGAIN

SHOWCASING THAT STRENGTH.

WAIT A MINUTE.

TOZAWA INTO THE COVER.

WAIT A MINUTE, ITAMI INTO THE

COVER.

HERE COMES KALISTO.

SHOULDERS DOWN.

KELLY STOWE -- KALISTO -- WE

HAVE A NEW CHAMPION.

HOOK OF THE LEG.

HOW DID HEAD THEY'LL ITAMI

KICKOUT?

AIDEN: BECAUSE HE HAS THE HEART,

HE HAS THE WILL, HE NEEDS THIS

MORE THAN ANYONE.

NIGEL: A FRACTION OF A SECOND,

CAN THAT CRUISERWEIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP STAY AROUND THE

WAIST OF BUDDY MURPHY?

SALINA DEL SOL.

VIC: ALL FOUR SUPERSTARS DOWN.

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ON

THE LINE HERE AT THE ROYAL

RUMBLE.

THERE YOU SEE INSIDE CHASE FIELD

.

THE WWE UNIVERSE STILL FILING IN

FOR THE ROYAL RUMBLE EVENT.

FOR NOW, GUYS, WHAT A MATCH.

AIDEN: THIS COULD BE ANYBODY'S

MATCH AT THIS POINT.

VIC: MURPHY SLUGGING IT OUT.

NOW LOOK AT THE TWO WHO WERE

STANDING -- WHO ARE STANDING.

LOOK AT ITAMI AND MURPHY.

NIGEL: A FLURRY OF STRIKES FROM

ITAMI.

VIC: ENZIGURI CAUGHT ITAMI.

A DOUBLE SUPERKICK TO MURPHY.

NIGEL: THE CHAMPION IS DOWN.

AIDEN: KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,

KICK.

KICK.

VIC: KALISTO, PICKING UP THE

PACE.

HIS A LA CONNECTS.

-- TOZAWA CONNECTS.

WHAT A STRAIGHT JAB.

CHAMPION IS ON RUBBER LEGS.

AIDEN: EVERY MAN HERE DELIVERING

THEY ARE BEST STRIKES.

INCLUDING THAT ONE.

-- THEIR BEST STRIKES.

INCLUDING THAT ONE.

NIGEL BANK THAT'S WHY BUDDY

MURPHY'S CHAMPION.

VIC: TOZAWA AND KALISTO, BOTH TO

THE OUTSIDE.

NOW MURPHY SETS HIS SIGHTS ON

ITAMI.

ITAMI, LOOKING TO PUT AWAY THE

CHAMPION.

THAT BACK FIST CAUGHT MURPHY.

NIGEL: THIS COULD BE IT.

VIC: NICE REVERSAL BY MURPHY.

THAT KNEE CONNECTS.

ITAMI HAVE TO BE OUT.

NIGEL: COVER THE MAN.

AIDEN: GOT TO PUT AWAY HERE.

-- PUT HIM AWAY HERE.

VIC: MURPHY CONNECTS, IS THIS

ENOUGH TO RETAIN THE

CHAMPIONSHIP?

BUDDY MURPHY CONTINUES --

RING ANNOUNCER: HERE IS YOUR

WINNER, AND STILL THE WWE

CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION, BUDDY

MURPHY.

VIC: I SAID IT ONCE, I WILL SAY

IT AGAIN, WHAT A MATCH WE JUST

WITNESSED FROM THE

CRUISERWEIGHTS OF 205 LIVE.

NIGEL: WHAT A CRUISERWEIGHT

CHAMPION, WITH THE ODDS STACKED

HEAVILY AGAINST HIM.

THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON

HIS MASTERPIECE TONIGHT, PUTTING

AWAY THE JAPANESE LEGEND AS

BUDDY MURPHY CONTINUES TO REIGN

AS THE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION.

THIS IS THE QUESTION NOW, CAN

ANYONE STOP THE UNSTOPPABLE ON

THE ROAD TO WRESTLEMANIA?

♪

>> PLENTY OF MEN TELL YOU THEY

WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO

SUCCEED.

THEY CAN LOOK YOU RIGHT IN THE

EYE AND CONVINCE YOU THAT THEY

ARE WILLING TO ENDURE ANY PAIN

FOR A CHANCE AT FOREVER.

THEY LIE.

AND YET YOU LISTEN.

MY ENTIRE CAREER, I HAVE FACED

EXTREME PAIN, PHYSICAL AND

MENTAL, AND I HURT PEOPLE.

I HAVE HURT MANY, MANY

INDIVIDUALS IN MY JOURNEY TO THE

TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

WHERE IS DOLPH ZIGGLER?

WHERE IS KURT ANGLE?

THE SHIELD?

CAN YOU SEE JOHN CENA?

BECAUSE I CAN'T.

I DON'T CARE WHO'S GOING TO WIN

BETWEEN FINN BALOR AND BROCK

LESNAR.

WINNING THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH,

IT'S NOT MY DESTINY, IT'S A

CERTAINTY.

AND WHEN I WIN, I'M GOING TO

CHOOSE TO FACE THE UNIVERSAL

CHAMPION AT WRESTLEMANIA, AND

I'M GOING TO WIN THAT MATCH.

WHY?

BECAUSE I'M DREW MCINTYRE, AND

I'M THE KING OF THE RAW JUNGLE.

DOTSON BANK DREW MCINTYRE --

JONATHAN: DREW MCINTYRE, 2019

COULD BE HIS YEAR.

SIX MINUTES BEFORE THE ROYAL

RUMBLE BEGINS IN CHASE FIELD IN

PHOENIX, ARIZONA.

IF YOU HAVEN'T ORDERED THE WWE

NETWORK YET, ORDER RIGHT NOW.

THOUGH TO WWENETWORK.COM -- GO

TO WWENETWORK.COM.

IT STARTS WITH THE ROYAL RUMBLE

MATCHES THEMSELVES.

BETH, YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF

THIS BEFORE.

BETH: THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH FOR

THE WOMEN, GOING TO BE THE

SECOND TIME EVER WE HAVE SEEN

THEM.

30 WOMEN WILL BE VYING FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO FACE THE

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THEIR CHOOSING

-- THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THEIR CHOOSING.

DAVID: I'M LOOKING FOR TO THIS

NEXT 1, 2 OF THE MOST SKILLED

WWE SUPERSTARS, AJ STYLES WILL

GO ONE-ON-ONE WITH CAPTAIN

PLANET, THE NEW DANIEL BRYAN.

BETH: THEN WE HAVE RONDA ROUSEY,

OLYMPIAN, HALL OF FAME FIGHTER,

AND SHE LIVED UP TO ALL OF THE

HYPE.

CAN SASHA BANKS TURN HER TRASH

TALKING INTO A VICTORY AND MAKE

THIS HER MOMENT AND TAKE HOME

THE RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP?

DAVID: AND CAN SHANE MCMAHON AND

THE MIZ LIVE UP TO THEIR

NICKNAMES OF "THE BEST TAG TEAM

IN THE WORLD COME COPE BY

OVERTHROWING THE BAR AND

BECOMING THE NEW -- IN THE

WORLD," BY OVERTHROWING THE BAR

AND BECOMING THE NEW SMACKDOWN

TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS.

AND THE BEAST BROCK LESNAR WILL

DEFEND THE CHAMPIONSHIP -- THE

UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST

THE EXTRAORDINARY MAN WHO CAN DO

EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

BETH: BECKY LYNCH COMING TO

TOWN.

I GUESS THE EMPRESS OF TOMORROW,

ASUKA.

JONATHAN: FINALLY, THE 30-MEN

ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH.

JOHN CENA, BECAUSE OF AN INJURY,

WILL NOT BE IN THE MATCH

TONIGHT.

RON STROWMAN WILL REPLACE HIM.

HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE

LANDSCAPE, THE MIND SET FOR THE

29 OTHER MEN TONIGHT IN THE

MEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH?

YOU'VE WON THIS BEFORE, A COUPLE

OF TIMES.

WHO ARE YOU LOOKING AT, NOT JUST

AS YOUR FAVORITE, BUT TO REALLY

MAKE A STATEMENT TONIGHT?

SHAWN: I'M LOOKING AT -- AND MY

FAVORITE, YOU JUST SAW -- DREW

MCINTYRE.

THE DESIRE, THE PASSION, THE

HUNGER.

HE'S GOT THE EYE RIGHT NOW.

DREW MCINTYRE IS MY GUY.

2019, I BELIEVE, IS GOING TO BE

HIS YEAR.

EVEN BANK I'M GOING TO GO WITH A

GUY WHO IS WRITING A HUGE WAVE

OF MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW, AND THAT

IS THE NEWLY CROWNED

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION ABI

LASHLEY.

THIS GUY HAS THE POWER, THE

ATHLETICISM, HE HAS THE

CONFIDENCE OF AN IC CHAMPION,

AND HE HAS LEO RUSH WITH HIM.

ANOTHER GUY AM LOOKING FOR TO

MAKING A STATEMENT, THAT'S TITUS

O'NEIL.

I JUST HOPE HE MAKES IT INTO THE

RING.

ACTUALLY, I DON'T.

JONATHAN: I THINK WE ALL WOULD

LIKE TO SEE THAT T-SHIRT AGAIN

AS WELL.

BETH: I AM BIASED ON THE WOMEN'S

SIDE, I'M GOING TO GO WITH THE

TALLY A -- WITH NATALYA.

THERE'S NOTHING MORE THAT

NATALYA WOULD WANT TO DO TO

HONOR HER LATE DAD THEN GO ON TO

WRESTLEMANIA.

JONATHAN: BROCK LESNAR, WE KNOW

HE'S A MAIN EVENT PLAYER.

YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEP INTO

THE RING WITH SIZABLE MEN.

WHAT DOES FINN BALOR HAVE TO DO

TO COMPETE?

SHAWN: I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I HAD

RELATIVELY DECENT SUCCESS.

A LOT OF TIMES, BIG GUYS HAVE

TROUBLE WITH THE SMALLER GUYS.

BROCK LESNAR, YOU ARE NOT GOING

TO MATCH HIS POWER, EVERYBODY

KNOWS THAT.

YOU WEAR THAT BIG MAN DOWN, ALL

BIG MEN GET TIRED.

THAT'S THE KEY.

THE LONGER IT GOES, THE MORE

INVENTED FINN BALOR HAS.

DAVID: I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

HE'S GOT INCREDIBLE STAMINA.

AND HE LOOKS FANTASTIC AGAINST

OTHER BIG MEN, INCLUDING BRAUN

STROWMAN.

SO HE DEFINITELY KNOWS HOW TO

PLAY THIS.

HOWEVER, I'M NOT GOING TO BET

AGAINST BROCK IN THIS SITUATION.

JONATHAN: WE HAVE ABOUT 30

SECONDS.

THIS IS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

OF RONDA ROUSEY MAKING HER DEBUT

AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE.

WILL SHE WALK OUT TONIGHT AS THE

WOMEN'S CHAMPION?

-- WOMAN'S CHAMPION.

BETH: SHE KNOCKED THE DOOR DOWN

WITH AUTHORITY AND OPENED IT UP

FOR ALL OF US DID I DO HAVE TO

SAY, MY HEART GOES TO SASHA

BANKS.

TONIGHT IS HER NIGHT.

AND I'M LOOKING FOR TO SEEING

SASHA BECOME THE NEW RAW WOMEN'S

CHAMPION.

JONATHAN: SUMMARY SPECIAL

MATCHES.

BETH, SHAWN, DAVID, THANK YOU SO

MUCH.

IT'S ALL ABOUT 30 MEN, 30 WOMEN,

THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST

OPPORTUNITY OF THEIR LIVES, A

CHANCE AT WRESTLEMANIA.

BUCKLE UP.

THE ROYAL RUMBLE STARTS NOW.