Archive of PWUpdate.net (2013-2014)

CREDIT = WWE.com

Date: January 26, 2014

Venue: CONSOL Energy Center (Pittsburgh, PA)

Commentators: Michael Cole, JBL, & Jerry Lawler

Last night WWE held its first PPV of the year, Royal Rumble, live from Pittsburgh and it’ll be remembered just as much for the crowd as it will be for the results, which you can check out below courtesy of Jason Powell‘s much more interesting and detailed recap/analysis over at ProWrestling.net.

1. Rumble Royal Kickoff: The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg & Billy Gunn) defeated Cody Rhodes & Goldust (c) to win the WWE Tag Team Titles when Gunn pinned Rhodes with the FAMEASSER (6:30).

2. Bray Wyatt defeated Daniel Bryan via pinfall with SISTER ABIGAIL (21:30).

3. Brock Lesnar [w/ Paul Heyman] defeated The Big Show via pinfall with the F-5 (2:00).

• Before the Match: Lesnar beat up Show with a whole host of chair shots before the bell even rang. The fact that the match happened anyway is a bit suspect.
  
• Post-Match: Lesnar repeatedly walloped Show with more chairshots, think Rock/Mankind from ’99 but not to the head, until he got bored and left. Show then left on his two feet with minimal help from the trainer and refs, which was surprising.

4. Randy Orton (c) defeated John Cena via pinfall with the RKO to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (20:55).

• The Finish: Cena seemed to have things in order until Bray Wyatt and The Wyatt Family showed up, causing a distraction that led to Orton’s victory.
• Post-Match: The Wyatt Family attacked Cena some more before Bray finished him off with SISTER ABIGAIL.
• Notes: The Pittsburgh crowd turned on this match completely, chanting for Daniel Bryan and eventually going into “This is Awful”.

4. Batista won the 2014 Royal Rumble, last eliminating Roman Reigns (55:10).

• Order of Entry: CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Damien Sandow, Cody Rhodes, Kane, Alexander Rusev (making his main roster debut sans Lana), Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston (who had two “near elimination” goof spots), Jimmy Uso, Goldust (who was eliminated by his own brother), Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler (return from concussion), R-Truth, Kevin Nash, Roman Reigns (who ended up tying Kane’s record of 11 eliminations, including his Shield stablemates), The Great Khali, Sheamus (return from year-long injury), The Miz, Fandango, El Torito, Antonio Cesaro, Luke Harper, Jey Uso, JBL (quickly eliminated), Erick Rowan, Ryback, Alberto Del Rio, Batista, Big E Langston, Rey Mysterio (who was met uncharacteristically with boos since he wasn’t Daniel Bryan)
  
• Post-Match: Batista celebrated and pointed to the WM XXX sign as the crowd mostly booed.
• Notes: Once it was clear Daniel Bryan was not going to be in the Rumble the Pittsburgh crowd turned on this match and took turns chanting his name and booing. Batista was met with the same reaction while celebrating. Let’s see if WWE listens.

Word of advice to the WWE: listen to the fans. Pittsburgh isn’t an isolated incident, it’s just the loudest.

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