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WWE then showed why different superstars wanted to win the Royal Rumble match.
The Royal Rumble match:
#1 – CM Punk
CM Punk made his way out first to a massive reception! The crowd started a CM Punk chant as we looked at the next participant.
#2 – Seth Rollins
Punk took Rollins to the corner as both of them exchanged blows. Rollins tried to eliminate Punk but Punk came back with chops and kicks to Rollins’ chest. Punk went for the trifecta kicks but Rollins dropped him with a running dropkick. Punk connected with the running knee and clothesline! Punk connected with a huge kick.
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#3 – Damien Sandow
Rollins and Sandow tried to work cohesively to eliminate Punk, but Punk held on as the crowd started chanting for CM Punk. Punk connected with a neckbreaker – DDT combo and tried to eliminate Rollins.
#4 – Cody Rhodes
Cody went at it with Sandow and connected with the Cross Rhodes. Cody then exchanged blows with Rollins as Punk eliminated Sandow! Punk and Cody worked together, trying to eliminate Rollins.
#5 – Kane
Kane went right at it with Punk and delivered a clothesline followed by a side walk slam! Kane went for the chokeslam, but Punk delivered a round house kick and eliminated Kane!
#6 – Alexander Rosev
The NXT rookie! This is a surprise! Rosev knocked everybody down and tried to eliminate Cody, but Cody hung on. He was impressive in the early going.
#7 – Jack Swagger
Swagger delivered Swagger bombs to Cody and Rollins and the two behemoths went at it! Rosev decimated Swagger, but Rollins came to his aid.
#8 – Kofi Kingston
Kofi tried to eliminate Punk but Punk held on. Kofi and Rosev were dominating the bout as Rollins and Punk tried to stay in the Rumble match after being #1 and #2.
Note: Sandow and Kane were eliminated.
#9 – Jimmy Uso
Jimmy went at it with everybody in his path, as Rosev was the aggressor in the bout. The ring filled up with 7 superstars as we awaited #10.
#10 – Goldust
Everybody started working on Rosev, trying to eliminate the strongest of the lot. Rosev was eliminated! Kofi was almost eliminated, but Rosev caught Kofi as he placed him on the barricade and worked on his ribs! Kofi jumped from the barricade to the apron and into the ring! Amazing!
#11 – Dean Ambrose
Ambrose and Rollins worked together, as we looked back at Kofi’s amazing agility and athletic prowess! Ambrose went at it with Punk as we waited to see who #12 was!
#12 – Dolph Ziggler
The Showoff made his return as the crowd erupted! A nice dropkick as the crowd started a “Let’s go Ziggler” chant! This is turning out to be awesome, as Ziggler started his offense with a picture perfect dropkick!
#13 – R – Truth
Ambrose eliminated R – Truth as Rollins eliminated Jimmy Uso! Kofi barely hung on and hit Swagger with his own boot!
#14 – Kevin Nash
He’s baaaack! Nash eliminated Swagger and turned his attention towards Ambrose and Rollins! Punk worked on Ziggler as Nash tried to eliminate both the members of The Shield!
#15 – Roman Reigns
Reigns destroyed everybody in his path as he delivered a spear to Cody! Reigns eliminated Kofi! Reigns delivered a spear to Ziggler and eliminated him! He then threw Kevin Nash out!
#16 – Great Khali
Khali picked apart all the members of The Shield, but all the members worked together to eliminate The Great Khali! Goldust eliminated Cody by mistake, and Reigns eliminated Goldust!
#17 – Sheamus
Sheamus came to the aid of Punk, who was alone with the trio! Sheamus picked apart the three members of The Shield and was the lone man standing!
#18 – The Miz
The Miz came out but was stopped in his tracks by the three members of The Shield. Six members were in the ring now, and three of them belonged to The Shield!
#19 – Fandango
Fandango was the next man as the crowd Fandango’d! The members of The Shield were firmly in control of the Rumble match as the crowd chanted for Daniel Bryan!
#20 – El Torito
El Torito delivered a huge leg scissors takedown and eliminated Fandango! Reigns then eliminated El Torito!
#21 – Antonio Cesaro
Cesaro picked everyone apart and swung Miz and Rollins! That was awesome!
#22 – Luke Harper
The match got very interesting at this point, as Punk and Rollins were still in the Rumble match, after being #1 and #2 respectively. Harper took everyone apart as we awaited #23.
#23 – Jey Uso
Harper went after Punk as Sheamus tried to eliminate Ambrose. Harper and Cesaro went at it in the middle of the ring with the European Uppercuts!
#24 – JBL
JBL yelled at Cole to take his jacket, but Ambrose eliminated JBL! The crowd started a “You still got it” chant, which was hilarious!
#25 – Erick Rowan
Harper and Rowan worked in tandem, and eliminated The Miz from the Rumble match! The Shield and The Wyatts dominated as we waited to see who #26 was, as Jey Uso was also eliminated.
#26 – Ryback
Ryback went at it with Cesaro as the crowd started a “Goldberg” chant. Sheamus and Cesaro threw punches at each other.
#27 – Alberto Del Rio
The Shield and The Wyatts went at it against each other, as CM Punk held on. Punk and Rollins were in the Rumble match for 42 minutes and counting.
#28 – Batista
Batista eliminated Rowan and went at it with Ryback! Batista eliminated Ryback, but ADR knocked Batista out from behind! Batista lifted ADR on his shoulder and eliminated Del Rio!
#29 – Big E Langston
Big E manhandled Batista and Sheamus! There was only one entrant left as the crowd started a “Yes” chant!
#30 – Rey Mysterio
The crowd booed as Rey came in. They started a “Daniel Bryan” chant as Rey went after Rollins. Loud chorus of boos as the fans were disappointed. Sheamus meanwhile eliminated Big E Langston. Cesaro hit everyone with the uppercuts as Rey hit the 619 on Rollins. Rollins eliminated Mysterio! Reigns eliminated Harper as Ambrose tried to eliminate Reigns! Reigns eliminated Ambrose and Rollins as both of them were trying to eliminate Cesaro, who was eliminated in the process! Punk hit the GTS on Reigns as Kane came back and eliminated Punk! Kane continued to attack Punk on the outside and chokeslammed him through the Spanish announcer’s table.
The crowd chanted for Daniel Bryan as we were left with three performers in the ring. The crowd booed and chanted for Daniel Bryan. The crowd started a “No” chant as Batista, Sheamus and Reigns went at it. Sheamus pointed at the WrestleMania 30 sign, but Batista and Reigns eliminated Sheamus! The last two men were Reigns and Batista! The fans chanted for Reigns as he exploded, catching Batista with a clothesline! Batista answered with a spear as the fans booed, but Reigns connected with a spear of his own! Batista eliminated Reigns to win the Royal Rumble match!
Winner of the 2014 Royal Rumble match: Batista
Over – all rating of the PPV: *** ½ (Out of 5 stars)
The PPV had so much potential, especially after the first two matches. The crowd wanted Daniel Bryan to be in the Rumble match desperately, but once again, WWE turned its back and went ahead with nonsensical booking, and the crowd voiced their disgust as they booed Batista out of the building. Do I understand why they booked this way? Yes. Am I happy with it? Absolutely not. I wanted Bryan or Punk to win the Rumble, but in the end, WWE once again turned its back. Anyway, that does it for the live review and analysis of the Royal Rumble PPV, as Batista is set to headline WrestleMania 30!
