FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Looking back at WWE Royal Rumble 2013

Welcome one and all to another action-packed edition of Flashback Friday here on WrestlingNewsSource.com! The time has almost come, The Royal Rumble is right around the corner and what might be the most unpredictable Rumble in years. We also have NXT Takeover the night before so I hope you weekend schedule is clear because there’s plenty of wrestling to go around. Will Kenny Omega show up? Will Samoa Joe be promoted to the main roster? Will Tye Dillinger come out at 10? So many possibilities, I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it!

Oh, where was I? Ah yes, to hold you over until Sunday, I’ll be taking a look at WWE’s Royal Rumble of 2013. The Rock returns to challenge for the WWE Championship but standing in his way is the longest reigning WWE champion of the modern-era: CM Punk with Paul Heyman in his corner. The Rumble itself will feature the likes of Ryback, John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Daniel Bryan and many, many more. So, let’s get into it!

Opening Promo

Clips of past winners and what is at stake in this match: An opportunity to be in the main event of Wrestlemania. We quickly shift focus to CM Punk, 434 days as the champion. Ryback, Jericho, Bryan and even Cena have fallen to The Voice of The Voiceless. However, The Rock is back and The Rock wants the WWE Championship. The Rock has waited ten years to hold the championship but will Rock’s dream come true? Great as always from the WWE when it comes to promo packages.

(WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match) Alberto Del Rio © W/ Ricardo Rodriguez vs Big Show (Last Man Standing Match)

Del Rio’s face run got off to an awkward start as Del Rio would turn face by saving Rodriguez from the hands of 3MB but a week later, Del Rio ran over Santa Claus (Mick Foley). Despite the hiccup, Del Rio would capture the championship from Big Show after burying Show under an announce table. Before the match, Bret Hart gives Del Rio a pep talk and Del Rio is put over huge by The Excellence of Execution. Rodriguez marks out for Bret Hart and Bret Hart gives Rodriguez his sunglasses. Nice endorsement for the new champion.

Show corners Del Rio to start, the irate Show is chopping and smacking the champion. Del Rio fires back with kicks but Show swats away Del Rio with a clothesline. Scoop slam by Show, massive chest chop. Del Rio comes back with rights, Del Rio is on the middle rope and dives into another chest chop. Headbutt by Show, corner splash but Del Rio dropkicks the knee of Show. Kick to the head by Del Rio, superkick by Del Rio. Show shakes it off, Show tries for a powerbomb but Del Rio nails a frankensteiner, seated senton by Del Rio from the top rope. Corner enzugiri by Del Rio, clubbing blows on the arm of Show. Show picks up Del Rio who was trying for the cross armbreaker and drops Del Rio with a Samoan drop.

Del Rio gets up at a count of 8, chop by Show on the floor. Show throws Del Rio into the ring and grabs a chair. Del Rio dropkicks Show and has the chair, wham across the back. Into the ribs and on the back, Del Rio is laying out Show with the control. Del Rio was trying for a chair shot from the middle rope but Show nails a Chokeslam. Del Rio is up at a count of nine, Del Rio collapses to the floor. Show slams Del Rio on the floor. Del Rio kicks Show in the nuts which Show sells by standing on the spot making goofy facials. Superkick by Del Rio and Show gets up at nine much to the chagrin of Del Rio.

Del Rio and Show are by the entrance way, Show throws Del Rio into the stage props, Show misses a superkick. Show has a light-tube and nails Del Rio. Show grabs a table and plans Del Rio’s demise. Show climbs part of the set, drags up Del Rio and Chokeslams the champion through the table. A big spot and a nasty bump for Del Rio. Del Rio is up at a count of nine, Del Rio collapses once more. Thrust kick by Show, Del Rio is clutching at straws now, Del Rio is rolled into the ring. Del Rio powders to avoid The KO Punch.

Show grabs some steel steps, Del Rio dodges the steps. Rodriguez attacks Show and is hurled into a barricade for his trouble. Show tries to spear Del Rio through a barricade but Del Rio moves out of the way, Show is down. Del Rio grabs a chair and wallops Show’s arm and back. Now, Del Rio has a fire extinguisher, Show is lying prone in the ring. Cross armbreaker by Del Rio and Rodriguez pulls duck-tape out of his bucket and Rodriguez ties Show’s feet to the bottom rope. Show is hog-tied to the bottom rope and cannot get up and Del Rio retains his championship.

A good match that fulfilled its goal as putting over Del Rio as the champion and a resilient champion at that. I would have liked a slower count from Scott Armstrong for when Del Rio was Chokeslammed and thrown through the table, Armstrong was counting so fast that you barely go to take in any of the drama. That was a big bump for Del Rio yet the referee counted so fast, the table bump was not allowed to shine. Show came off looking like a killer, throwing around Del Rio and decimating the champion. Overall, a good day at the office for both men.

Winner: Del Rio over Show via Shenanigans!

Dolph Ziggler/Cesaro/PTP/Orton/Cena/Barrett/Sheamus/Ryback Promos

A lot of promos, each superstar claiming that they are going to win the rumble. A lot of star power in this rumble, I am liking this so far.

(WWE Tag Team Championship Match) Team Rhodes Scholars vs Team Hell No! ©

Rhodes & Sandow earned their opportunity for the tag team championships at TLC by defeating Sin Cara & Mysterio in a tornado tag team table match. Team Hell No are one of the most entertaining teams in recent memory, their matches with The Shield would catapult Daniel Bryan to the main event. Rhodes starts with Bryan, Rhodes grabs the arm. Bryan counters for a dropkick, Bryan catches Rhodes in mid-leapfrog and Bryan applies a Romero Special. Tag to Kane, dropkick by Kane for a two count. Kane uppercuts Rhodes in the corner, Rhodes goes for the legs of Kane and backs Kane into the corner. Tag to Sandow, Kane fights out and scoop slams Sandow.

 Tag to Bryan, dropkick in the corner by Bryan. Kicks to the chest by Bryan and a tag to Kane. Big boot by Kane and Sandow is on the floor, Rhodes lands on the floor too. Bryan nails a suicide dive on both Sandow and Rhodes, Sandow pushes Bryan into the ropes and Rhodes lowbridges Bryan. Sandow drives Bryan’s back into the ring apron, scoop slam and a single leg Boston crab by Rhodes. Bryan counters for a small package, two count for Bryan. Rhodes wipes out Bryan, tag to Sandow. Russian legsweep by Sandow and an elbow of disdain. Cover and a two count for Sandow, knees to the back by Sandow.

Tag to Rhodes, right hands by Rhodes. Bryan fires up, boot to the face and massive kick to the face. Sandow tags in and yanks Bryan back to their corner and another tag with Rhodes coming into the match. Bryan nails Rhodes with a DDT. Kane gets the hot tag, Kane clotheslines and sidewalk slams Sandow. Kane climbs to the top, Rhodes distracts Kane and Sandow climbs up with Kane. Kane shoves off Sandow but Sandow dodges the clothesline, neckbreaker by Sandow for two. Rhodes and Sandow block a double Chokeslam and nail a double suplex on Kane. Bryan blind tags in off Kane before the suplex, missile dropkick by Bryan on Sandow.

Kane Chokeslams Rhodes and Bryan applies The No Lock to Sandow and Sandow taps out. Solid tag match with some awful commentary as Cole and JBL argue rather than call the match. Somehow, I expected more from this match, I thought it was time for Rhodes and Sandow but it was not meant to be on this night or any night. Bryan and Kane continue to run through the division with a confrontation with The Shield looming in the background.

Winners: Team Hell No! over Team Rhodes Scholars via No Lock!

Royal Rumble Match

You know the rules: Thirty men, two men begin and participants enter at timed-intervals. Elimination occurs when a participant is tossed over the top rope and both feet hit the floor. The winner goes to challenge for a title of their choosing at Wrestlemania. They play the by the numbers promo which does not seem boring after all this time. I break this down into blocks so it is easier to follow.

Entrants 1 to 5

Number one is Dolph Ziggler, Ziggler gets on the microphone and makes fun of his competition, oozing charisma and promise. So much that it makes me sad to see he never lived up to the hype. Anyways, Ziggler panics as his worst fear comes true as Chris Jericho emerges as number two. Jericho’s appearance had not been leaked so this was a nice surprise for all those in attendance and anyone watching at home. Nice to think that in storyline, Vickie could have rehired Jericho to mess up Ziggler, it is not mentioned though.

Jericho and Ziggler get into it right away teasing eliminations for both men, Ziggler fires back before Jericho superplexes poor Dolph. Number three is Cody Rhodes, Jericho knocks down Rhodes before Ziggler teams up with Rhodes. Jericho survives the threat of Rhodes and Ziggler, Jericho applies the Walls of Jericho to Rhodes before Ziggler breaks up the fun. Number four is Kofi Kingston, Kingston attacks Rhodes. Ziggler dodges Trouble in Paradise, Ziggler is almost eliminated again. All four men are trying to eliminate one another, no eliminations. Number five is Santino Marella.

Entrants 6 to 10

Santino manages to hurl everyone onto the apron, Santino celebrates and puts on The Cobra, Kofi gets nailed. Jericho chops Santino and Ziggler nails a superkick. Santino is tossed over.

Santino has been eliminated by Rhodes!

Number six is Drew Mcintyre, big boot on Kofi. Rhodes and Ziggler continue to torment Jericho. Number seven is Titus O’ Neil, O’Neil takes a clubbing from Rhodes and Kofi before O’Neil clotheslines both men. Jericho lowbridges Mcintyre and Jericho springboard dropkicks Drew out of the match.

Drew has been eliminated by Jericho!

Number eight is Goldust, how many times has Goldust been a surprise entrant? Goldust and Rhodes collide, Goldust tries to eliminate Rhodes but Rhodes hangs on in the match. Number nine is David Otunga with a black eye that looks nasty. Rhodes tries eliminating Goldust but Goldust hangs on in the rumble. Number ten is Heath Slater.

Entrants 11 to 15

Sheamus is number eleven, Irish Curses all around. Ten beats of the bodhran on Titus, Titus has been eliminated. Brogue Kick to Otunga.

Otunga/Titus have been eliminated by Sheamus!

Sheamus is attacked by the heels, number twelve is Tensai. Albert chants from the fans and everyone is ganging up on Tensai. Ziggler misses a stinger splash and is almost eliminated again. Number thirteen is Brodus Clay, Goldust elevates Rhodes onto the apron. Rhodes manages to outsmart Goldust and Goldust is eliminated.

Goldust has been eliminated by Cody Rhodes!

Rey Mysterio is in at number fourteen, 619 for Ziggler and a 619 for Jericho. Number fifteen is Darren Young, the match is full of people and we need to see some eliminations. Brodus Clay is eliminated by everyone and seconds later, Kofi eliminates Tensai.

Brodus has been eliminated by everyone!

Tensai has been eliminated by Kofi Kingston!

Kofi is knocked onto Tensai by Ziggler, Kofi’s feet have not touched the floor. Kofi is stranded on the Spansih announce table, Kofi manages to hop his way back into the rumble.

Entrants 16 to 20

Number sixteen is Bo Dallas, Kofi is on the apron, Kofi lowbridges Darren Young but Rhodes disaster kicks Kofi out of the match.

Darren Young has been eliminated by Kofi!

Kofi has been eliminated by Cody Rhodes!

Number seventeen is The Godfather, Godfather has some Hos too. Godfather milks his entrance as Godfather is eliminated almost immediately by a dropkick from Dolph Ziggler.

Godfather has been eliminated by Dolph Ziggler!

Godfather does not give a damn because Godfather will be partying. Number eighteen is Wade Barrett with one of his many terrible themes. Barrett wrecks Sheamus with a Winds of Change. Number nineteen is John Cena, things are about to pick up in this match. All the heels stand in unison against Cena, bad idea heels. Heath Slater is gone, Cody Rhodes is gone.

Slater/Rhodes have been eliminated by John Cena!

Number twenty is Damien Sandow, Mysterio is kicked out by Barrett.

Rey Mysterio has been eliminated Barrett!

Entrants 21 to 25

Number twenty-one is Daniel Bryan, Bryan kicks Ziggler and Sandow. Add Barrett to the list too. Number twenty-two is Cesaro, uppercuts for everyone. Number twenty-three is Great Khali, Khali chops and headbutts his way through the bodies. There is a whole lot of nothing going on in this ring. Number twenty-four is Kane, Team Hell No! are in the match. Number twenty five is Zack Ryder. Zig-Zag on Ziggler, Khali is thrown out by Team Hell No! Bryan throws out Kane, Cesaro uppercuts Bryan into Kane’s arm. Bryan is only in the rumble thanks to Kane, Kane drops Bryan.

Khali has been eliminated by Team Hell No!

Kane has been eliminated by Daniel Bryan!

Daniel Bryan has been eliminated by Kane!

Entrants 26 to 30

Orton is number twenty-six, double rope hung DDT by Orton. RKO to Ryder and Ryder has been eliminated.

Ryder has been eliminated by Randy Orton!

Jinder Mahal is in at twenty-seven. In the meantime, Cena hurls out Cesaro.

Cesaro has been eliminated by John Cena!

Number twenty-eight is The Miz, Miz brawls with Cesaro in the rampway. Miz has an injured ankle coming into the match. Sheamus knee lifts Mahal out of the match.

Mahal has been eliminated by Sheamus!

Number twenty-nine is Sin Cara, enzuigiris to everyone. Barrett tries dumping Bo Dallas but Dallas holds on to Barrett and shocks the world as Dallas eliminates Barrett.

Barrett has been eliminated by Bo Dallas!

Miz almost eliminates Jericho but Jericho holds onto the ropes. Barrett returns to eliminate Bo Dallas and a Bullhammer for Dallas.

Bo Dallas has been eliminated by Barrett!

Number thirty is Ryback, Ryback dumps out Sandow. Ryback swats away Sin Cara and dumps out Sandow. Miz has been thrown out by Ryback. Ryback is dominating.

Miz/Sandow/Sin Cara have been eliminated by Ryback!

Jericho runs wild, Codebreaker to Ryback. Lionsault to Cena, springboard dropkick to Sheamus who almost is eliminated. Clothesline to Orton, Codebreaker to Ziggler but Ziggler is not eliminated. Ziggler elevates Jericho to the apron and a superkick to Jericho. Jericho is out of this match. Great showing from Y2J!

Jericho has been eliminated by Ziggler!

Orton runs wild, RKOs to Sheamus, Ziggler and Cena. Orton readies Ryback and delivers a rope hung DDT. Orton gets the crowd pumped up as Ryback is next for The RKO. Ryback pushes off Orton and clotheslines Orton over the top rope.

Orton has been eliminated by Ryback!

Down to four, Ryback, Sheamus, Ziggler and Cena. Ziggler is placed on the apron by Sheamus, Brohue Kick by Sheamus and Ziggler is eliminated just like that. A little disappointing for Ziggler to be thrown out just after Orton as the crowd was still miffed by Orton’s elimination. Great showing from Ziggler!

Ziggler has been eliminated by Sheamus!

Sheamus and Cena take down Ryback before battling one another, shoulder blocks and side suplex by Cena. Cena was going for The Five Knuckle Shuffle but Ryback annihilates Cena with a Meathook Clothesline. Ryback tries for Shell-Shock on Sheamus, Sheamus fights out and scores with White Noise. Sheamus lines up Ryback for a Brogue Kick, Ryback dodges and tosses Sheamus to the floor.

Sheamus has been eliminated by Ryback!

Ryback and Cena are the final two men, cue the pointing at the Wrestlemania sign. Crowd is all-in on Ryback, Cena punches and unloads on Ryback. Ryback turns the tide with a spinebuster. Ryback is going for The Meathook, Cena drop toeholds and clamps on The STF. Cena chokes out Ryback, Cena attempts to drop Ryback over the top rope. Cena has Ryback on the top rope, Ryback is fighting back, Thesz Press and a head ramming by Ryback. Ryback looked to powerslam Cena over like Big Show & The Rock but Cena shoves Ryback over the top rope.

Winner: John Cena over Everyone Else via Survival!

An average rumble from the WWE, Jericho and Ziggler were the stars of the match. The middle of the match dragged for long periods with not a whole going on in the ring. Not too heavy on filler, no Hacksaw or any announcers entering the match so, that’s a bonus. The end of the match was star-packed but I was disappointed with the reactions between all the big stars.

Cena winning was predictable, the first match between The Rock and Cena did great business so why not try to replicate the magic? Ryback looked great in this match though, Sheamus and Orton were tossed by Ryback. The biggest failure of this match was to continue building Ryback after this match. All the momentum would be squandered with loss after loss on pay per view and a heel turn.

(WWE Championship Match) The Rock vs CM Punk © W/ Paul Heyman

CM Punk vs The Rock, if The Shield get involved in the match, CM Punk will be stripped of The WWE Championship. Punk’s reign took off for me once it became all about respect and Punk turned on the fans and demanded their attention. 434 days as champion, a great accomplishment but one day, it has to come up an end. The promos were gold, CM Punk’s too short to box with God line was just great. Rock cuts a promo before the match, fires up himself, fires up his fans and it is a cheesy promo but damn it, The Rock makes it work. Rock reaches out for the fans’ hands and Team Bring It are going to take down CM Punk.

Champion comes out first, irks me every time I see that happen because you just know the title change is coming (Also, the champion should always come out last). Atmosphere is electric in the arena, Rock and Punk are staring a whole through one another as the introductions are made. Punk gets right in Rock’s face like a heel should. Punk panders with championship, trying to get inside the head of The Rock.

It starts hot, Rock has control before Punk kicks and clubs Rock. Irish whip by Punk into the corner, Rock explodes with a clothesline. Punk is on the floor, Rock is lured in but Rock regains control smashing Punk into the barricade and announce table. Punk targets the leg and throws Rock in the ring. Rock knocks Punk to the floor, Punk suckers in Rock for the second time. Rock reverses Punk and throws Punk into the barricade. Heyman cheap shots Rock as the referee’s back is turned. Punk clotheslines Rock hard. Punk drops Rock mid-section first on the barricade. Punk kicks Rock in the back and applies a bodyscissors to Rock.

Knee to the ribs by Punk, cover and a two. Punk transitions into a submission that works the neck and ribs of Rock. Rock breaks the hold and fires up before Rock nails a calf kick. Punk step-overs Rock and sweeps imaginary dirt on the challenger. Spinning sole butt to Rock’s ribs. More knees by the champion and Rock is hurting. Heyman cheap shots The Rock’s ribs. Springboard dropkick by Punk, Rock crashes into the announce table. Punk dives from the top rope and nails a double axe handle. Punk has tweaked his knee, Cole mentions it so good job Cole! Rock goes after the leg of Punk, Punk throws Rock to the floor. Suicide dive by Punk and the challenger is down.

Punk misses a springboard clothesline and Punk clutches the leg. Rock works the leg, right hands to the face. Russian legsweep by Rock, cover and a two count. Rock measures for a Rock Bottom, Punk elbows his way out. GTS, Rock counters, sweeps the leg and attempts a sharpshooter but Punk counters for The Anaconda Vise. Rock turns it into a pin and breaks the hold. Back suplex leaves both men down. Rock measures for another Rock Bottom, Punk transitions into a crucifix but Rock counters for a sharpshooter. Punk finds a way to make it to the ropes. Punk powders to the floor and Rock is in pursuit. Short-arm clothesline by The Rock, Rock clears the announce table.

Punk is on the table, Punk catches Rock with a kick to the head. Punk calls for GTS and The Rock reverses for a Rock Bottom. Unfortunately, the table gives way, Rock Bottom on the floor by The Rock to make up for the table breaking. Rock drags Punk to the ring, cover and a two count for the challenger. Punk catches Rock with a  thunderous roundhouse to the head, both men are in a heap on the canvas. Punk and Rock trade blows, Rock tees off. Leaping clothesline and a spinebuster, Rock was about to hit The People’s Elbow but the lights go out. Rock is powerbombed through the table by The Shield in the darkness.

Punk is laughing his head off in the ring while Rock lays broken on the outside. Punk hobbles over and sarcastically asks about who did it, Punk throws Rock in the ring and Punk covers The Rock. CM Punk is still your WWE Champion. Punk kicks Rock out of his ring and waves goodbye. Punk celebrates before Vince struts out to the ring and makes good on his promise to strip CM Punk as The Shield did interfere. Vince strips CM Punk but Rock says no, Rock wants the match to be restarted. Rock wants to take the championship from Punk himself. Vince agrees to Rock’s request!

Rock slides in but Rock can hardly stand, Punk stomps all over Rock. Running knee and short-arm clothesline by Punk, Macho Man elbow drop. Cover and a two count for Punk, Punk calls for The GTS. Rock blocks and nails a spinebsuter. People’s Elbow and Rock wins the WWE Championship.

Very good match, I think Rock vs Punk worked a better match than Cena vs Rock which seemed like a finisher fest. Rock’s ribs were worked over throughout the match and Punk’s knee which required surgery was worked over throughout too. So, no complaints there, they worked in The Shield interfering in a clever way and Rock comes off as a great hero for wanting to beat Punk without Vince stripping Punk. A great title reign for Punk, the last few months of his heel run may have been his best work. Punk may never have gotten his Wrestlemania main event but working The Undertaker at Mania was definitely a good substitution while Rock would drop the championship to Cena at Wrestlemania completing Cena’s Road to Redemption.

Winner: Rock over CM Punk via People’s Elbow!

That was WWE’s Royal Rumble of 2013. The show is mostly positive, you have a strong showing from Del Rio to establish him as the new face of Smackdown, you continue John Cena’s road to redemption and you have The Rock end CM Punk’s historic title reign to set up the mother of all rematches in WWE’s eyes. My only complaints would be the tag team match was very basic and Team Hell No! needed something new like chasing someone for the championships. Also, I think The Royal Rumble should always be the last match but maybe WWE had the foresight to see that most people would not be happy with a Cena win or Rock is such a huge superstar that Rock was always going to work the main event. I do not know but I can say, this show did not drag and was fun to watch!

So, that’s it! The time for talking is almost over. The Royal Rumble is just two days away, everyone has their picks, their possible debuts and their surprise entrants. For the first time in a while, a lot of fans are stumped as to who is going to win the rumble. Randy Orton’s name has been thrown around with WWE having huge plans for a WWE Championship match between Orton and Bray, you have The Undertaker winning and challenging Cena for the championship if Cena beats Styles, you could have Goldberg vs Reigns for the universal championship. Let us know who you think is going to win The Royal Rumble!