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Earlier Tonight, A camera caught up with Randy Orton slowly walking into the building. WWE stars walked by him like he was the kiss of death to show how distraught everyone is about what he did to McMahon on Raw.
Backstage, Todd Grisham brought in Randy Orton to discuss any words from the McMahon family. Orton said he hasn’t heard anything and he’s still in the Rumble. Chris Jericho then walked in and chatted up Orton. He said he doesn’t blame Orton one bit because he thought the Mr. McMahon that would show up last week would be the creative genius, but they got a clone of his former self pandering to the fans and his daughter. Jericho told Orton the real McMahon is already dead. Orton asked Jericho if he’s trying to make him feel better or make him lower his guard for the Rumble? Jericho said it’s not like that. He’s honest, plus he doesn’t know how much longer he’ll have to talk to him because he knows the McMahons are vengeful people. It could be Orton’s last night in WWE.
Out eighth was Randy Orton, which gave Hunter pause before trying to toss out Morrison. Here we go with Orton against Steph’s real-life hubby and Vince’s real-life father-in-law. Orton got the best of Hunter initially, then pounded his fists for the RKO, but Hunter blocked. Morrison then smashed Hunter with the Midnight Drive. Flurry of action leading to Rey hitting the 619 on Morrison. Cryme Tyme’s music hit, then both of them came out to flip a coin. JTG won the coin-toss and entered the Rumble, but Shad picked it up and saw it was a two-headed coin. Orton and Rey teased eliminations, then out tenth was Ted DiBiase, Jr.
Morrison and JTG tried to skin the cat simultaneously, then both men recovered back into the ring. Rey then almost took out DiBiase, but both men were okay. Good action thus far at 14:00. Out next was Chris Jericho at #11. Men starting to pile up in the ring before Mike Knox came out #12. He went right after Rey Mysterio, of course, before Ted and Orton schemed to go after JTG. No eliminations, then The Miz came out at #13 at 18:00. Orton suddenly went on an RKO rampage before taking a Pedigree from Hunter. Hunter then decided to take out both Miz and Morrison. Rey suddenly sky-walked across Miz and Morrison to avoid an elimination before Finlay came out #14. Action focused on Finlay vs. Knox for a little while before Cody Rhodes came out #15. Ted, Cody, and Randy then went to work on folks to gang up on various wrestlers.
No eliminations, except for a sick collision between Rey and Orton via the RKO from Orton to counter a springboard move from Rey. At #16, the lights went down and out, leading to The Undertaker. Everyone stopped and turned their attention to Taker, who stepped into the ring and started cleaning house. Taker went after Ted, then again, then took out JTG. Goldust came out #17 and had a face-off with Teddy before Cody grabbed him and they shared a staredown. Brother vs. brother. Goldust went Matt on Cody, setting up a one-on-one fight. Goldust teased eliminating Cody, but he skinned the cat back into the ring. Suddenly, Orton nailed the RKO on Goldust. Orton then instructed Cody to take out the trash. Cody then dumped out his brother, Goldust.
#18 was the new IC champion C.M. Punk at 26:00. A little action, then Mark Henry came out #19 and started cleaning house. Plenty of men around the ring collecting their breath. #20 was Shelton Benjamin just short of 30:00. No eliminations with the ring starting to fill up. #21 was William Regal, who sternly ran into the ring to go right after Punk, who took the IC Title from him on Raw. Tons of men in the ring now with Mark Henry taking an elimination via Rey Rey pulling the top rope down. At 32:00, our entry #22 was Kofi Kingston. Kofi went after all kinds of folks with him bouncing around the ring for a Rumble. He did hit the boom-boom leg drop on Knox, but Orton quickly cut him off. Taker then dumped out Shelton before Kane came out #23. Meanwhile, Rey was caught in between the ringpost trying to avoid elimination. Kane came in and started cleaning house, but no work against Taker yet. Another brother vs. brother confrontation, this time Kane and Taker, who was bleeding from the forehead. Taker and Kane scooped up DiBiase and gave him a chokeslam before Kane gave Kofi a slam. Punk then eliminated Regal.
At #24, R-Truth came out. One of the better reactions of the night. Truth went after Hunter with the spinning forearm blow. Suddenly out at #25, RVD. Shock from the stars in the ring. RVD went right after Kane as the crowd exploded. Everyone fed RVD, who awkwardly cleaned house as only RVD can. Some educated feet found Jericho and Cody, then Knox. Out next was The Brian Kendrick, who came out #26 with Ezekiel Jackson. Tons of men left in the match here. Suddenly, Kofi was dumped out by TBK, then Hunter dumped out TBK. That was quick.
At 40:00, crowd was firmly behind RVD as Punk skinned the cat. Out #27 was Dolph Ziggler. He went after Knox and everyone stared at him funny. Kane didn’t appreciate the handshake intro, so he shook his hand and tossed him out. So long mid-card gimmick acts. Coming up the magical final three numbers as another Rey tease went down. Meanwhile, Punk took the electric chair. Things slowed down in anticipation of #28, which was Santino Marella. Suddenly, Kane eliminated him, like right when Santino entered the ring. Ross said Barbarian’s record is gone. Kane smiled. Santino was beside himself wanting a re-do.
At 43:00, next-to-last was Hacksaw Jim Duggan, winner of the first Rumble in 1988. Duggan cleaned house on Legacy with the crowd firmly behind the ol’ Dugster. Duggan wanted a piece of Taker and he felled the giant tree. Duggan threw around some right hand blows for a little while. More teases, but no eliminations. And our final participant, at #30, was… Big Show. No Michaels, no JBL, no Hardy (either one). In any event, Show slowly made his way to the ring with everyone waiting for him to enter. So, here we go with everyone in the ring and only 15 men out.
Duggan tried to get Show out, but Show knocked him down to the mat. Ross said his heart was in the right place. Show then scooped up Duggan and eliminated him to a round of boos. Waiting for that flurry of boom, boom, boom eliminations, but more teased eliminations at 48:00. Show then press-slammed K-Truth right out of the ring. Show then teased a Punk elimination, but Punk skinned the cat and kicked away at Show. One more tease of Punk, then another. Show then landed the right hand blow to get Punk out. Three in a row for Show. Rey and Knox were then eliminated simultaneously with the camera off the action. Perhaps Horny had something to do with it, as he entered the action. Kane then dumped out Finlay. Camera shot showed Show getting Knox and Rey out, with Rey lasting just short of 50:00.
At 50:00, we have eight eliminations to go and nine men left in the ring. Orton battled Hunter and gave him the implant DDT off the horizontal position. Taker and Show then went face-to-face. They exchanged right hand blows, then Jericho got Show from behind. Suddenly, RVD went up top and nailed the Five Star frogsplash on Orton. Jericho then grabbed RVD and dumped him out, though. Jericho smiled, then Taker snuck up behind him and his smile went away. Taker eliminated him after a brief exchange. Lots of chatter leading to Legacy dumping out Kane.
We have six men left at 52:30 – Hunter, Taker, Show, and Legacy (Orton, Cody, Teddy). Legacy surrounded Taker and went after him gang-style while Show and Hunter battled. Show got the best of him with a chokeslam. Taker then momentarily took care of Cody with a chokeslam. So, we’re back to Taker vs. Show. Taker dropped the straps ala Angle, then Taker and Show had a mini-boxing match. Taker finished off the exchange with a “slobberknocker” of a clothesline before kicking Show over the top rope, but Show skinned the cat. Oh my. Taker and Show battled on the apron, then Orton snuck up behind Taker and missed with the RKO. Show then grappled Taker and pulled him to the apron at 55:00. They battled on the apron with teased eliminations. Orton suddenly RKO’ed Show to eliminate him. Legacy teased eliminating Taker, but Show yanked him down to the floor. Taker and Show then brawled through the stands up into the arena.
At 56:00, it was final four of Legacy and Hunter. Time for a Hunter Superman moment, with Hunter in there for a good 45 minutes at this point. Legacy took apart Hunter, then Orton called for Ted and Cody to pick up Hunter’s lifeless body. Orton taunted Hunter, then Hunter blocked the RKO. Cody and Ted went after Hunter, but Hunter fought them off. He kicked Cody, then nearly dumped Orton, but Orton skinned the cat. Here’s your great finishing sequence: Hunter threw a charging DiBiase out of here. Cody was suddenly the next one out moments later. Orton then snuck up behind Hunter and immediately eliminated him rapid-fire. Oh snap.
Post-match: Orton stood tall with the Legacy in the ring. Ross said Orton is guaranteed a championship match at WrestleMania 25. Orton then stood alone in the ring and pointed to the WM 25 sign hanging above the arena while spotlights shot out from the arena. Ross said Orton is going to Mania to become a champion. Ross reiterated the point that it’s guaranteed, implying the McMahons can’t do anything about it. Orton pointed to the WM 25 sign as a huge fireworks display shot off from the 25 banner. Orton sternly celebrated one more time to close the show.
WINNER: Randy Orton at 58:10. Very good Rumble match. Not one of the best, as there was such a long time period of having too many men in the ring, but the “crowd popping” ring entrances were spread out throughout the match to keep the match action hot. Good moments in the match, such as Show skinning the cat, Rey hanging on throughout, Cody taking out Goldy, and RVD’s surprise appearance. Orton winning was the right call and sets up some potential storyline greatness involving Orton and the McMahons leading to WrestleMania.
