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Randy Orton came out for another pod, then Triple H did his complete entrance. Cole said Sheamus has to eliminate five men to retain. Not really. He just needs to eliminate one and have the others do the work. Kofi Kingston came out fifth, so he’s starting the match. Kofi actually looked around to make sure he wasn’t going to get ambushed like Edge last year. And, finally, the WWE champion Sheamus. Sheamus proudly held up the title belt for everyone to get a good look at, including John Cena, who he took the belt from at TLC in December.

WWE Champion Sheamus vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Triple H vs. Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase vs. John Cena — WWE Title match — Raw brand Elimination Chamber match

The bell sounded and Matt Striker gave us the first piece of history on the night that the WWE Title last changed hands in St. Louis in 1998. Fact check: correct, as it was Survivor Series 1998 when The Rock won the title from Mankind. Sheamus dominated Kofi early on in the match as Randy Orton’s hometown crowd chanted, “RKO,” while Orton watched from inside a pod. Sheamus continued to hit a move, then play to the crowd. Kofi then came back with an enziguiri kick and a springboard splash for a two count. Sheamus shook off Kofi’s offense and regained control as they closed in on the five-minute mark.

At 5:00, the screen bounced from pod to pod before stopping on…Triple H. The spotlight focused on Hunter’s pod and he had a big smile on his face before turning serious and entering the Chamber to go nose-to-nose with Sheamus center ring. They picked up from the end of Raw, where Sheamus gave Hunter the running Outsider’s Edge, with Hunter in control giving Sheamus a beating using the cage as a weapon. Sheamus then tried to come back with the running Edge, but Hunter blocked and hit a DDT for a two count. Kofi, who was MIA for a few minutes, then came off the top with a splash that Hunter ducked and Sheamus ate. Kofi then stacked up Hunter and Sheamus in the corner before cat jumping Sheamus for some weak-looking right hand blows out of a corner mount before hitting a leaping clothesline. Kofi then followed with an innovative Boom Drop over the top rope onto Hunter, who was on the platform on the other side of the ring. Both men sold the effects here.

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I’ve added 21 photos in 2 different sets of photos taken by Slam Canoe and Moses from this past Sunday’s Royal Rumble.

Gallery Links:
- Pay-Per-Views > Royal Rumble 2010 – Set 1 (Moses)
- Pay-Per-Views > Royal Rumble 2010 – Set 2 (Slam Canoe)

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At the top of the hour, Orton was shown staring into space with disgust before Shawn Michaels came out to his standard “Sexy Boy” theme music. Michaels bounced to the ring and posed as Orton stared down at the floor.
Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels — Elimination Chamber qualifying match
The bell sounded and they had a brief stare down before locking up. Orton drove Michaels to the corner, then he broke and Michaels glared at him with his John Wayne ice-cold look. Orton met him with an equally-icy glare before missing with a right hand and Michaels landed a knife-edge chop to the chest. Michaels then hit a neckbreaker and teased the superkick, but Orton bailed to the floor. Michaels followed and the chase was on back into the ring where Orton teased the spike DDT, but Michaels blocked, landed a chop, and went up top where he hit a flying cross-body block for a two count. Orton then sent Michaels upside down in the corner before hitting the fallaway backbreaker to focus his attack on Michaels’s lower back, which prompted Michael Cole’s standard back injury history lesson.

Orton slowed things down with a focused attack as the announcers talked about both men being in a fragile state of mind. Orton then took Michaels up top, but Michaels knocked Orton off the top with forearm strikes before hitting a flying elbow drop. Michaels then went to the corner to tune up the band at 6:00, but Orton ducked and teased the RKO, only to have Michaels hit an atomic drop and chop combo twice. Michaels then flew off the ropes with a trademark flying elbow smash. He was about to do the classic kip up, but Orton grabbed him in mid-air and rolled up Michaels for the surprise pin and the win.

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Locker room: Randy Orton was focused and staring into space. Cody Rhodes then walked in and said they’ve done too much and gone too far for the group to slip away. Cody said they know Orton can beat Sheamus and win back the title. He said he’ll be there for him. Cody then looked away and said he wishes he could say the same for Ted DiBiase. Cody said Ted hasn’t been the same since his movie came out and all he talks about is winning the Rumble match and going on to Mania to beat Orton for the WWE Title. Cody told Orton he can count on him. He slapped Orton on the back and walked off to leave Orton with his thoughts.

Backstage: Randy Orton was walking down the hallway, then Ted DiBiase walked up to him and said he has his back. DiBiase said he can’t even talk to Cody right now. He said Cody’s been talking about winning the Rumble and facing Sheamus at Mania, even counting Orton out. Orton had enough of their games and said he’s going to win against Sheamus and he doesn’t want their help.

In-ring: WWE champ Sheamus came to the ring to near-unanimous boos. Randy Orton then came out to a smattering of cheers, but mainly boos as Cole made sure Orton was presented as a heel too. Lawler said it’s a battle of un-likeable wrestlers. Justin Roberts then handled the formal ring intros. Orton was about 90 percent cheered. He didn’t acknowledge, though. Sheamus was the clear heel with the crowd.

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Preview: WWE Champion Sheamus© vs. Randy Orton

Like a rough Irish whiskey, WWE Champion Sheamus has proven that, when trifled with, he’s more than capable of leaving even the toughest man flat on his back. At the Royal Rumble, however, The Celtic Warrior must face a particularly sobering prospect: Defending his title against five-time WWE Champion Randy Orton.

While The Viper’s inclusion in the WWE Title Match may seem unexpected, it should come as no surprise to those familiar with his methods. Orton recognized an opportunity during a Triple Threat Match on Raw to determine the No. 1 contender and, as usual, he quickly seized it. As he battled with his opponents, John Cena and Kofi Kingston, his henchmen from The Legacy, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, caused enough of a distraction to allow the scheming Superstar the victory.

While Orton has never seemed interested in clothing his naked ambition, he should be careful what he’s gotten himself into. Sheamus’ rabid aggression and overwhelming strength promise to be a powerful antidote to the cold calculation and athletic agility of The Viper.

Will The Celtic Warrior be able to prevent Orton – with a possible assist by Legacy – from regaining the precious WWE Championship? Or will the pipes, the pipes be calling for the insistent Irishman?

To find out, be sure to catch all the action live on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 8 PM/5 PM PT, exclusively on pay-per-view.

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BACKSTAGE: Kingston was warming up. Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase approached him. They told him to relax because they were going to beat hi down, they’d let Orton do that. Kingston said he won’t let them intimidate him. He called them Orton’s sidekicks. DiBiase said he’s never been in this position – one-on-one against someone of Orton’s caliber. Haven’t they wrestled each other before? Anyway, DiBiase said Kingston is terrified on the inside. Kingston walked down the hall into Orton’s locker room. He told Orton that he doesn’t deserve a title shot ever again and he’s looking forward to beating him down tonight. Kingston looked at DiBiase and Rhodes as if to tell them that move proved he isn’t intimidated.

RANDY ORTON vs. KOFI KINGSTON
Orton got his obligatory side headlock out of the way very early, going to it immediately at the start of the match. After a powerslam at 1:00, he applied his obligatory chinlock. Kingston surprised Orton with a roll-up at 2:00. Kingston ran in place, drawing some boos, and signaled for his “Boom Boom” sequence. Orton rolled out of the ring. Kingston leaped off the top rope at Orton, but Orton caught him with a dropkick. Orton dominated offense methodically for several minutes in the ring. At 8:00 Kingston clotheslined Orton over the top rope to the floor and then dove at him at ringside, knocking him down with a shoulder tackle. Back in the ring Kingston scored a two count after a flying bodyblock. Orton fired back with a backbreaker. At 9:00 Kingston hit Trouble in Paradise for a near fall, stopped when Orton grabbed the bottom rope. Orton then gave Kingston an implant DDT off the second rope. Orton waited for Kingston to rise onto his knees. Orton went for the punt kick. Kingston blocked it with his arm, but then sold serious arm pain. Orton drove his arm into the mat DDT-style, then licked his lips and rolled his eyes back as if he really enjoyed that moment. He then pounded the mat and set up his RKO. Kingston went for Trouble in Paradise out of nowhere, but Orton ducked and hit the RKO for the clean win. There was a significant minority pop for Orton’s win.

WINNER: Orton in 13:00.