The Coach was shown backstage with a number of WWE Superstars and he said the very fact that they are standing there means they will represent RAW at the Royal Rumble. They've all been asked here and Smackdown! had the opportunity to give Chris Benoit the number one spot in the Royal Rumble, so Eric Bischoff secured the greatest spot in the Royal Rumble, number 30. The question is, who will be that Superstar? Chris Jericho said that Eric Bischoff still owes him the Survivor Series favor, so he'd like to cash that in to be number 30. The Superstars in the room complained and Coach told Chris that Mr. Bischoff is away on business, so he has appointed Coach as the interim General Manager. So after consulting with Mr. Bischoff, they've designed the only way to determine the # 30 spot. Each of them have been placed in matches and the winners of these matches later in the evening will compete in an over the top rope challenge and the winner of that will walk out with the number 30 spot in the Royal Rumble match. The only things they need to know is that not all of these matches will be one on one matches and outside interference will not be tolerated. In fact, if there is any interference what so ever, not only will they not be # 30 but they will lose their spot in the Royal Rumble. And one other thing, the first of these matches is next. The Superstars scampered around looking for the list of matches as Coach stood high above them.
Rob Van Dam and Booker T vs. Christian and Matt Hardy
Rob Van Dam's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring for a tag team match and the winners will advance to the over the top rope challenge later tonight and he's teaming up with Booker T against Christian and Matt Hardy!
Booker T knocked Christian down with a heel kick and then Matt Hardy got in the ring and Booker knocked him down to the mat and out of the ring with a boot. Matt Hardy then gave Booker T some cheap shots from the outside of the ring and Christian knocked Booker out of the ring for Matt to lay into Booker even more.
Rob Van Dam pulled Matt Hardy down by the legs and gave him a slingshot into Christian, who was on the ring apron, knocking him down. RVD then rolled Matt Hardy up from behind in a schoolboy pin to get a two count.
Matt Hardy rolled Rob Van Dam up and put his feet on the ropes but only got a two count as referee Jack Doan detected it.
Booker T got in the ring and nailed both Christian and Matt Hardy with the scissors kick and then Rob Van Dam went to the top rope and came off with the five star frog splash and a pin for the three count on Christian!
Winners - Booker T and Rob Van Dam
After the match, Rob Van Dam and Booker T celebrated their win and later tonight, they'll be a part of the over the top rope challenge.
Later tonight: The Goldberg/Scott Steiner match has been turned into a Triple Threat Match also involving Test and it's another advancement match to determine who will get into the over the top rope challenge at the end of the night!
In the arena, The Coach's music hit and he made his way out as the interim General Manager for tonight's show and he walked over to Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler and sat down with them for some commentary. Coach said that it's serious here tonight, he's here as the man in charge and he takes his job very seriously and they got off to a great start, you gotta admit that.
Chris Jericho vs. Rene Dupree
Chris Jericho's music played throughout the arena and he made his way out to the ring for an advancement match and this is a one on one match with Y2J against Rene Dupree.
Rene and Jericho locked it up in the center of the ring and Rene shoved Jericho back and then the two locked horns once again and Rene took Chris down with a hip toss and then he celebrated as if to say he just won the match. Y2J quickly got up and slapped Rene Dupree across the face.
As the fans chanted "Y2J, Y2J," Chris Jericho went for the Walls of Jericho on Rene Dupree but Rene was able to get to the ropes and roll to the ring apron. Chris Jericho then took the opportunity to knock Rene Dupree down from the ring apron to the outside of the ring with a springboard drop kick.
Chris Jericho gave Rene Dupree a drop toe hold into the second rope and then Jericho went off the ropes and jumped on Rene's back as he hung over the middle rope. Chris Jericho then knocked Rene down to the mat with an Enziguri and then pinned him for a two count.
Chris Jericho pulled Rene Dupree down to the mat with a bulldog and then he went for the lionsault but Dupree got his knees up. Rene Dupree then lifted Chris Jericho up and gave him a modified Death Valley Driver and then pinned him but couldn't get the three count.
Chris Jericho later rolled Rene Dupree down to the mat and then he hooked him in the Walls of Jericho to force him to tap out, advancing to the over the top rope challenge!
Winner - Chris Jericho
Who is Mick Foley?
He claims to be a Hardcore Legend, but is he really? Clips of Mick Foley were shown and they were of Foley showing off his silly side in the WWE. Hardcore Legend? I don't think so. The face of a true Hardcore Legend was shown and that's Randy Orton. The preceding has been paid for by the friends and supporter of Randy Orton.
Chris Jericho was shown backstage and Christian showed up, cheering Jericho on. Jericho said that he's on his way tonight to get number 30. It's a great night for Y2J. Christian said it is, but the sad thing is that he won't get the chance to get the # 30 spot. It's funny how things turn out because he didn't even lose his match. Jericho asked Christian if he's getting to something and Christian said that he is. He'd like Jericho to use his Survivor Series favor to let Christian replace Jericho in the over the top rope challenge. Jericho said "WHAT?" Christian said he's serious and he talked about how he's been by Jericho's side all along. And just last week, who told him the truth about Trish and took him out on the town? Jericho said he's serious? Well Jericho is serious too. He's been the World Champion before in the main event at Wrestlemania and he's wanted to return there. Christian is going to get his chance but tonight, this is Jericho's chance. He can't give him that favor. He has to understand. Christian was silent but then he wished Jericho good luck. Jericho then left the room and Christian remained in the room, unhappy.
Jim Ross, The Coach and Jerry Lawler were shown as a three man announce team and Coach as the interim General Manager of RAW and Coach added that if Jericho agreed to that, they'd have to ask Coach first because he's the man in charge tonight.
Mark Henry vs. Rico
Mark Henry made his way out to the ring lead by Theodore Long and this is another advancement match with Mark Henry against Rico, who was accompanied to the ring by Miss Jackie.
Rico taunted Mark and Mark went for a clothesline but Rico ducked under it and slapped Mark Henry's ass. Mark went after Rico but Rico slid under him and got out of the ring and gave Theodore Long a big kiss. As Theodore Long freaked out, Mark Henry went after Rico and chased him back into the ring where Rico jumped on Mark Henry and "rode" him like a bull.
Rico kicked Mark Henry in the gut and then he gave him a mule kick to the chin. Rico then climbed to the top rope and came off with a cross body but Mark side stepped him and shoved him down to the mat.
Mark Henry then scooped Rico up off the mat and gave him a power slam and a pin for the three count to pick up the win.
Winner - Mark Henry
Theodore Long got in the ring to celebrate with Mark Henry and he's now entered into the over the top rope challenge later tonight to determine who will get # 30 at the Royal Rumble!
Batista and Randy Orton were shown backstage reading a WWE Magazine and Ric Flair showed up, asking Randy if he's ready to go? Tonight's his night. Ric told Orton that he may be the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, a man that every woman in the world wants to be close to. And Flair and Batista are the Tag Team Champions and that the Royal Rumble, with Triple H making his mark again by beating Shawn Michaels again and Flair and Batista walking out of the Rumble retaining the Tag Team Titles and Orton is the odds on favorite to win at the Rumble. At Wrestlemania, it's going to be an all Evolution main event! Orton compared it to Hulk Hogan vs. the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania, Intercontinental Champion vs. Heavyweight Champion. Tonight, Orton is going to make Evolution proud because he's going to leave this arena the 30th entrant into the Royal Rumble. Flair said that they are the best of the best and as we cut away, Flair checked out the size of Batista, who is looking bigger and bigger every day.
Kane vs. Spike Dudley
Kane's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring for another advancement match and he's up against Spike Dudley in one on one action.
Spike Dudley stormed to the ring and he went off the ropes and gave Kane a headbutt to the mid section and he went off the ropes and went for another one but Kane knocked Spike down to the mat with a big boot.
The referee ended the match and gave the match to Spike Dudley when Spike shoved the referee and the referee thought it was Kane so he gave the match to Spike Dudley by disqualification!
Winner as a result of a disqualification, Spike Dudley
This decision angered Kane and he got out of the ring and bullied Spike Dudley, slamming him into the steel steps. Kane then press slammed Spike Dudley into the ring and then he tossed a set of steel steps into the ring and then he got in the ring and went after Spike and a number of WWE officials came out to break it up. WWE officials escorted Spike Dudley out of the ring and to the back as Kane picked up the steel steps and tossed them down in anger.
Triple Threat Match
Scott Steiner vs. Test vs. Goldberg
Scott Steiner's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring for a Triple Threat Match against Test and Goldberg and the winner will be entered into the over the top rope challenge later tonight!
Both Scott Steiner and Test knocked Goldberg down to the mat with forearms and Test stomped away on Goldberg as Scott Steiner held him down to the mat.
Goldberg knocked Test to the outside of the ring and then he pressed Scott Steiner above his head and then turned it into a power slam. Goldberg went to the corner and set up for the spear on Steiner but Test hopped to the ring apron and Goldberg knocked him down with a forearm.
Scott Steiner took Goldberg down to the mat and then he pinned Goldberg but only got a two count as Test pulled Steiner off of Goldberg. Steiner and Test eventually got in a fight and Test went for the pump handle slam but Steiner got out of it and shoved Test to the outside of the ring.
Scott Steiner put Goldberg in the Steiner Recliner and Test got in the ring and nailed Steiner with a big boot and then Goldberg speared Test down to the mat and then he gave Test the jackhammer into the pin for the three count to pick up the win!
Winner - Goldberg
Goldberg celebrated his win in the ring as Jerry Lawler mocked Coach for the match he made with Test and Steiner pretty much teaming against Goldberg in this advancement match. Unfortunately for Coach and fortunately for Goldberg, it didn't work out too well for Steiner and Test and Goldberg will now advance to the over the top rope challenge later tonight!
Backstage: Stone Cold Steve Austin was shown looking on as a video was shown for promoting Randy Orton and pretty much ruining the legacy of Mick Foley. Austin got angered and hopped onto his ATV and sped it through the backstage area, almost running down Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak.
Stone Cold Steve Austin's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring on his ATV as the Sheriff of WWE RAW and it seems as though he may have a beef with someone or something, otherwise he wouldn't be out here.
Stone Cold said he's got a message right now he'd like to deliver to one person and that person's name is Mick Foley. Because he doesn't know what's going on in side Mick Foley's head. Last month, the Intercontinental Title match against Randy Orton, he sees fit to walk out of the building. He let Randy Orton spit in his face. Last week, Nassau Coliseum, fifteen minutes from his home. Randy Orton lines up a limo, sends it to his house, buys him a ticket and he still doesn't show. Austin knows Mick is watching on his little TV and Austin has something to say. This isn't the Mick Foley he knows. The Mick Foley he knows that he used to ride up and down the road with, they used to rent the cheapest rent a cars and stay at the crappiest hotels, just to save a buck or two. Hell, they used to see who could crack Diamond Dallas Page first. And he sits there and calls himself a Hardcore Legend and he allows Randy Orton to spit in his face. He watches these commercials calling Mick a coward and when Randy Orton spits in Mick's face, he spits in the face of this business and in the face of Stone Cold Steve Austin and that's just something you don't do. So as Sheriff Stone Cold Steve Austin, he's asking, no, he's not going to ask anything. As Sheriff Stone Cold Steve Austin, he's ordering him this Sunday to be at the Royal Rumble and if he doesn't show up at the Royal Rumble an open up a can of whoop ass on Randy Orton then he will be breaking the law and that's Stone Cold's law and that's just something you don't do. So one way or another, he hopes Mick Foley makes the right decision because if he doesn't show up, Austin will see fit to jump on the four wheeler and ride it from Green Bay and he'll ride it straight to Long Island right into Mick's living room, tie his ass to the back and drag his son of a bitch ass to Philadelphia! If Stone Cold Steve Austin said it, you can believe it's the truth and that's the bottom line. Austin said not so fast and he called for some beers. Austin said he's a toast to Mick Foley, hoping he makes the right decision. Now that's the bottom line because Stone Cold Said So! Before leaving the ring, Austin chucked a couple beers up at the announce table towards Coach and then he hopped on his ATV and sped it to the backstage area.
Molly Holly and Trish Stratus were shown backstage and they were having some sort of a disagreement. Molly left saying that's why Trish is never going to win her Women's Title. Christian showed up and he said he's not looking for any trouble. He just wants to clear the air here. He knows Chris broke her heart with that stupid little bet and made it worse by telling her he has feelings for her. But between the two of them, he knows how Trish really feels about Chris Jericho. She never wants to see him again and the good news is that Chris Jericho feels the exact same way about her. At least after the pictures he took of him with these other girls. Christian showed Trish the pictures and Alexis was the girl Chris went home with. Just so there's no mixed signals, Trish is the last thing on Chris Jericho's mind. That is what she wanted, isn't it? Trish seemed a little upset and Christian told her to take care of herself and he left laughing, saying he forgot about the midgets.
Lita vs. Jazz
In the arena, Lita's music hit and she made her way out to the ring for a one on one match against Jazz, accompanied to the ring by Theodore Long.
After the bell rang to start the match, Jazz and Lita locked it up and Jazz put Lita in a hammer lock and then Jazz gave Lita a hard forearm to the back of the neck.
Jazz whipped Lita off the ropes and Lita came back with a head scissors take down that went well received by the fans as this match has not been well received by the fans thus far.
Lita gave Jazz a version of the Twist of Fate and then she took her over shirt off to a huge pop and then she started to go to the top rope but Theodore Long hopped to the ring apron and distracted her.
Lita choked away on Theodore Long as he fell down on the ring apron and then Jazz rolled up Lita from behind, hooking the trunks to pin her for the three count.
Winner - Jazz
The Hurricane was shown backstage with Terri and Terri said coming up next is the final advancement match and he's facing the Intercontinental Champion. Terri doesn't feel Hurricane's odds are the greatest, but how does he feel? Hurricane said the odds are always against him. They're against him tonight and they'll be against him in the Royal Rumble, not to mention that his opponent Randy Orton is on a super win streak. And he knows that people look at Hurricane and say he'll never main event at Wrestlemania but on nights like this, he has a chance to show them how far from the truth they are because he believes in himself. He believes he can defy those odds and beat Randy Orton and win that over the top rope challenge and he believes he can head to the Royal Rumble, poised to win at number 30! After Hurricane left, Terri said that this is the WWE and truly, anything can happen.
Non Title Match
The Hurricane vs. Randy Orton (c)
Randy Orton's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the Intercontinental Champion and this match isn't about his title but it's about advancing to the over the top rope challenge at the end of the night and he's facing the Hurricane in this one on one contest!
Randy Orton started it off by clubbing the Hurricane in the back of the neck several times and then he whipped the Hurricane to the corner where the Hurricane hopped over Randy's shoulders and Randy quickly turned around and plowed through the Hurricane with a hard clothesline.
The Hurricane went to the top rope and came off with a high cross body on Randy Orton and pinned him but only got a two count.
Randy Orton quickly raked the eyes of the Hurricane and then planted him with the RKO and then pinned him for the three count to get the win.
Winner, the Intercontinental Champion, Randy Orton
Ric Flair and Batista walked down to the ring to congratulate the Intercontinental Champion, Randy Orton and Rosey came out to the ring to attend to the Hurricane as he was down on the mat. Ric Flair gave Rosey a hard right hand and then Batista gave him a spinebuster slam and the Dudley Boyz hit the ring and went after Batista and Ric Flair and this Sunday night at the Royal Rumble, they will meet Flair and Batista for the Tag Team Titles! As the fight went on, Coach kept saying that something needs to be done about this and the Dudleys pulled out a table and set it up in the ring and got ready for the 3D on Flair but Orton and Batista pulled him out of the ring and Coach took the mic and went to the ring, saying this is not going to happen, not tonight. Coach told the Dudleys that this is his show and he runs this tonight. He doesn't care if they don't like it because you know what, The Coach doesn't like either one of the Dudley Boyz. So here's what's going to happen, he's going to turn around and count to three and when he does that, the Dudleys and the table better be out of here. Coach turned around and started counting and the Dudleys set up for the 3D and when Coach turned around, the Dudleys put The Coach through the table with the 3D to a tremendous ovation from the crowd!
Mark Henry and Chris Jericho were shown backstage and Mark asked Chris how a little man like him expects to throw someone like Mark Henry out of the ring? Chris said the only thing strong about Mark Henry is the stench. Chris asked Mark Henry what the stench was and Mark said that he's got stank and if Chris ever gets close enough to Trish again, he'll smell Mark's stank all over his girlfriend and his stank smells good. Mark Henry left and Chris Jericho looked a bit upset.
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler talked about the Over the Top Rope Challenge and he said that Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Goldberg, Spike Dudley, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton and Mark Henry are the seven men that have qualified for the Over the Top Rope Challenge but we've just been informed that after the beating he sustained at the hands of Kane, Spike Dudley won't be able to compete tonight.
Royal Rumble Preview:
Smackdown! Brand -
- WWE Championship: Hardcore Holly vs. Brock Lesnar (c)
- Cruiserweight Championship: Jamie Noble vs. Rey Mysterio (c)
- Eddie Guerrero vs. Chavo Guerrero
RAW Brand -
- World Title: Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (c) [Last Man Standing]
- Tag Titles: The Dudley Boyz vs. Ric Flair and Batista (c) [Table Match]
And of course the Royal Rumble Match, featuring 15 RAW and 15 Smackdown! Superstars.
Over the Top Rope Royal Rumble Challenge
Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho, Goldberg, Booker T, Randy Orton and Mark Henry!
Lilian Garcia introduced the rules for the Over the Top Rope Royal Rumble Challenge and there will be six men in this match and the last man standing in this match will be number 30 in this Sunday's Royal Rumble Match!
And the wrestlers involved in this match are Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho, Goldberg, Booker T, Randy Orton and Mark Henry!
When Goldberg got in the ring, he went to work on every wrestler in the ring with right hands, taking just about everybody out until Booker T caught Goldberg in the Book End. Jericho then saw fit to give Goldberg the lionsault and then RVD came off the top rope with the five star frog splash on Goldberg. RVD posed and then Booker T knocked Rob Van Dam over the top rope. Chris Jericho then eliminated Booker T from the match and then Orton went to toss Jericho out of the ring but Jericho held onto the ropes and pulled himself back into the ring. Jericho gave Randy Orton a drop kick to knock him over the top rope but Orton pulled himself back into the ring.
Chris Jericho went to the top rope and came off with a missile drop kick on Mark Henry to knock him down to the mat. Jericho then went over in an attempt to help Orton eliminate Goldberg but Goldberg smashed their heads together to save himself.
Mark Henry and Randy Orton dumped Chris Jericho out of the ring and then they set their sights on Goldberg. Goldberg was able to fight them off and he nailed Mark Henry with the spear. Goldberg then scooped Mark Henry and tried to lift him over the top rope but he couldn't get him up and Randy Orton helped Mark Henry by knocking Goldberg down to the mat. Orton then lifted Mark Henry's leg up on the ropes and Goldberg shoulder blocked Mark Henry over the top rope and now it's down to Orton and Goldberg.
Ric Flair and Batista made their way out to ringside as Randy Orton whipped Goldberg off the ropes. Goldberg came back with a spear on Orton to knock him down to the mat. Goldberg then lifted Randy Orton up over his head and tossed him at Flair and Batista and Orton hit the arena floor, giving the win to Goldberg and he has earned the right to enter the ring at number thirty at the Royal Rumble!
Winner and #30 to enter the Royal Rumble: Goldberg
Credit: WrestlingAttitude.com