WWE 2011 Royal Rumble DVD

40-Man Royal Rumble Match

Almost three decades ago, the dream of modern-day WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon was made manifest with the birth of the squared circle’s most celebrated spectacle, WrestleMania. More than a quarter of a century later, an unprecedented 40 Superstars will have the ultimate opportunity to realize their dream of performing in the World Championship main event match on this now aggrandized stage for the most brilliant competitors.

They can dance on The Grandest Stage of Them All at WrestleMania XXVII. But first, one man will need to surpass the efforts of 39 opposing competitors with the same aspiration in the 2011 Royal Rumble Match.

A celebrated tradition in WWE, the Rumble has boasted 30 men since 1989. Now, in 2011, the competition gets fiercer with an additional 10 gladiators, forging the biggest Rumble in history and guaranteeing not just a longer joust, but also more eliminations and over-the-top action.

A test of endurance, athleticism and survival at all costs, the Rumble Match is the definitive Battle Royal, where each Superstar’s prime objective is to propel their opponents over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor. Every 90 seconds, one of 40 elite ring warriors with randomly drawn Rumble entry numbers joins the fray. Though luck of the draw can be a critical factor in such a high-stakes situation (ideally, entering last like 2007 winner Undertaker and 2008 victor John Cena, both at No. 30), past Rumble winners have included Superstars who kicked off the Battle Royal at No. 1.

But, with bodies being tossed out every moment and fresh competitors coming in at such a rapid pace, it’s really anyone’s match.

In the end, the last Superstar standing can officially punch a gold-embossed ticket to Atlanta's Georgia Dome, where they will contend for a World Title of their choosing at WrestleMania.

However, as the saying goes, “You have to be in it to win it.” Tune into WWE programming and stay logged on to WWE.com as entrants are named for the 24th annual Royal Rumble Match. Then be sure to witness this epic event live on pay-per-view on Sunday, Jan. 30, as the 2011 Royal Rumble defines the course of WWE's new year.

WWE Champion The Miz vs. Randy Orton

He cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on a vulnerable Randy Orton to capture the WWE Championship. He successfully (and controversially) bent the rules in a Tables Match with The Viper to leave WWE TLC with the coveted title. But The Miz will be hard-pressed to hold on to the grandest prize in sports-entertainment when he goes one-on-one with a vengeful Orton once again at the Royal Rumble.

Orton earned the right to challenge the most “most-see” WWE Champion in history by defeating both King Sheamus and former Nexus leader Wade Barrett in an explosive Steel Cage Match on the first Raw of 2011. As the New Year unfolds, Orton has only one resolution on his mind: To silence “The Cleveland Screamer” and earn his seventh WWE Championship in the process.

On the very same night Orton became No. 1 contender to the WWE Championship, The Miz kicked off 2011 with a brutal title defense against his former tag team partner John Morrison, fueling his boasts with a significant victory over The Monday Night Delight. The Miz was on top of the world following the first match of 2011, but he also remains at the top of the menu for WWE’s Apex Predator. At the Royal Rumble, Orton’s fangs will be sharper than ever.

Will The Era of Awesome extend well through this New Year and into 2012, as The Miz has so often proclaimed? Or will The Viper attain the retribution he has craved since The Awesome One’s devious Money in the Bank-assisted victory?

Irrepressible Spear

BOSTON - World Heavyweight Champion Edge reigned supreme against Dolph Ziggler, retaining his coveted World Title at the sold-out Royal Rumble after sneaking in the banned Spear.

With the TD Banknorth Garden filled to the rafters, an absolutely intense battle between the two extremely calculating Superstars set the outrageous mood for the entire pay-per-view. The WWE Universe held its collective breath to see if Edge would use the barred Spear and automatically lose his title.

When Vickie Guerrero interfered with the match and jumped up on the ring apron to continuously slap Edge, Kelly Kelly appeared from nowhere and took her out.

Ziggler soon locked in his infamous sleeper and, while the World Heavyweight Champion struggled to break it, the referee got knocked to the canvas and was rendered out of commission. Seizing the opportunity, The Ultimate Opportunist brought the WWE Universe into hysterics, blasting his adversary with the outlawed Spear. Then, as the referee was coming to, following it up with the Killswitch for the victory – perhaps paying homage to his former partner Christian.

At WWE TLC one month ago, Edge reached new heights, triumphing over Kane in a TLC Match to become a 10-time World Champion. Truly one of the top Superstars to set foot in the squared circle in the past 15 years, The Rated-R Superstar journeyed into Royal Rumble more dominant than ever.

Dolph Ziggler had a great deal on his side as he attempted to dethrone The Rated-R Superstar. The bleach-blond challenger utilized aggressive skill, an unwavering self-confidence and a boundless ambition – not to mention a great amount of luck. The former Intercontinental Champion triumphed in an intense Fatal 4-Way Match on SmackDown to become The Master Manipulator’s No. 1 contender.

Ziggler’s alliance with the powerful “acting” SmackDown GM Vickie Guerrero has also continued to pay dividends, especially when she banned her ex-husband’s Spear just two days before Ziggler’s World Title opportunity. But, Edge did not become The Ultimate Opportunist by having only one weapon in his arsenal, a lesson Guerrero’s boyfriend had to learn the hard way.

Edge has once again proved his excellence in front of a capacity crowd, retaining the World Title in epic fashion. However – since the victor of the Royal Rumble Match ultimately wins a main-event opportunity with one of the two World Champions at WrestleMania – could his biggest challenge still lay ahead of him?


Divas Champion Natalya vs. Lay-Cool (2-on-1 Handicap Match)

They’re no longer the self-professed “Co-Divas Champions,” but Layla & Michelle McCool haven’t lost their luster – at least in their own eyes. And this Sunday at the Royal Rumble, WWE’s Mean Girls will be double trouble for reigning Divas Champion Natalya when they challenge the sexy, smart and powerful Hart Dungeon graduate for the coveted butterfly-emblazoned title.

For the past several months, Lay-Cool has been determined to cut down Natalya at every turn, but they seemed to intensify their torment following the 23rd annual Survivor Series, where the pink-and-black clad Diva silenced the boisterous BFFs in a hard-fought 2-on-1 Handicap Match to attain the Divas Championship – her first title in WWE. Supported by a returning Beth Phoenix, Natalya made Lay-Cool feel less than “flawless” just weeks later at WWE TLC, where she made both Layla & Michelle taste timber in the first-ever Divas Tag Team Tables Match.

While the Hart descendent more recently turned her attention to new No. 1 contender Melina, Lay-Cool has been determined to become WWE’s top Divas once again. After Natalya turned back the Latina lovely with the legendary Sharpshooter on Raw, just six days before the Royal Rumble, SmackDown’s torturous tandem stormed onto Monday night’s hottest show to remind the Divas Champion that Lay-Cool had yet to invoke their rematch clause, and would challenge Natalya in a 2-on-1 Handicap rematch for the title at the Royal Rumble.
Will Lay-Cool initiate another “flawless” title reign? Or will Natalya once again defy the 2-on-1 odds and continue her dominance of the Divas division?