Santino's "Royal Rumble Lottery Spectacular"
January 20, 2015
Aired on WWE Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

This was the replacement for this week's Main Event show hyping the Royal Rumble on Sunday...

Renee Young did a game show-like voice-over intro, then Santino appeared in a backstage setting standing next to the Royal Rumble tumbler with numbers inside. Santino said he was going to draw numbers and explain the significance of each number. So, no, there will not be wrestlers drawing numbers for this year's Rumble. WWE lowered expectations when Michael Cole was produced to downplay the themed show on Raw as a light offering.

After a video intro on the Royal Rumble, Santino went to the tumbler and pulled out the number 12. Santino said #12 is significant because ... cue up a video package on Roman Reigns's record 12 eliminations in last year's Rumble match. The video ended with Reigns's final elimination, stopping the tape at Batista and Reigns as the last two standing to avoid showing Reigns being eliminated.

Next was a review of lighter comedy moments in past Rumbles.

Back to Santino, who pulled out #3. He said the significance of #3 is how many times "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has won the Rumble. And how many beers he can drink at the same time.

Next was a review of Mick Foley entering the 1998 Royal Rumble under all three personas - Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind.

Santino then rolled footage of the only other back-to-back Rumble winners joining Austin - Hulk Hogan in 1990 & 1991 and Shawn Michaels in 1995 & 1996.

Next was a review of controversial Royal Rumble finishes, starting with the 1994 Rumble when Bret Hart and Lex Luger eliminated themselves simultaneously. Then, a look at Vince McMahon eliminating Stone Cold with The Rock's help to win the 1999 Rumble. Next was a look at the 2005 Rumble when John Cena and Batista tied, McMahon came to the ring to call for a re-start and tore his quads entering the ring, and Batista won the re-start. Also, a look at Rey Mysterio winning the 2006 Rumble when Rey Mysterio won to honor Eddie Guerrero.

Back to Santino, who pulled out a number and tossed it back into the tumbler. He didn't like it, so he picked out another ball, which was #2. Cue up a video on Hulk Hogan eliminating The Warlord in two seconds. Santino said it was an "unbreakable record!" Kane then walked into the shot to remind Santino that he eliminated him in one second. Santino offered excuses that he was not stretched, he was not warmed up, and he was ambushed. Kane demanded the footage be shown. And Santino jogged to the ring, Kane met him, and eliminated him. They replayed the elimination over and over from multiple camera angles.

Back to Kane, who reminded Santino that he holds all kinds of Rumble records. So, he needs to stick to The Authority-approved script. Kane demanded footage of his Rumble domination. The footage switched to a rapid-fire sequence of all 39 eliminations rendered by Kane. Then, a look at the WWE champions and Hall of Famers who Kane has eliminated.

Next, Renee Young introduced a video package on allies and tag partners betraying each other in the every-man-for-himself format. An interesting flashback to last year showed Dean Ambrose trying to eliminate Roman Reigns, drawing Seth Rollins's ire. Then, Reigns eliminating both Ambrose and Rollins.

Back to Santino, who drew #7 from the tumbler. Santino said seven times the WWE World Title has changed hands at the Rumble. Next was a hype video on the importance of the WWF/E Title. First, a look at Sgt. Slaughter winning the WWF Title from Ultimate Warrior at the 1991 Rumble, setting up Hogan winning the title from Slaughter at WM7. Then, Michaels over Sid in 1997, Rock over Mankind in 1999 thanks to the audio trickery, Cena over Edge in 2006, Edge over Jeff Hardy in 2009, and Rock over C.M. Punk in 2013. Santino noted that's only six, though. He went back to the 1992 Rumble when Ric Flair won the vacant WWF Title by winning the Rumble.

Back to Santino, who transitioned to a look at this year's Rumble, wondering who will win a spot in the WrestleMania 31 main event. And, will the champion be Brock Lesnar, John Cena, or Seth Rollins? Santino wrapped up the show, which went about 45 minutes in-length.

Overall, a basic Rumble match primer also serving as an extended-length version of the annual "Rumble by the Numbers" video package.

We suggest these recent related articles...

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 8/11 - Week 8: Cena returns to WWE TV, contestants have a match in front of NXT roster, more

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 8/4 - Week 7: Latest cut, Prime Time Players guest-star, Amanda Swerve, more

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 7/28 - Week 6: Latest elimination, Hogan replaced, Miz ruins everything, WWE stars appear, more