CM Punk retains title, Sheamus emerges as last man standing at Royal Rumble 2012

One of the biggest nights in sports entertainment arrived earlier tonight with the annual Royal Rumble, a card highlighted of course by an over-the-top melee featuring thirty competitors hoping to earn a headlining spot at Wrestlemania. This year’s show also featured two title-fights and a major pay-off pairing with John Cena colliding with the hate-ridden Kane, as well as Big Show vs. Mark Henry vs. Daniel Bryan in a Steel Cage Triple-Threat tilt for the World Heavyweight Championship and CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship (with the assistance of “Special Guest Referee” John Laurinaitis). A Look at Last Monday’s Pre-Rumble RAW

No new champions were crowned after Punk and Bryan retained their belts in fairly entertaining bouts. Meanwhile, Cena and Kane fought to a No Contest due to a count out. However, the action wasn’t over there as they fought backstage and eventually ran into Zack Ryder who suffered a Tombstone, “broken back” and all, for his troubles. Finally, Sheamus pulled off a major upset by emerging as the Rumble’s winner. His victory came after Big Show cleared out a number of remaining wrestlers, including both Miz and Cody Rhodes who were in the ring for more than forty minutes, but got eliminated himself. The final two men standing were Sheamus and Chris Jericho with the “Great White” eventually earning the Wrestlemania headlining spot.

Read below for a full rundown of Royal Rumble results:

Daniel Bryan def. Big Show vs. Mark Henry
Beth Phoenix/Natalya/Bella Twins def. Kelly Kelly/Eve/Alica Foxx/Tamina
John Cena vs. Kane – No Contest (Double Count-Out)
Brodus Clay def. Drew McEntyre
CM Punk def. Dolph Ziggler
Sheamus def. Chris Jericho to win the Royal Rumble

PHOTO CREDIT – WWE