WWE DVD Review: Royal Rumble 2013

The Royal Rumble has always been a highlight of the WWE's Pay-Per-View calendar. The main event featuring 30 wrestlers battling it out for a shot at main eventing WrestleMania that year, has always been a piece of must-see grapple action. This year the company began the 'Road to WrestleMania' with not only a top notch Rumble encounter, but a highly anticipated and exciting WWE Championship Title match too.

That match saw WWE legend The Rock return to the fold once again. This time he had the intention of dethroning the companies longest (modern era) reigning champ CM Punk. This match is worth the price of the disc alone. Punk and Rock gelled well and once again the Hollywood movie star proved that he can indeed still kick it in the squared circle. The result is of course well-known by now, but the match is a hugely enjoyable affair all round.

The Rumble saw some excellent encounters. There were a few nostalgic appearances by former stars and some innovative and edge-of-the-seat action. Kofi Kingston pulled off yet another innovative return to the ring as well.

The rest of the card saw Alberto Del Rio defend his World Title against Big Show in a highly rated Last Man Standing match-up. Team Hell No battle Team Rhodes Scholars for the WWE Tag Team gold and Antonio Cesaro in a United States Title defence, facing The Miz.

Royal Rumble 2013 was a very impressive show. The main event and Rumble itself both sowed the seeds for what the 2013 WrestelMania card may feature. The matches here were for the main above par and everyone involved seemed to have their work boots on. Rock especially deserves credit for pulling off yet another top notch bout. His years of acting and non-wrestling do not seem to have slowed him down a bit.

It is always good to see a former wrestler return to the ring in as good a condition as he was when he left. We are often presented with beaten down former legends and we can never really believe they can pull of a title win. Rock is of course a very different story.

Alberto Del Rio and Big Show's scrap was memorable too. Show and ADR certainly seem to work well together.

The rest of the card delivered as well. We highly recommend this new WWE release.

Royal Rumble 2013 is available now on DVD.
RRP £17.99 (DVD, £19.99 (Blu-ray).

wwe.dvd.co.uk
By Phil Allely

WWE statement re Summerslam 2011

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WWE® announced today that the hottest event of the summer, SummerSlam, attracted a sold out crowd of 17,404 fans last night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, grossing more than $1 million. This marks the highest grossing SummerSlam ever held at the Staples Center.




Both fans and celebrities alike witnessed the high flying action of SummerSlam, along with musical performances by three time Grammy Award winner Cee Lo Green and Tool’s Adam Jones. Notable celebrities in attendance included actor Kellan Lutz, Los Angeles Lakers’ Ron Artest, Dancing With The Stars’ Cheryl Burke, Karina Smirnoff and Lacey Schwimmer, Jenny McCarthy, Rose McGowan, Michael Clarke Duncan and Morris Chestnut, among others.



SummerSlam made WWE history, as Alberto Del Rio™ shocked the world by cashing in his “Money InThe Bank™” contract to become the new undisputed WWE Champion, seconds after CM Punk® scored a controversial victory over John Cena. Tonight on Raw at 9 PM ET on USA Network, Rey Mysterio will get the chance to regain the Championship against Del Rio.

Alberto Del Rio Interview Highlights

Carlos sent word that new WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio spoke with Mexican news agency Notimex last week and told them that he is looking to retire from in-ring competition in five years. Del Rio added that he wants to work a limited farewell tour and finish up with a retirement match in his home of San Luis Potosi.




The translation from Spanish to English is rough but here are some quotes from the Del Rio interview:



"I already decided. I want to retire in five years and will make a farewell tour but not as many who do 250 fights. Seek a dignified farewell to a fight in San Luis Potosi, my native land and in the Arena Mexico, my home."



"I decided to go full power and thus having managed to be the best Mexican fighter in this difficult race. I'm tired because it takes great dedication and sacrifice but also left me enormous satisfaction."



"To where I have arrived I have taken fully the name of my dynasty and know that my family is proud than I have done, so when the moment arrives for hanging the boots I will continue enjoying the place that I deserved myself."

WWE Extreme Rules Updated Card

- Christian won a 20-man battle royal at tonight's WWE SmackDown tapings to earn a shot to face Alberto Del Rio at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view for the World Heavyweight Title. Here's the updated card:

Ladder Match for the Vacant World Heavyweight Title

Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title

John Cena vs. R-Truth vs. The Miz

Tag Team Match

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole and Jack Swagger

JBL In Character Interview Highlights

WWE's website interviewed JBL this week after his return on RAW Monday night. Here are some highlights from the in-character interview:


WWE.com: First of all, sorry about the night you had this past Monday. I don’t think it was the return you were expecting.



JBL: What bothers me is when other great champions come back, like The Rock, “Stone Cold” or Roddy Piper, when these guys return they’re not treated like that. And I was the greatest champion of all time. You got the best [Superstars] from the ’80s and ’90s coming back for WrestleMania, and I had to reiterate to my fans, because they love me so much, that JBL was the greatest champion. So, when something like this happens it’s just a matter of complete disrespect by a guy like Steve Austin. I hear he’s very successful in movies – God bless him – but that’s where he should stay.



WWE.com: Speaking of being successful after WWE, you’ve been gone for almost two years now, what are you up to these days?



JBL: I invested in a really good beverage company, New Leaf Beverage (newleafbrands.com). We’ve got about 18 brands, including four lemonades and four iced teas. We’re in about 35 states, and sales have been pretty good. It’s been a good investment; I’ve spent a lot of time with that. I spend a lot of time in Bermuda. I can do my investments anywhere, so I spend about 4-6 months a year there. It’s only an hour-and-a-half from New York, so it’s an easy commute.



WWE.com: Any final words for the WWE Universe?



JBL: I’m thrilled they got to see the greatest champion to ever come back. Also, I got to meet Alberto Del Rio, and I cannot tell you how proud I am of the young man. I knew his dad. I knew his uncle. And one thing we agree on, Rey Mysterio is not a good role model for kids. You want to look up to people like Alberto Del Rio and me, both great champions, both very successful financially.

Alberto Del Rio Rumours

If Alberto Del Rio wins the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 27, he will be only the second heel to have won the Royal Rumble and then followed it up with a title win at WrestleMania. Yokozuna was the first, winning the 1993 Royal Rumble and the WWE Title from Bret Hart, only to lose the belt to Hulk Hogan seconds later.




Del Rio is expected to win the belt at WrestleMania. The original plan called for him to win it at the Royal Rumble but it was pushed back.