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Locker room: Randy Orton was focused and staring into space. Cody Rhodes then walked in and said they’ve done too much and gone too far for the group to slip away. Cody said they know Orton can beat Sheamus and win back the title. He said he’ll be there for him. Cody then looked away and said he wishes he could say the same for Ted DiBiase. Cody said Ted hasn’t been the same since his movie came out and all he talks about is winning the Rumble match and going on to Mania to beat Orton for the WWE Title. Cody told Orton he can count on him. He slapped Orton on the back and walked off to leave Orton with his thoughts.

Backstage, Randy Orton was walking down the hallway, then Ted DiBiase walked up to him and said he has his back. DiBiase said he can’t even talk to Cody right now. He said Cody’s been talking about winning the Rumble and facing Sheamus at Mania, even counting Orton out. Orton had enough of their games and said he’s going to win against Sheamus and he doesn’t want their help.

WWE champion SHEAMUS vs. RANDY ORTON — WWE Title match
The bell sounded and they faced off without locking up. A chant of “Randy, Randy” started the action before they came together and blocked each other’s shoulder tackle attempts. Orton then hit a standing dropkick and teased the RKO before slithering backward from a defensive Sheamus. Orton then nailed a standing uppercut and Sheamus came right back with a big Polish hammer blow to the face. Sheamus knocked Orton to the floor with a shoulder attack and followed on the floor with uppercuts. Orton returned to the ring holding his shoulder before luring Sheamus into an attack on the left knee. Orton dissected Sheamus’s leg and continued his attack with methodical work in the ring and on the ring apron. Striker explained to the audience the pro-Orton crowd by saying there is a certain respect and familiarity with Orton. Sheamus then found an opening in Orton’s methodical attack to go back to working the left shoulder looking for a submission. They came to their feet and began an exchange of standing right hand blows. After they threw bombs, Sheamus caught Orton off the ropes for a big swinging backbreaker across his knee for a close two count.

Just before 10:00, Sheamus pounded his chest and measured Orton for his finishing move. Sheamus wanted the running Outsider’s Edge, but Orton slipped out and kicked Sheamus out of the ring to the floor. Orton then grappled Sheamus back in the ring and held him across the middle rope for a spike DDT that the crowd popped for. Orton made a cover, but Sheamus grabbed the bottom rope for a two count. The crowd came to life as Orton stalked Sheamus before slowly backing away. He measured the champ for The Punt, but Sheamus rolled to the outside. Orton gave chase and landed a European uppercut. Sheamus then ran him into the ringpost, though, and smashed his shoulder into the post. Suddenly, Cody Rhodes jumped the security rail and blasted Sheamus from behind. The ref reprimanded Cody, but the match continued. Back in the ring, Orton hit the RKO on Sheamus. Ref Armstrong then casually walked over to the ring announcer and called for a DQ as Orton was making a cover.

Post-match: Sheamus was announced as the winner via DQ as Cody freaked out ringside afterhis mistake. Cody then entered the ring and tried to explain himself to Orton, who slowly, slowly, slowly absorbed the situation and stared down Cody. Orton then reached back and popped Cody in the face, which drew a crowd pop. Orton then punched Cody multiple times until Ted DiBiase stormed the ring. DiBiase tried to intervene, but Orton punched Ted down to the mat to another pop. Orton shouted, “You’re done, you screwed it up!” at both of them. Orton then got up and the crowd was yelling as Sheamus stood in the background. Orton then turned around and ate a running bicycle kick to the head from Sheamus. Smack. Sheamus picked up his WWE Title belt and walked out of the ring as Cody and Ted simply looked at Orton from the corner. Orton was KO’ed in the ring as Ted and Cody walked out unsure what to do or how to handle the situation. After the announcers narrated replays, they showed Orton checking his jaw in pain on the mat.

WINNER: Sheamus via DQ at 12:27.

ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH
Ted DiBiase then came out #10 and Hunter met him with a clothesline. DiBiase came back with a powerslam and the young heels ganged up on Hunter. DiBiase and McIntyre took their time with Hunter, then John Morrison entered #11. Morrison, McIntyre, Beth, and JTG have taken four of the five empty spots thus far. Morrison went after McIntyre to pick up their IC Title feud, but DiBiase took out both of them. Morrison then blasted DiBiase with a kick strike before hitting the Starship Pain on McIntyre in the corner. Out at #12 was Kane, who holds a Rumble entry record with Shawn Michaels, according to the announcers. Kane entered the Rumble by coming off the top with a clothesline on Hunter. Mo and Mac then took double clotheslines from Kane, who cleaned house here. Hunter then took a chokeslam before #13 was Cody Rhodes.

Cody immediately saved DiBiase from elimination at the hands of Kane before Legacy worked together on the other entrants. Morrison tried a springboard smash on Cody, but Cody met him in mid-air with a dropkick. Hunter then teased an elimination of Cody, but Cody held the top rope. MVP then came out #14, but Miz blasted him on the entranceway with the U.S. Title belt to KO MVP. Refs then took MVP to the back and he disappeared. Apparently he’s out. Carlito then came out #15 and got his shine landing left hand blows followed by a springboard back elbow smash on Legacy. Kane and Carlito then had a bad-looking exchange before Carlito landed a running knee lift on Hunter followed by the backstabber on Hunter. That made his entire year right there. No more eliminations, then The Miz came out #16. Miz immediately dropped Carlito with the Skullcrushing Finale. MVP then stormed the ring and blasted Miz with right hands before eliminating Miz and himself simultaneously. Miz and MVP then brawled away from the ring to continue their feud.

Out at #17 was Matt Hardy to a strong reaction. Not 15 seconds later, Kane eliminated Hardy. Hunter then eliminated Kane right after that. Hunter proceeded to make his statement landing offense before McIntyre took Hunter out at the left knee. Carlito and Mac attacked Hunter before Shawn Michaels came out at #18 at 25:00. Michaels jogged to the ring and immediately dumped out Carlito. He then dumped out Cody Rhodes. Ted DiBiase was out next via HBK. Coming in hot. He then eliminated Morrison after that could have been an interesting exchange. It was down to HBK and Hunter vs. McIntyre and they double-teamed to eliminate McIntyre. So, it was HBK and Hunter. And wouldn’t you know it, out at #19 was John Cena. What a coincidence. Cena stormed the ring and ducked a double-team clothesline before hitting flying shoulder tackles. Cena then dropped DX center ring and did a double You Can’t See Me before dropping double Five Knuckle Shuffles. Creative spot. He then tried to eliminate HBK, but Hunter kicked Cena in the gut and hit the Pedigree. Michaels then waited for Hunter to turn around and he hit the superkick on Hunter to eliminate him. Crowd exploded as HBK looked down at Hunter with a blank expression.