WWE Royal Rumble 2012: The BOOM Highlights of the Royal Rumble Match

The Royal Rumble of 2012 is in the books and Sheamus, the Great White, is the one standing tall at the end of the night. Let's go over some of the highlights, or BOOM spots, of the show, as well as some of the low spots as well.

Regarding Sheamus winning, I can't say I'm too thrilled. I'll fully admit I sat there, mouth agape, asking over and over, what just happened? I'm a Jericho fan and have been since the WCW days. Heel, face, Y2J, corporate stooge, it didn't matter, I supported Jericho, and I really felt this year was the year he got a Rumble victory, but, in true Jericho fashion, rather than take the big win, he pushed someone else. Still it's like your favorite team making it to the Superbowl and then losing in the last few seconds of the game. BOOM. That one hurt.

Miz as entry number one, BOOM, good call, I saw him lasting a long time in this and using it as a big bragging point for his arsenal, nicely played Miz. However, the fact that Alex Riley and R-Truth were the next two entrants, well, way to make everyone know the entries aren't random. Also, why bring back Alex Riley and fill a spot in the Rumble with him? 

Cody Rhodes hits the ring as the fourth entrant, will this lead to a Miz and Rhodes tag team? They seemed to have good chemistry and Miz does seem to do better in the tag team realm. But the fail BOOM of Rhodes being in the Rumble was that there was no Goldust. He's often been a return entrant or a surprise participant, the one time it would have been good to have him in there, he's nowhere to be seen.

Next two entrants are Justin Gabriel and Primo, I know they're trying to build something for Gabriel, but I'm just not feeling it from him. Primo however gets a BOOM highlight for his move where he's tossed to the turnbuckle, goes straight up into the air, performing and headstand on the turnbuckle, and comes down into a huricanrana. Really nice move.

Mick Foley hits the ring in the seventh spot, and Foley hits the ring with a greatest hits album of some of his top moves and shows he's not some old legend who can barely move. He's also responsible for eliminating both of the Tag Team Champions, Primo and Epico who came in at number ten.

Spots eight and nine were comedic BOOM factors, Ricardo Rodriguez in spot eight, and Santino Marella at nine. These two provided some good laughs, Ricardo coming to the ring in a crappy car and trying to emulate Del Rio was great. Santino's real BOOM moment however was when he pulled out The Cobra and Foley pulled out Mr. Socko and a Cobra vs. Socko match ensued. Awesome, BOOM.

Spot 11 went to Kofi Kingston who may have the BEST BOOM ever in a Royal Rumble. This tops the John Morrison jump to the wall, scaling it and coming back to the ring.  At one point in the match, much later after he's entered, Kofi is dangling on the apron and Jericho thrusts his feet into the air to toss him out, however Kofi pulls it into a handstand and handstand walks to the steps! He HANDSTAND WALKS TO THE STEPS, the full length of the ring. It was amazing and possibly the second biggest BOOM of the match.

Spot 12 went to announcer Jerry the King Lawler, I'm proud to say I called this one, Lawler however didn't last as long as I thought he should have.

Spots 13, 14, 15 and 16 went to Ezekiel Jackson, Jinder Mihal, the Great Kahli and Hunico, no real BOOM factors there, they were just there.

Spot 17 goes to Booker T, and he came in swinging as well, at this point King had been eliminated, which I thought was a mistake it would have been great to have the announce team all in there at the same time. Also, Cole was surprised that Booker was going in to the match? The man didn't have pants on. BOOM.

Spot 18 was Dolph Ziggler. His big BOOM factor of the night came into play when Kharma hit the ring at spot 21 and eliminated Michael Cole who came in at the previous spot. Cole climbed over the top rope to get away from Kharma, and King and Booker pulled him the rest of the way out. Kharma got tossed by Ziggler, who hoisted up the big woman after yelling at her to get out. As Lee Loo would say Big Badda BOOMs for Ziggler, Kharma and Cole. (not to brag, but I also called Cole as a participant)

Among that grouping was entrant 19, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, the first ever Rumble winner and with his trademark HO! and two by four he hit the ring, but sadly didn't eliminate anyone and was taken out of the match by Cody Rhodes.

Entrant number 22 was Sheamus. Aside from winning the match, I would say his BOOM factor was pulverizing both Cody Rhodes and the Miz by beating their chests repeatedly as he had them tied in the ropes, it sounded and looked vicious and painful. The red marks left on their chests supported that.

At this point there are only seven entrants to go, and I'm thinking come on, we need some big names now, we need Kane or even Cena. Something really great to make this Rumble BOOM. We got Road Dogg Jesse James at spot number 23, and he's wearing his DX gear. This made me sick. The crowd chanting "You still got it" just shows that a group of people who wanted to chant Cena sucks earlier in the night have terrible taste.

Road Dogg in his 90's pajamas, hiding his fat, out of shape body has no business being back after talking nothing but trash about the WWE and Triple H after the bratty little kid was released and he ran to what was to be his savior, TNA. Welcome back Road Dogg, I hope they're paying you minimum wage. The BOOMs stop coming.

Spots 24, 25, 26 and 27 were equally disappointing. Jey Uso, Jack Swagger, Wade Barrett and David Otunga come into the match in these prime spots that should have been filled with guys that we couldn't wait to see. Instead we get these guys who have been flat, boring and hopefully are not the future of the WWE, or they learn to really step up their game like former Spirit Squad member Dolph Ziggler.

Spot 28 is Randy Orton, and for the first time in a long time, he actually runs to the ring. Otunga strolled out, but Orton ran in. What universe is this? Orton for all his greatness only eliminated two people Jey Uso and Big Show, big deal, no BOOM factor for Orton. 

Spot 29, Chris Jericho, BOOM he comes out and Cole points out this is the first physical confrontation since returning to WWE. Jericho eliminates Otunga, and Orton, he's tossed out of the ring numerous times but manages to pull himself back in time and time again. You could probably line up the footage to the frame of Jericho dangling from the top rope, swinging his legs and barely touching to the same scene of Shawn Michaels doing the exact same thing. Jericho had to study this, or just really want to do this on purpose. The leg swings, the way he held the top rope, way to precisely to do it twice and look exactly like HBKs. 

With Sheamus and Jericho the last two participants, rather than a quick toss over we get a match between the two that consists of finisher, escape, counter and another attempt. The two have good chemistry in the ring and really went all out to keep us guessing right to the end. I was out of my seat the last five minutes of this match, and when my pick of Jericho lost I was sorely disappointed. My wife tried to console me and insist this was a good thing for Sheamus, and we've liked him a lot lately, and that this is Jericho giving that spot to someone else. I don't care, my guy lost, it really didn't sit well and I was crushed. 

Top BOOM factors: Sheamus' brogue kick to eliminate Jericho and crush my dreams. Kofi Kingston's walking handstand to the stairs, Mr. Socko vs. The Cobra and Dolph Ziggler eliminating Kharma by tossing her over the top rope. 

The Rumble is my favorite match of the year. I was let down a bit with the participants and felt some good people were missing, but with the Elimination Chamber up next it's still a good time to be a WWE fan. Lets see what Raw brings us tonight. 

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