0:01 (crowd cheering) (dramatic music) There is no better way to start an evening of magic than with this man. (dramatic music) For 516 days, Roman Reigns has been Universal Champion. Only four men in WWE history have held a major championship longer. Those names. Pedro Morales, Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan,
0:47 and Bruno Sammartino. The question is will Roman survive tonight? (dramatic music) (fireworks popping) (crowd cheering) Those four names you mentioned will be etched in the history books of sports entertainment as absolute icons. And the man that's walking down the aisle here in front of 44,000 is the greatest universal champion of all time.
1:33 He's a man who's transcending this business. He's on a different level. And tonight, it's personal. (dramatic music) For 17 months, Roman Reigns has dominated everyone. He had a special counsel and cousins to help him stay under control, to keep his cool, to concentrate on the business at hand.
2:19 But now Paul Heyman is gone and the Usos are barred from ringside. And without those calming forces, Pat, cracks started to show last night in Roman's armor. Seth Rollins touched on the one thing Roman Reigns has not been able to get over. The dissolution of the Shield at the hands of Seth Rollins. (crowd cheering) (dramatic music) Roman Reigns is a loyal man, a family man. And what Seth Rollins did to his family was cowardly in the eyes of the Head of the Table, the Tribal Chief,
3:04 the man that is etched from the gods of sports entertainment. (fireworks popping) (crowd cheering) But Pat, the one thing we saw last night that we haven't seen out of Roman Reigns as of late, is he actually lost his cool. Yeah, every once in a while, GOATs are gonna have a little bit of a flustering situation. Seth Rollins took Roman back to a place that he hasn't been to in a long time. (crowd yelling) I can't wait for this. (crowd yelling)
3:52 Sierra Hotel. (crowd cheering) (hard rock music) Wait. Look at this joker. Reigns cannot believe it. Seth Rollins marching through the crowd the same way the Hounds of Justice, the Shield, did for so many years. (hard rock music) (crowd cheering) Pat, once again, the cerebral Seth Rollins
4:41 pushing Roman Reigns's buttons, getting in his head. (hard rock music) Has this rattled Roman? You can't help but ask yourself. We haven't seen Roman have this type of look, this type of confusion in 500-some days. And as soon as we heard that music pop right there, the Shield, you can't help but have a little nostalgia. You can't help but think back to the glory days when Mock, Seth, and Roman would go town to town beating everybody's ass. And that man right there, Seth Freaking Rollins,
5:27 decided to tear it apart. Seth Rollins says he knows Roman Reigns so well, he knows how to prey on the insecurities of the Universal Champion. He knew there was one thing that Roman Reigns could never get over. And that is that Seth Rollins chose to end the Shield. (hard rock music) The blow to the back of Roman Reigns with a steel chair many years ago, which broke up perhaps the greatest faction in WWE history. And tonight, Rollins hopes to use all of that to get in the head of the champ and win the Universal title.
6:15 (hard rock music) Post-Shield life for both of these men has been very fruitful. But it feels like we're at a family reunion. (bell dinging) The following contest scheduled for one fall is for the Universal Championship! (crowd cheering) Introducing the challenger. From Davenport, Iowa, weighing in at 217 pounds, Seth Freaking Rollins! (crowd cheering)
7:03 And his opponent, from Pensacola, Florida, weighing at 265 pounds. (crowd booing) He is the Universal Champion, Roman Reigns! (crowd booing) It has been interesting, Pat, watching the body language of Roman Reigns throughout those introductions, muttering to himself at times. Honestly, Rollins seems to be in Roman's head. I think this is certainly a different Roman than we're used to seeing over his reign of dominance. So we kick off the 2022 Royal Rumble with a match between two former brothers. Roman Reigns in his record 516-day reign
7:51 as Universal Champion and Seth Rollins- Ring the bell. Donned in the old gear that they used to wear together in the Shield, set to do battle. Feels a little bit awkward without the Usos out here, but... Barred from ringside. I still look good, baby. Ah. And Roman Reigns quickly went after Rollins in the waist lock, and then the standing switch by Roman. And Seth Rollins quickly escapes. Seth Rollins has been doing this the last couple weeks to Roman. Trying to get into Roman's head and mind, saying, "I'm quicker than you. I'm faster than you." And again, draw Roman Reigns out of his comfort zone. Maybe Roman Reigns will make a mistake that Rollins can capitalize on. Now Roman Reigns pounding away on Rollins in the corner.
8:37 But again, the quickness of Seth Rollins, the rights and lefts and the boots to the midsection. And Rollins taking control. (Roman groans) Seth Rollins finding the groove here early. Yeah, Seth Rollins, oh, with a Sling Blade takes down Roman Reigns. Gotta wonder if Seth Rollins feels comfortable back in the vest there. And Roman up over the top into the barricade. Remember, Rollins must pin or submit the champion to win the title. Count outs and disqualifications do no good for Seth Rollins. And here comes Seth Rollins with a Suicide Dive. Reigns into the barricade. (crowd cheering) Seth Rollins saying there's more where that came from. How about a two piece? And Rollins pulling out all the stops early.
9:24 And Roman Reigns has not been able to get out of the blocks in this matchup. And on the flip side, Seth Rollins has come out storming. Incoming Rollins, driving Reigns into the barricade. Hit both of those Suicide Dives flush on our champion. And Rollins, he's just confidence oozing out of his pores 'cause he's got the champ of the ropes early. There's no stress at all. Rollins off the top rope! Runs into a right hand. That's what we came for! And the five-time World Champion drops Rollins. Remember, Roman Reigns has not been able to knock off Rollins in a big time matchup in his career.
10:09 Roman might've been playing possum there, setting Seth Rollins up, who got very comfortable. Now it's time for him. And Roman with a Drive-By to Rollins. And just like that, the Universal Champion has turned the match around. Taking a page out of the great Undertaker's book. Drive-By boots to Seth Rollins's face. Again, the impact by Roman Reigns. Rollins stumbling around out here at ringside after getting the boots to the face. Big right hand. Boots to the mouth. Roman Reigns is finding his happy place. Roman Reigns off the steps. Rollins caught him with a boot to the midsection. And Seth Rollins with Roman Reigns up high! Whoa whoa whoa whoa. Rollins with a Shield Bomb. A Shield Bomb through the table!
10:56 (crowd cheering) Out of nowhere. Rollins and Ambrose and Reigns used to do that to so many opponents over the years. And Seth Rollins does it to the champ tonight. (table thuds) The pure destruction. And look at... Pat, look at this. Rollins realize count out doesn't help him. Gotta get Reigns back in the ring. And that's what he does. This table exploded upon impact. Now Seth's on the top! Up looking for the Universal Championship! For Rollins cover. For the title! Can it do it? Reigns has got a kick in two. This thing took a turn quick.
11:41 No Usos out here to encourage Reigns. No Paul Heyman to give counsel to the Universal Champion. Roman does it alone here tonight. And he's in trouble against Rollins. Seth Rollins countering everything Roman has to throw at him. Seth Rollins knows Roman better than Roman knows himself, is what Seth is saying. Seth's on the top. What the hell is Seth thinking about doing now? Rollins with a move. Oh! Had to roll through. Roman Reigns went for a Spear and got caught with a boot in the face! A big right from Seth. Swinging Neck Breaker. No! Blow right to the back of the neck. And now middle of the ring, Seth Rollins now with Roman Reigns up top. Continues the assault with a Buckle Bomb.
12:30 And now Rollins looking for the stomp. Rollins hit the stomp! Rollins hit the stomp! No! He's gonna beat the champ! He got him! He got, oh! I thought he had him! (crowd cheering) That was so damn close. No prognosticator could've expected Seth Rollins to not only do a Shield Bomb, a Buckle Bomb, then a Stomp- Watch this, Pat. To the back of Roman's head. Let's check this out. Shoulders are down for one, for two. And at two and a half, almost two and three quarters, Roman Reigns got the shoulder up. I'd be lying if I said I didn't worry that the Reigns's reign was about to come to a crashing end.
13:16 But that grit, that resiliency of Roman is what has made him the champion for so long. And now the cerebral Rollins, the calculating architect decides what to do next. The visionary. Come on, big guy. Everything's been going to plan thus far. (crowd yelling) Rollins measuring his opponent. Reigns slow to his feet. Seth Rollins out of the corner, runs into a Clothesline, which turns him inside out. And now the champion has an opportunity to regroup, to refocus. For how great Seth Rollins is, it's moments like these where Roman Reigns displays his dominance. Baited Seth into thinking another Stomp was available.
14:02 Instead, a Clothesline from Hell. And now Roman Reigns realizing it's a desperate time. (crowd yelling) Critical turning point in this matchup as Roman Reigns mounts Rollins, and now unloads with the rights. Years of angst in these blows to the head from Roman Reigns. Reigns found the opening he needed. Charles Robinson trying to find a little bit of sanity in the middle of his battle. 'Cause Roman Reigns has snapped. Up top! And down with a Powerbomb. Cover by Roman to retain. One! Two!
14:49 And a kick out. (Seth groaning) Groans coming outta Seth Freaking Rollins (air whooshing) after this incredible display of power. Watch the impact. Spine-jarring Powerbomb. Now listen to Roman. Is this a game to you? You gonna shit on everything we did, huh? It was funny to you, huh? You gonna laugh at me, huh? (Seth laughing) (Roman yelling) And Rollins continuing to mock and laugh at Reigns, and continuing to infuriate the champion. And now look at this. Going for a Triangle. (crowd cheering) Rollins trying to maybe get the champ to tap.
15:36 Arm is locked. Center of the ring. Reigns has nowhere to go. And the only chance Roman may have, Pat, is to power out of this if he can. And that's what the Tribal Chief does. The Head of the Table. He's in god mode now. Seth? Yeah, you noticed the expression change, didn't you? That expression doesn't look like God to me, however, Pat. It looks like something else. Well, and Seth's face is no longer laughing, is it? Roman driving Rollins into the post, shoulder first.
16:21 And Rollins collapses. Rollins's bones like a carcass, falling outside of the ring. Yeah, and Roman Reigns's the alpha. Stalking. And sending Rollins into the timekeeper's area. That vest was a sign of great days for these two men. It's also a detriment when Roman Reigns says, "Get your ass through the stairs!" Roman Reigns is on the hunt. (crowd yelling) Years have comeuppance. Payback for the coward move from Seth Freaking Rollins years ago, laughing in Roman's face. You're in Roman's world now, Seth!
17:08 (crowd booing) Acknowledge him, St. Louis. (crowd booing) As Pat mentioned, Roman wants to be acknowledged. Locked and loaded. Superman Punch on the jaw! Cover for the win! To retain. The reign continues. No. Kick in two by Rollins. (crowd cheering) And Seth lost a tooth on that one. Picture perfect Superman Punch. (air whooshing) Watch this, Pat. This could've been... Right on the jaw. That could've been curtains right there, pal. Somehow, Seth finds a way to kick out. And Rollins just rolling out of the ring
17:53 to buy himself some time. Hey, welcome to the Royal Rumble. Match one, instant classic. Watching the GOAT versus the visionary. Both of these men great success in this event. They both have each won a Royal Rumble match in their careers. Don't tell me that, little boy. Roman. Now, this is the pace Roman likes, Pat. Methodical. Taking his time. Measuring his man. Spear! Right in front of us, Reigns quickly dragging his former partner, tossing him into the ring. He's methodical till he needs to be. (crowd yelling)
18:42 Ooh! Ah! Going for the Spear. Caught. Pedigree. A Pedigree Counter by Rollins off an attempted Spear. Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship in a big upset tonight! The kick out at two by Roman. Holy. What a counter by Seth Rollins. These two superstars have already been called among the greats of our, of this generation. (air whooshing) This match is one of the reasons why. Look at the counter into the Pedigree. We all know whose move the Pedigree is. He was a part of this entire storyline from the beginning. Exactly. Triple H.
19:28 The man who manipulated Rollins into turning on the Shield. (Seth groaning) And this is now Seth Rollins's chance to end the historic title reign of Roman. (Seth stomping) Burn it down! Burn it down! The burn it down chants ringing through the dome. Burn it down! Went with a Stomp. Side step by Roman. Countered. Rollins fighting back again. Kick to the head. Kick to the head. Setting Roman up with more and more. Yeah, but Roman fires out of it.
20:15 Spear by Reigns! Reigns almost cut Rollins in half. And now Roman dragging himself. And Rollins still laughing at the champ. This dude is delirious right now in St. Louis. Come on, brother. I'll always love you. Asking for a fist bump. I'll always love you. (laughs) The fist bump made famous by the Shield. Rollins continues to mock the champion. (crowd yelling) Stay focused, Roman. (crowd yelling)
21:03 So many thoughts have to be running through Roman's head. What could've been? What is? And why is this dude laughing in my face right now? Come on, huh? (crowd yelling) And Roman Reigns now put him in the Guillotine. The Guillotine in the center of the ring. Put out so many men during this historic title reign. And Seth Rollins is in trouble. Roman's got the Guillotine locked. Will Rollins tap? (crowd yelling) Roman's got that thing locked in deep. The only chance Rollins has is to somehow drag himself to the rope and force a break. But Roman's got it locked in good. Seth reaching. Rollins a fingertip away.
21:49 Fingertip away. But Rollins is fading. Rollins may be down and out. (crowd yelling) The official, Charles Robinson, is gonna check on the challenger. Rollins though. Oh! His hand lands on the rope. Reigns has gotta break. What happened, Michael Cole? One! Break it! Reigns has gotta break. He's got a five count to break. Guillotine locked in. Roman Reigns is not gonna break. Reigns is gonna be disqualified. (bell dinging) What? (crowd booing) Let him go. The hell? He deserves this. Let go of him, man. Let go of him, man. That's enough.
22:35 That's enough. He won't allow me to let go. He won't allow me to. Let go. Please. Come on. Roman Reigns refusing to break the Guillotine. Damn it. Finally does after Seth Rollins pushed Roman over the edge. (crowd yelling) Charles Robinson picks up the lifeless hand of Seth Rollins. Puts it on the rope. Then a five count happens. Roman was just doing what Roman does. And Roman still... This is his fault. (crowd yelling) Roman somehow trying to regain control, claiming it was Rollins that pushed him to that point. (crowd yelling)
23:21 Onlookers screaming that Roman can't beat Seth Freaking Rollins. He had him beat! (crowd yelling) (crowd booing) Seth Rollins made this personal years ago. And then again in the lead up to tonight.
24:06 And Seth Rollins almost beat the Universal Champion tonight. (crowd yelling) He may have survived the Guillotine, but Roman Reigns snapped. (crowd yelling) He's not done yet. Seth was laughing in his face. Seth disrespected his entire Bloodline, his entire family. You can't blame Roman Reigns for saying, "Let's end this right now." (crowd yelling)
24:57 (chair thuds) Chair to the spine. And again. How do you like it, Seth? And again. And Rollins being laid out by Reigns and a chair. (chair thudding) Somebody's gotta stop this. (chair thuds) (crowd booing) Nobody can stop what's happening to Seth Rollins. (crowd yelling)
25:53 Well, Roman Reigns... (crowd yelling) I don't think he's done yet. I don't either. He's talking to himself. You took a piece of me. You took a piece of me that I ain't never gonna get back. But now I have to take it. You can't take from the Tribal Chief. No! And again. (chair thuds) (chair thudding) A heinous, vicious, a mugging by Reigns. Look at the chair. (crowd yelling)
26:49 Roman Reigns is proud of the destruction he has laid upon Seth Freaking Rollins. (crowd booing) For Roman Reigns, Pat, that attack had to be cathartic. To end this tonight with a steel chair, the same way that Seth Rollins ended the Shield. He's still talking to himself, Cole. (crowd yelling)
27:34 What is Roman speaking to himself about? He walks outta here as Universal Champion yet again. But that was nowhere near the same Roman Reigns we have seen for 500-plus days. (crowd yelling)
