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Sunday January 22 2017 – Bobby Roode’s home – Toronto, Ontario; Canada
Michael Cole: Ladies and gentlemen, we are here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the home of Bobby Roode. The Royal Rumble pay-per-view is now one week ago and Mr. Roode was kind enough to invite us into his…glorious home as he has an announcement to make regarding that event. Bobby, thank you for inviting us.
The EBWF cameras panned over to Bobby Roode who was sat on the couch opposite him, donning a neck brace as he looked uncomfortable, and clearly angry as he looked over at Cole.
Michael Cole: Well, there’s probably no better place to start than that neck brace you’re wearing. Clearly, still feeling the side effects from that vicious Muscle Buster you ate from the then-debuting Samoa Joe at Christmas Eve of Destruction. What nobody knows is that you were whisked away to the hospital following that, what are your thoughts on the whole thing and how that went down?
Roode exhaled, thinking back in great pain, but trying to look strong.
Bobby Roode: I think of that every day, the second I wake up, when I’m out with my wife and children, than a wild Samoa Joe could attack me from the bushes at any second. And he’s the last thing I see when I go to sleep. I hope he’s happy, I hope he sees me and understands the suffering he’s caused. But, he also needs to know that I’m not afraid of him. Me and Joe go way back, I know how despicable he can be but he can’t keep me down, and it’s going to take a lot more than one Muscle Buster.
Michael Cole: So is Samoa Joe on your radar? Is that why you called us over here today to get that message across?
Bobby Roode:Not at all. In fact, everybody is on my radar. At first, my plan was to actually interfere in his match against Kevin Owens, he took away my glorious moment at CEOD, so I was planning on taking his glorious moment. But then I came to the realisation that it won’t get my anywhere. The real prize is in that main event, so I’m officially announcing my intention to enter that Royal Rumble. My plan is to throw over 29 men, break records and look good doing it because it’s not the era of Samoa Joe, this is Bobby Roode’s era. This is Bobby Roode’s world, this is Bobby Roode’s company and you’re all just living in it. I’m entering the Rumble next Sunday, and I plan on winning it.
Michael Cole: Are you entering it just so you can specifically take out Samoa Joe?
Bobby Roode:What? No, of course not. I think it’d be a great reward, it would make it much sweeter and more satisfying it I could eliminate him, but he’s not my only rival here. I’ve seen how the people look at me in that locker room they all don’t like me but they have to live with the fact that I’m here and that I’m taking over. It just so happens that Samoa Joe also happens to fall into that bracket, and I’ll be the last one in that ring with my arms out wide, soaking in that atmosphere and realising that I’m heading to the main event of WrestleMania, making it…glorious. So, you can leave now.
Michael Cole: Oh, um well thank you for your time and good luck in the Royal Rumble, I guess.
Roode signalled for the cameramen to shut off their cameras as he got up with great difficulty, walking up the stairs to recover for the rest of the week as he officially announced his intention to enter the Royal Rumble match.
*****
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Tuesday January 24 2017 – Wrestling Observer Radio
Bryan Alvarez: So let’s move on to that Royal Rumble pay-per-view that takes place on Sunday. I’ve heard rumours about a few names that could go on to win the whole thing, but we know plans continue to change so I probably won’t embarrass myself and put my pick out there just yet. Um, but Dave what have you heard about that so far?
Dave Meltzer: Uh, well, y’know as you mentioned they’re still changing some of the plans. Um, I know they still haven’t fully announced the entrants just yet, but um I do know that Sami Zayn will be announced as an entrant in a few days’ time on the website, I hear um he’ll be one of the first ten entrants there, but I’ve not heard what his chances could be which probably um means he won’t be going all the way.
Bryan Alvarez: Let’s talk about Sami for a second, great guy as we both know. Simple way to put it, what the hell has happened there, man? Ha, I mean after such a strong start he didn’t have a great ending to the year, what is it, heat? I don’t think he rubbed anyone the wrong way, though.
Dave Meltzer: Uh no, no not at all. He hasn’t rubbed anyone up the wrong way. No heat, um no heat, yeah. I think this is just the way they do it for a face, knock them down and build them back up so that the fans get behind them and it gives them a reason to. I mean if they did it with somebody like, like a top heel in the company then the fans won’t get behind them, y’know? Um, so yeah I think they haven’t given up on him and this could be the tactic we see a lot where the fan favourite is in the Rumble early and continues to overcome the odds and lasts there quite a while.
Bryan Alvarez: Yeah, that’s just what I was getting at. We know he’s one of the best and most reliable workers around, surely the burial, if you can call it that, can continue? We know he’s a passionate guy, he’ll put anyone over and he has done his part over the year. But surely they’ll decide to use him to his strengths in this match, especially if you have legends coming back then you’ll probably need some of the best works, especially when your best worker in AJ Styles isn’t even in the match because of his title defence?
Dave Meltzer: Yeah, I know what you mean. Um, I am pretty positive he won’t be one of the first eliminated, I feel the fans will be behind him and he had a good run last year and came up short so I feel like they could take him even further and make him fall at the last hurdle. As I said, um to make the fans get behind him because he acts like the nearly-man and the character he’s getting the support behind him. I don’t think he’ll win, I don’t think he’ll have that backing for a WrestleMania main event just yet, but I feel that um they’ll give him a few good spots and that could still um be a platform for him to have a good couple of months heading towards WrestleMania.
Bryan Alvarez: Yeah I don’t think he’ll go all the way but I can certainly see him being one of the last babyfaces in the match, I agree. I think his WrestleMania feud could begin here as well, I’m not sure who with, but I don’t think they’ll throw him into a random match either, but I guess we’ll see what happens, a lot of unpredictability this year which is great.
*****
Sunday January 29 2017 – EBWF Royal Rumble – Smoothie King Center – New Orleans; Louisiana
The Royal Rumble event was finally here, and 30 men had the opportunity to go ahead and main event WrestleMania with the EBWF World Championship on the line. With all of the buzz, there was a lot of hectic festivities taking place with media appearances amongst other things. The cameras were backstage as Renee Young was standing waiting to speak.
Renee Young: Ladies and gentlemen, the event is finally here and the main event is almost upon us. The Royal Rumble match, 30 men all gunning for one opportunity. Please join me in welcoming at this time, Sami Zayn.
The arena erupted into cheers as an excited yet nervous Sami Zayn entered the shot, smiling as he looked down at Renee, rubbing his hands in excitement for the opportunity at hand.
Renee Young: Sami, another glorious opportunity for you to get into that main event spot at WrestleMania, what are your thoughts heading into that match?
Sami Zayn: Yeah, ANOTHER glorious opportunity but I’m tired of hearing that. Another. I need to treat this like it’s my final opportunity. Because whenever I know another chance pops up, I know I can afford to not take it as seriously because they’ll keep coming. And I…What do you want?
Fans cheered as Bobby Roode walked into the shot, standing on the other side of Renee Young as he looked at them in disgusted fashion.
Bobby Roode: I heard somebody mention glorious. And then I was wondering why somebody would mentioned it in a sentence when you’re around. The only thing glorious about you is how much of a glorious beating you’d get if you stand in my way of winning the Rumble tonight.
Sami Zayn: Ha, yeah. Maybe, but it’s funny. You talk a lot about glorious this and glorious that, the only glorious thing I’ve seen about you so far is how quiet this company was for the few weeks you’ve been out of action since Samoa Joe hit you with that Muscle Buster.
Bobby Roode: We’ll see who’s laughing out in that ring tonight. Just know that while I was out there during my open challenges, you weren’t even on the show. That’s what your career has come to, don’t get any ideas out there. If I see you, I’m ending your chances myself, and it’s going to be…glorious.
Rood left with a smirk on his face as Sami stared him out, shaking his head.