The show begins with highlights of the past Royal Rumble winners. Michael Cole is talking in the background and he's giving stats about the winners. Cole mentioned that since 1993 only 4 Royal Rumble winners have gone to WrestleMania to win the WWF World Title. "The winner of the Royal Rumble is not only going to WrestleMania to face the champion, but will be managed to superstardom by Vince McMahon." Cole ended the opening montage with "Who's going to WrestleMania?"...

And now 1-800 Collect presents, the 2001 WWF Royal Rumble!

Fireworks explode as the New Orleans Arena has been sold out for months in anticipation to the first pay-per-view of 2001, the Royal Rumble. Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler previewed the show. The King said that he's very proud of being the judge in the Miss Royal Rumble Competition. Ross said that tonight for the first time in two years, The Rock will be part of an I Quit match as he takes on Kurt Angle for the WWF Title.,,

(1) The Hardy Boyz beat Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko, when Jeff Hardy pinned Malenko to capture the Light Hvt. Title. The rules were simple for the Hardys. If you pin one of the champions, you win that title. Great usual match and better than the one we saw on Raw few weeks ago. Lita was not at ringside due to "transportation problems" according to JR. When the Hardys won the match, Benoit and Malenko walked away with a smile on her face. They showed the TitanTron and Lita was tied in a rope by Saturn and Guerrero. Terri was slapping her. The Hardys ran to the back and the screen faded...

The Hardys were looking for Lita. Then, Lita walked in the arena with her bags. The Hardys then told Lita if she was held hostage by the Radicalz. Lita told them that she was but nobody came to her rescue. Lita then walked on them. The Hardys tried to talk to Lita, but she kept walking.

(2) "The One" Billy Gunn pinned Val Venis. Before the match, Chyna made a rare appearance. Gunn told her to stay a ringside and avoid another attack by RTC. Chyna said she wants to accompany Gunn to the ring. She said she will see the match from ringside with JR and The King. Gunn then said that was her problem. Chyna sat in the announcer's table. Ross asked Chyna how she feels since that interciew they had. Chyna said she feels good. During the match, Val Venis came with a cowboy hat and imitated JR. Good match. At the end, Gunn pinned Val clean. The whole RTC bunch came in and jumped on Gunn. Chyna told the viewers that she wishes she could go to the ring and kick RTC's ass. But then Chyna said (looking at the crowd), "The good people are telling me to go inside that ring and kick some ass." JR said "no, don't do it Chyna, you're injured." Chyna came in and stood in the ring. The RTC had Gunn tied in the ropes. Chyna then told RTC to move over and then she slapped Billy Gunn. Chyna then group hugged the RTC as Gunn was trying to escape. Chyna then removed her neckbrace and told Gunn, 'Here you are going to need this," JR and King couldn't believe it...

Backstage, Billy Gunn was carried to an ambulance. The RTC were laughing at Gunn. Jackie came in and she said she couldn't believe Chyna would go so low as to join these "freaks". Chyna then beat up Jackie and she put her inside the ambulance...

Jerry Lawler said he was worried. JR said that everyone must be worried about Chyna's alliance with the RTC. Lawler said he's not worried about that. 'I'm worried about Jackie's participation in the 2001 Miss Royal Rumble swimsuit competition. Is she going to make it?"...

(3) Edge & Christian beat The Dudleys to retain the WWF Tag Team Titles. Usual Dudleys match with incredible heat by the New Orleans crowd. Edge & Christian cheated like always. After the match, they put Christian through a table twice. Christian had to be carried to an ambulance too.

Kurt Angle looked backstage as they were carrying Christian. Angle said he was worried that something like that could happen to him. Vince and Stephanie said not to worry because the last time The Rock made someone said "I quit" was two years ago. Stephanie corrected her father and she said that her own brother Shane McMahon made Mick Foley say "I Quit". So in reality, The Rock didn't make Foley say "I Quit." Angle then said "I Quit!" and walked away all scared. Vince said "What?" Stephanie told Vince that he'll be okay later when she reveals her Submission Advisor later tonight. Vince said that "daddy's little girl" is finally learning the basics of wrestling...

(4) Trish Stratus won the WWF Royal Rumble Swimsuit Competition by defeating Debra, Lita, Molly Holly, Terri, and Mae Young(?) Mae Young returned to the WWF, but didn't impress the fans this time. Damn! Anyway, the judges were The King, Shawn Michaels (the returning one), Sgt. Slaughter, and Vince McMahon? Vince made his way to the ring. Vince said that yes indeed Trish Stratus wins. Vince promised Trish to take her out to dinner with the person who's going to win the Royal Rumble tonight. Stephanie didn't look pleased backstage. The siren is heard and oh my! the RTC is here. Ivory then told Vince that since he's the owner of the WWF, why is he allowing swimsuit competitions in the federation. Vince said that he can do anything he wants, is his business. Vince then said, "If you don't like it, why don't you get the hell out of the WWF!" Fans popped big. Ivory said that she's not going nowhere until she cleans the WWF. McMahon told Ivory that before she leaves and starts "cleaning", she told Trish to show her boobs. Trish showed her boobs for 5 seconds then got covered by Vince himself. Good segment.

Backstage, Stephanie confronted Vince. Steph told him what was that all about. Vince said he wants to have fun and he will tonight when the winner of the Royal Rumble becomes his personal man. Stephanie said that she has an interview to make in the ring. "Try not to make out with Trish while I'm out there, please!" Steph told Vince. McMahon just laughed, "I'm not!"

Stephanie McMahon came to the ring. Just to remind the fans, Triple H is okay at home and will be returning by WrestleMania. Anyway, she said that she feels what Angle feels. Angle is scared of entering a brutal match against The Rock tonight. "So with that, Angle, I want to give you a late-Christmas present. Ladies and Gentlemen, Ken Shamrock!" Shamrock made his way to the ring. He looked more muscular than the last time we saw him. Shamrock said that he is more than happy to help out Angle in some submission moves. Steph said that his match is in less than one hour so let's go.

(5) The Undertaker pinned Rikishi so he earned a spot at the Royal Rumble match later. Slow match and typical Undertaker brawl. Rikishi will go to the locker room, take a shower. Undertaker will continue to follow his dream and win the WWF Title again by making his first step and that's to win the Royal Rumble.

In the back, The Rock was interviewed by Kevin Kelly. Kelly just dropped the microphone and left in anger. The Rock told Kelly to pick it up. Kelly took some time to pick it up. Is Kelly turning heel on The Rock? Anyway, "The Rock says this. Angle you think The Rock is happy that you hired the services of one Ken Shamrock? Well, let The Rock remind you that I beat that jobronie three years ago and it doesn't make a difference at all. Angle, you come out here and you act scared that you might lose a brutal match. The only thing you should be scared about is looking at Stephanie's panties every day. [Fans: Rocky, Rocky,] Coming up next, it's The Rock vs Kurt Angle, the People's Champion against the Olympic Jackass. And when it's all set and done and the smoke clears, Angle, you will indeed smell what The Rock...is...cookin"...

(6) The Rock beat Kurt Angle to capture the WWF World Title in an "I Quit" match. All I say is that The Rock is going to WrestleMania as WWF Champion. Shamrock didn't even interfere. He just left the ringside area. Kurt didn't even say "I Quit" because he passed out.

The Royal Rumble is coming up next. I don't need to list all the names. The following are the last ten wrestlers in the Rumble match...

(7) The last ten men in the Royal Rumble match were Steve Austin, Undertaker, Chris Benoit, Chaz, Hardcore Holly, Eddie Guerrero, Tazz, Funaki, Kane, and Steve Blackman. Funaki eliminated Austin right away. (just kidding, just kidding!). Guerrero went against Benoit. Guerrero was out in a hurry. Chaz, Kane, and Blackman tried to take The Undertaker out. Austin was trying to take out Hardcore Holly. Chaz then was thrown out by Taker, for attempting to throw him out. That leaves 8 left in the ring. Tazz was taken out by Austin. Blackman was also eliminated by Austin. Taker took care of Benoit, which received a big pop from the crowd. Benoit was there the longest. That leaves 5 wrestlers inside the ring. Vince McMahon makes his way to the ringside area to secure a fair match. Funaki upsets Hardcore Holly, after being the second man to stay there the longest. The final four are Funaki, Undertaker, Kane, and Austin. Taka Michinoku comes to the ringside area and cheers for Funaki. Taka screams to Funaki: "Come on! You going WrestleMania!!" Funaki then vows to Taka in the ring, but Kane comes from behind and eliminates him. Damn, I wanted Funaki to pull the huge upset. Vince was in the apron and distracted Kane. Kane was out of there! The Undertaker and Austin were the last men standing. Vince grabbed the mic and both men to stop fighting. Vince said to make this peacefully, he'll manage both men to WrestleMania and The Rock's title reign. Vince stepped in the ring. Vince had reasons for both to come out as co-winners of the Royal Rumble. Austin and Taker agreed. Austin said, "We agree that we can go to WrestleMania and face the WWF Champion. But we disagree on hiring your services, jackass." Austin delivered the Stunner on Vince while Taker did the "Last Ride" to Vince. Taker and Austin were declared the winners. Lawler said, "He should of have Funaki as his Royal Rumble winner, JR." The show ended.