It was initially rumored that WWE would have a Royal Rumble qualifier match lined up for its free pre-show streaming live before the Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for this Sun., Jan. 27, 2013, at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

But that rumor was wrong.

Turns out, we'll be getting a United States championship match instead, as Antonio Cesaro will defend his title against the man he's been kind of sort of feuding with over the past couple weeks, The Miz.

From WWE.com:

Newly equipped with a Figure-Four Leglock bestowed upon him by a WWE Hall of Famer, The Miz will look to become a three-time United States Champion when he battles titleholder Antonio Cesaro on the free Royal Rumble Pre-Show event this Sunday. The Pre-Show will stream live on WWE.com, YouTube.com/WWE and Facebook.com/WWE at 7:30 ET/4:30 PT, a half-hour before the pay-per-view gets under way.

Ah, yes, Miz is "newly equipped" with the Figure Four Leglock that Ric Flair passed down to him. It would be nice if he actually knew how to properly execute it but don't let that get in the way of good copy!

Seriously, Miz, how do you screw up the Figure Four (watch him botch it against Dolph Ziggler here) like two weeks after one of the greatest wrestlers of all time hands it down to you and gives you his blessing? Is that one of the all time fumbles in pro wrestling history?

Just think of how much worse this will be if he goes for it again and fails at the second biggest event of the year.

Anyone think they're going to give Miz the title here?