WWE Royal Rumble live results: The road to WrestleMania 40 begins
Date: January 27, 2024
Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL
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Show Recap —
KICK-OFF SHOW
There was a quick intro video narrated by Hulk Hogan. The preshow was hosted by Jackie Redmond, Booker T, Wade Barrett and Peter Rosenberg. They showed a few wrestlers (Becky Lynch, Bobby Lashley) arriving and played one of the Royal Rumble numbers videos. (They continued to show wrestlers arriving as the preshow went on.)
Earlier today, Kayla Braxton interviewed Rhea Ripley as she sat alone in the stands at Tropicana Field. Ripley said the winner of the Rumble would be wasting their opportunity if they chose to fight her at WrestleMania. She claimed she would be the only woman to enter at number one and win it. She told Braxton to leave.
Paul Heyman interview
Byron Saxton interviewed Paul Heyman. Heyman thought WWE wanted Roman Reigns’ reign to end. WWE didn’t have the system anymore to have a 3+ year champion. They didn’t have the system to promote a dynasty like the New York Yankees or LA Lakers. They wanted a champion in and a champion out. They even created a replica championship. The system wasn’t designed for someone like Roman Reigns.
That’s why Nick Aldis put Reigns in a match where it’s practically guaranteed that he would lose. The key word was ‘practically’ because the last time he was placed in this position, he stacked up Daniel Bryan and Edge (who he named) to retain his title. Reigns would retain tonight and go into WrestleMania as the champion and that was a spoiler.
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Musician Jelly Roll joined the panel and was excited to be at the show.
Peter Rosenberg accosted people backstage. He found Austin Theory and Grayson Waller first. They thought he was Sam Roberts. They said they would be the first co-winners of the Rumble in 20 years. Rosenberg ran into R-Truth next. Truth was trying to open baseballs to get a new Rumble entry number.
Rosenberg ran into Punk who said he was facing-timing Larry the dog. Punk said he missed Larry and he missed this place. Punk never thought he would be in a Rumble match again but that was the great thing about life. He was older and wiser but felt good and was still the best in the world. He felt nerves but that was a good thing. He stopped feeling those nerves before he left the last time. Rosenberg wished him luck.
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There were features on Cody Rhodes and Gunther.
Redmond cut to the back where Braxton interviewed Paul “Triple H” Levesque (which is what Redmond called him and what his graphic said). Hunter hyped the show and said the road to the biggest WrestleMania of all-time started tonight.
The Women’s Rumble match starts the PPV.
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2024 ROYAL RUMBLE
Michael Cole said they were sold out with over 40,000 fans. Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and Montez Ford were shown arriving at the arena.
They aired the 3-minute long Rumble intro video narrated by Hulk Hogan.
Cody Rhodes was shown surveying the stadium and CM Punk was shown arriving as well.
Pat McAfee entered to join commentary. Cole was pumped. Corey Graves acted pissed.
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Bayley won the Women’s Royal Rumble Match (1:04:56)
Natalya entered 1st. Naomi returned and entered 2nd. She got her flashy entrance and Cole mentioned that she won the TNA Knockouts Championship while she was gone. She got a big reaction and “welcome back” chants.
Bayley entered 3rd to a good reaction. Candice LeRae entered 4th.
Jordynne Grace entered 5th. She wore her Knockouts Championship belt. The announcers put her over big as she suplexed and slammed Natalya and LeRae. She hugged Naomi before they traded blows (the crowd popped for their interaction). Grace got the better of that exchange.
Indi Hartwell entered 6th. Asuka entered 7th and Bayley seemed surprised. Asuka acted happy to see Bayley and they worked together. Bayley was hesitant but they worked together to eliminate Hartwell.
Ivy Nile entered 8th. A dead period led to Bayley inviting Cole into the ring. Katana Chance entered 9th. Grace and Nile looked at each other before they each showed off their strength by hitting delayed vertical suplexes to Chance and LeRae, respectively.
Bianca Belair entered 10th. Belair knocked down Asuka and Bayley with a double blockbuster. Belair dropped Chance onto LeRae and Bayley before hitting all three of them with a springboard moonsault. Kairi Sane entered 11th and she worked with Bayley and Asuka to eliminate LeRae.
Tegan Nox entered 12th and took out Bayle with a Molly-Go-Round. Nox eliminated her partner Natalya but Bayley immediately eliminated Nox.
Kayden Carter entered 13th. Sane was almost eliminated but Sane somehow held on like a spider but she couldn’t quite hold and she fell out. Chance and Carter eliminated Asuka (leaving Bayley on her own).
Chelsea Green entered 14th. Belair gave Grace a KOD on the apron to eliminate her. Piper Niven entered 15th. Green was almost eliminated but NIven saved her. Niven teased dropping her on purpose but didn’t. Niven squished Green in the corner by mistake later on.
Xia Li entered 16th, Zelina Vega entered 17th and she planted Niven with a DDT. Maxxine Dupri entered 18th. She tried her best but, uh, didn’t look good. Niven eliminated Chance.
Nia Jax entered 19th. She eliminated Li and Nile. Niven drove Jax into the corner and unfortunately, Green was also in that corner. Shotzi entered 20th. Naomi and Shotzi teamed up on Jax before Dupri hit a reverse Caterpillar. All of the women, about 8 of them, tried eliminating Jax but she shoved them away.
Bayley eliminated Dupri. Jax eliminated Niven. Jax press slammed Chance out of the ring onto Niven, Li and Green. (Green wasn’t eliminated but was outside the ring.)
Becky Lynch entered 21st (to a big pop) and went right after Jax. Lynch shoved Green off the apron to eliminate her. Alba Fyre entered 22nd, Shayna Baszler entered 23rd.
Valhalla entered 24th. As she entered, Truth’s music and he ran into the ring. Truth was suddenly confused upon entering the ring and Jax chucked him out. The crowd booed Jax. Adam Pearce came out to tell Truth he was in the wrong Rumble. Jax eliminated Valhalla in the background.
Michin entered 25th. Naomi eliminated Alba. Zoey Stark entered 26th. Stark and Baszler eliminated Vega by chucking her onto Alba Fyre (which looked nasty).
Roxanne Perez entered 27th. Jax eliminated Baszler, Michin and Shotzi.
Jade Cargill entered 28th to a big pop. She faced off with Jax and the crowd chanted “Holy shit.” Cargill easily got Jax on her shoulders and slammed her which got a big pop. Cargill lifted Jax up and chucked her over the top rope which also got a huge reaction. There was a great shot as the camera expanded to show a very impressed Lynch.
Tiffany Stratton entered 29th. She wiped out about 6 women with a Swanton.
Liv Morgan returned and entered 30th. Morgan eliminated Stark, Stratton eliminated Perez.
Belair and Cargill each hit press slams (while staring at each other) on Morgan and Lynch, respectively. The crowd popped as the two faced off but they were attacked by Stratton and Bayley.
Lynch was almost eliminated by Cargill but she held on. As Lynch was on the apron, Cargill swung Naomi into Lynch which knocked her out. Cargill also tossed Naomi.
Stratton was almost eliminated but held on to Belair’s braid for dear life (which didn’t look fun for Belair). Bayley kicked Belair to eliminate both Belair and Stratton.
The final three were Cargill, Bayley and Morgan. All three wound up on the apron. Morgan and Bayley teamed up on Cargill before Morgan wound up eliminating her. Bayley kicked Morgan off the apron immediately to win the match.
The crowd popped big as Bayley seemed to be the favourite since she entered.
Bayley pointed at The Sign and as fireworks went off.
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(I didn’t time it, but between commercials/video packages and entrances, it felt like a very long time between the last match and this one.)
LA Knight’s entrance was sponsored by Slim Jim and there were Slim Jim logos everywhere.
Fatal 4-Way: Roman Reigns defeated LA Knight, AJ Styles and Randy Orton to retain the Undisputed Championship (19:28)
As Knight slammed Styles’ head against the announce table, Orton backdropped Reigns onto the table. Knight responded by giving Styles a backdrop on the table before bouncing Orton’s head on it (as the crowd yelled, “Yeah.”) Orton managed to slam Knight on the table anyway.
They all traded moves in the ring but Reigns wound up on top. Reigns plodded around the ring for a few minutes until Knight hammered away at him. Knight was all over everyone and hit an impressive leaping superplex on Styles. Knight hit Reigns with BFT and made the cover but a staggered Styles fell over onto him to break it up.
Styles fought back and hit Reigns with a Styles Clash but Knight broke up the cover. Orton gave Knight a draping DDT. Styles set up for the Phenomenal Forearm but Orton went right up to him at the ropes and brought him down with an RKO. Orton also RKO’d Knight and countered Reigns’ spear into an RKO.
The crowd bought this as a finish but Solo Sikoa yanked the referee out of the ring at a two count. Sikoa beat the crap out of everyone as the crowd booed. Sikoa stacked up Knight and Orton for Reigns before heading out of the ring. Sikoa went for a running hip attack on Styles but Styles moved and Sikoa crashed through the barricade. (Poor Samantha Irvin almost got killed.)
Reigns stood up in the ring but Styles nailed him with a Phenomenal Forearm. Reigns wound up stacked up on top of Orton and Knight. Styles covered them all but they all kicked out.
Styles grabbed a chair and attacked Reigns and Knight. Orton fought off Styles but Reigns speared Orton out of the ring. Knight dropped Reigns and went for the BFT but Reigns shoved him into the ropes as Styles set up for the forearm. Styles fell off the ropes and Reigns speared Knight for the pinfall win.
This was fine, I guess.
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United States Championship: Logan Paul defeated Kevin Owens via disqualification (14:02)
Owens was all over Paul early on. He hit a German suplex but Paul left the ring before Owens could go for a cannonball. Paul tried to go after his arm but Owens fought him off.
Paul eventually did stomp his hand and hit a dive. Paul repeatedly slammed his hand against the ring post. Paul hit a springboard crossbody and standing shooting star press. Paul literally punched Owens’ hand and hit a series of uppercuts.
Paul went for a 619 but Owens ducked and hit a clothesline. Owens went for a senton but Paul got his knees up. Owens fought back with a neckbreaker, chops (with his left hand), consecutive cannonballs and frog splash for two.
Owens went for a flying senton but Paul got his knees up again. Paul went for one too but Owens dodged it. Paul hit a Buckshot Lariat and a splash for two. Owens hit an avalanche fisherman’s buster for two. Owens superkicked Paul but Paul hit a big punch for two.
One of Paul’s buddies hopped the barricade but the referee immediately tossed him. Security also showed up because he wouldn’t leave. Paul tried to use the distraction but Paul and Owens dropped each other with clotheslines.
Austin Theory and Grayson Waller showed up and one of them handed Paul brass knux. Owens grabbed them away and punched Paul with them. Owens covered him and had it won but as the ref was about to count to three, he saw the knux on Owens’ hand. The ref DQ’d Owens.
— After the match, Owens powerbombed Paul through the announce table.
(This was pretty good until the finish.)
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Cody Rhodes won the Men’s Royal Rumble Match (1:08:13)
Jey Uso entered 1st. Jimmy Uso entered 2nd. They traded strikes and Jey got the better of their exchange but Jimmy got his knees up on a splash.
Grayson Waller entered 3rd. Waller cut a promo on the way out but Jey superkicked him off the apron (before he officially entered). Waller did get in and teamed with Jimmy against Jey.
Andrade entered 4th. He wore a mask on the way out but removed it as he entered. He got a big pop.
Carmelo Hayes entered 5th. He looked good and quickly eliminated Waller. Shinsuke Nakamura entered 6th. The crowd sang his song. McAfee was entertained by this.
Santos Escobar entered 7th. He faced off with Andrade which got a pop. Escobar assumed they’d be friends but Andrade was not on board. Karrion Kross entered 8th. Not much happened. Dominik Mysterio entered 9th. The crowd booed.
Carlito entered 10th. He pulled an apple out of trunks (crotch?) and took a bite. He spat at Escobar and eliminated him.
Bobby Lashley entered 11th. Lashley speared Nakamura, Jimmy, and Dom. He also gave Andrade a spinebuster before eliminating Carlito and Kross. AOP entered and Kross, who was already eliminated, yanked Lashley off the apron. Lashley was eliminated as a result. The Street Profits ran and the teams brawled. This part was all very dumb.
Ludwig Kaiser entered 12th. Austin Theory entered 13th. We’re 21 minutes in, and aside from Andrade’s return, this is pretty boring so far.
Finn Bálor entered 14th. Bálor assisted Dom and eliminated Hayes.
Cody Rhodes entered 15th. The crowd woke up and got to its feet and he eliminated Theory. Bálor and Dom went after him. (It feels like the next entrant came out before 90 seconds.)
Bronson Reed entered 16th. Reed pretty easily eliminated Andrade.
Kofi Kingston entered 17th. They said this was his 16th Rumble match, only behind Kane who has 18 appearances. Rhodes eliminated Nakamura. Kingston eliminated Kaiser.
Gunther entered 18th. He was pissed at Kaiser. Gunther chopped Kingston, Bálor, Dom and Jimmy. (Jimmy was trying to be friends with every heel who entered, which was funny.) Gunther and Rhodes faced off until KIngston went after Gunther. Gunther very easily eliminated Kingston. This was the easiest Kingston has probably ever gone out. (They face off tomorrow for the IC title.)
Ivar entered 19th. Ivar took it to Gunther. Jimmy tried to be friends with Ivar but Ivar dropped him.
Bron Breakker entered 20th. He speared Jimmy, slammed Bálor, and clotheslined Ivar. Breakker eliminated Jimmy and Bálor. The crowd buzzed. Breakker faced off with Gunther and the crowd was into it. Breakker speared Gunther and the crowd was totally into it.
Omos entered 21st. He eliminated Reed. Breakker eliminated Ivar.
McAfee’s music hit and he entered at 22. He acted surprised and entered the ring as OMos and Breakker stood tall. McAfee entered the ring but thought better of it and eliminated himself. McAfee re-joined commentary. Breakker eliminated Omos and Dom eliminated Breakker. This was sort of hard to miss because the next entrant, JD McDonagh at 23, was on his way out.
R-Truth entered at 24th. He tossed McDonagh back in the ring (after he rolled out) and McDonagh eliminated by Jey. The crowd loved Truth. Dom “tagged in” Truth who ran wild Gunther. Truth did John Cena’s comeback and the crowd loved it but he was booted by Gunther.
The Miz entered 25th. Miz wound up working with Truth. Miz tried to eliminate Dom but Truth saved him. Dom gave Miz a 619.
Damian Priest entered 26th. Priest immediately clocked Truth and eliminated him. The crowd booed.
CM Punk entered at 27th. Punk ran wild on everyone and eliminated Dom.
Ricochet entered 28th. Gunther eliminated Miz.
McIntyre entered 29th. Jey fired up but was eliminated by Gunther.
Sami Zayn entered 30th.
McIntyre eliminated Ricochet. Zayn gave McIntyre a Helluva Kick and eliminated Priest. McIntyre eliminated Zayn.
(Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns were each shown watching from different suites at this moment.)
McIntyre, Gunther, Punk and Rhodes were the final four.
Punk went for the GTS on McIntyre but McIntyre slipped out and hit a headbutt. McIntyre Claymore Kicked both Rhodes and Punk.
Punk got McIntre on his shoulders and chucked him out. Gunther powerbombed Punk before Rhodes eliminated Gunther.
Punk and Rhodes are the final two.
They had an exchange that Rhodes was getting the better of before Punk hit triple German suplexes. Rhodes came back with jabs and the bionic elbow.
Punk tried to eliminate Rhodes but Rhodes got back in. Rhodes came back and hit a Cross Rhodes.
Rhodes went to eliminate Punk but Punk countered and hit a GTS.
Another exchange led to Punk hitting a Pedigree (this didn’t get the reaction I think they wanted).
Punk went for another GTS but Rhodes countered and chucked Punk out for the elimination. Rhodes wins. The crowd popped big. Rhodes won.
(This wasn’t a great Rumble at all, but it obviously came down to the last few minutes which was very good.)