Kickoff Match
Kalisto, Gran Metalik, and Lince Dorado vs. TJP, Jack Gallagher, and Drew Gulak
Now THIS is what #205Live is all about!#RoyalRumble @WWEGranMetalik @KalistoWWE @LuchadorLD pic.twitter.com/R03XzL5pv1
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) January 28, 2018
This match was good, but the building was still 99% empty when the final bell rang, so there was little to no fan response throughout the bout.
At one point, Team Lucha Things hit a triple moonsault to the floor (see the tweet above for the gif) which got a nice reaction from us.
Kalisto got the win for his team via the Salida del Sol.
Winner: Kalisto, Gran Metalik, Lince Dorado
Kickoff Match
The Club vs. The Revival
“TOP GUYS FOR A REASON!” – @DashWilderWWE #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/STolWI3HMt
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 28, 2018
The Revival spent the majority of the match picking apart Karl Anderson, specifically his left leg/knee. There were a ton of awesome tag spots that only these guys would think of. Both teams know how to do tag team wrestling right.
Dash Wilder hit a nasty chop block on Karl Anderson’s bad leg to get the win for The Revival.
Winner: The Revival
Kickoff Match
The United States Championship Open Challenge
Bobby Roode (c) vs. ???
#RoyalRumble Kickoff just got GLORIOUS, as @REALBobbyRoode has graced @WWENetwork and Philadelphia with his presence! #USTitle pic.twitter.com/EdYi1MeEQS
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) January 28, 2018
Bobby Roode laid down the challenge, and Mojo Rawley answered it.
Unlike the first two pre-show matchups, this bout wasn’t good, but it was at least quick.
Roode got the win via the Glorious DDT to retain the US title.
Winner: Bobby Roode
WWE Championship Match
AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
There’s always a way around the strategy…#RoyalRumble #WWEChampionship @FightOwensFight @SamiZayn pic.twitter.com/5FEawqAbZl
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 29, 2018
This may have been the best handicap match we’ve ever seen…
Things started off hot, with Owens and Zayn using frequent tags to stay fresh and wear down the champ. They were constantly cutting off half of the ring, even though Styles did not have a partner to tag in, keeping the Phenomenal One on their side of town.
Styles made things as even as possible by aggravating Owen’s bad leg, and disposing Zayn to the outside to get a one-on-one showdown with Owens.
Styles survived and retained when he reversed the pop-up powerbomb with a rollup. Owens may not have been the legal man, so this could lead to something down the line. Stay tuned…
Winner: AJ Styles
2-out-of-3 Falls Match
SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship
The Usos (c) vs. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin
Oh, there’s no doubt about it…@WWEGable and @Sheltyb803 CAME TO PLAY tonight! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/4O3cn67Si4
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Gable and Benjamin spent the early part of the match working over Jimmy Uso’s leg, which apparently was the body part to attack tonight.
Unlike most 2-out-of-3 falls matches, the first fall did not happen in the first few minutes of the bout, which was a pleasant change of pace.
The Usos got the first fall via a fury of superkicks on Gable. Soon after, they got the second pinfall to win the match 2-0. Kind of an awkward and abrupt ending to a really good match.
Winner: The Usos
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
UP NEXT: 30 MEN. 1 RING. ONE man will earn a championship opportunity at @WrestleMania! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/FP0ctLrl3g
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Order of Entrants
- Rusev
- Finn Bálor
- Rhyno
- Baron Corbin
- Heath Slater
- Elias
- Andrade “Cien” Almas
- Bray Wyatt
- Big E
Tye DillingerSami Zayn- Sheamus
- Xavier Woods
- Apollo Crews
- Shinsuke Nakamura
- Cesaro
- Kofi Kingston
- Jinder Mahal
- Seth Rollins
- Matt Hardy
- John Cena
- The Hurricane
- Aiden English
- Adam Cole
- Randy Orton
- Titus O’Neil
- The Miz
- Rey Mysterio
- Roman Reigns
- Goldust
- Dolph Ziggler
Notable Moments
- Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attacked Tye Dillinger, and Zayn took his number 10 entrant spot. Owens did not appear to be too happy that Zayn got the spot over him.
- Kofi Kingston’s annual “avoid being eliminated by being awesome” spot involved him keeping one foot on a plate of pancakes that were on the floor. A little bit of humor is a nice change of pace in a match like this.
- Surprise entrants included The Hurricane, Rey Mysterio, Andrade “Cien” Almas, Adam Cole, and Dolph Ziggler.
- The final four consisted of Bálor, Reigns, Cena and Nakamura. Nakamura eliminated Reigns to win the bout and conclude an excellent Rumble match.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Raw Tag Team Championship Match
Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan (c) vs. The Bar
This is why they don’t just set #TheBar…
THEY ARE THE BAR! #RoyalRumble @WWESheamus @WWECesaro pic.twitter.com/Ijl4Efmgdi
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 29, 2018
The crowd was dead for this match, which is understandable considering how thrilling the men’s Rumble was.
Jordan was “injured” early on in the bout, which means Rollins had to fight off The Bar by himself for the majority of the contest. Those two are probably going to be feuding sooner rather than later.
The Bar got the W and became Raw Tag Team Champions once again.
Winner: The Bar
Universal Championship Match
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane
???
A TORNADO just hit @BraunStrowman in the form of a @BrockLesnar #F5!#RoyalRumble #UniversalChampionship pic.twitter.com/FeIeviTAx3
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Once again, the crowd was still pretty dead from the men’s Rumble match.
Early on, Strowman kneed Lesnar in the head, and Lesnar retaliated with a nasty right hand that legitimately rocked Strowman. Brutal stuff.
Tons of brawling, table spots, and concussions to go around for everyone. The entire match was violent as hell.
Lesnar got the win via the F-5 on Kane.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
UP NEXT: We’re set to make HISTORY with the first-ever 30-WOMAN #RoyalRumble match! #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/BDhyI4FnUY
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Order of Entrants
- Sasha Banks
- Becky Lynch
- Sarah Logan
- Mandy Rose
- Lita
- Kairi Sane
- Tamina
- Dana Brooke
- Tori Wilson
- Sonya Deville
- Liv Morgan
- Molly Holly
- Lana
- Michelle McCool
- Ruby Riott
- Vickie Guerrero
- Carmella
- Natalya
- Kelly Kelly
- Naomi
- Jacqueline
- Nia Jax
- Ember Moon
- Beth Phoenix
- Asuka
- Mickie James
- Nikki Bella
- Brie Bella
- Bayley
- Trish Stratus
Notable Moments
- Sasha Banks was the MVP of the match, staying in the ring a whopping 54:43.
- Friends turning on friends was the theme of the match. Natalya turned on Beth Phoenix, Nikki Bella turned on Brie Bella, just to name a few.
- There was a grand total of 13 surprise entrants.
- Asuka won the match, eliminating Nikki Bella last. Afterwards, Ronda Rousey arrived and interrupted Asuka before she could make her choice as to which champion she was going to face at WrestleMania. The show ended with Rowdy Ronda pointing at the WrestleMania sign.
Winner: Asuka
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #RoyalRumble
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) January 29, 2018
