The Royal Rumble kicks off the Road to WrestleMania with a stacked card and a history-making night. Both Tag Team Championships are defended as well as the WWE and Universal Championships. The men’s Royal Rumble match takes place for the 31st time, while the women compete in their first-ever Rumble match. Also, the show has a brief appearance from Ronda Rousey.
Kalisto, Lince Dorado, & Gran Metalik vs. TJP, Drew Gulak, & Gentleman Jack Gallagher
To start off the Royal Rumble Kickoff Show, the luchadores of 205 Live take on three other Cruiserweights to get the crowd energized.
With Drew Gulak and Gentleman Jack Gallagher taken care of outside the ring, Kalisto hits TJP with a Salida Del Sol to pick up the victory. While the former Lucha Dragon picks up another victory, TJP sees another loss in a string of heartbreaking defeats. Winners: Kalisto, Lince Dorado, & Gran Metalik
The Revival vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Last week on Raw 25, The Revival suffered a quick loss to the Good Brothers and were attacked by D-Generation X after. Tonight, they look to bounce back by taking care of the former Raw Tag Team Champions.
After a chop block from behind to Karl Anderson, Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder score a much-needed victory. Winners: The Revival
Bobby Roode (c) vs. Mojo Rawley – United States Championship
A few days ago, it was announced that Bobby Roode would be bringing back the United States Open Challenge to defend his US Title against a mystery opponent. Mojo Rawley would answer the call and thankfully for Roode, these two collided a couple weeks ago. Roode defeated Rawley in the semifinals of the United States Championship Tournament and of course, Roode ended up winning the whole thing.
After countering Rawley’s running forearm in the corner, Roode turns a tornado rotation into most of a Glorious DDT. Even though he didn’t get all of it, it is enough to put the former Hype Bro away. Winner, and STILL United States Champion: Bobby Roode
AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn – WWE Championship
A few weeks ago, the rivalry between AJ Styles and “Kami” (Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn) had gotten to a point where Styles suggested that he should just face them in a handicap match. While that should not have been taken seriously, SmackDown General Manager did and now Styles has to defend his WWE Championship in a two-on-one scenario. If Owens and Zayn win, they will be the first co-champions in the title’s decades-long history.
Zayn is fingertips away from tagging in Owens, but he barely misses. After Styles dumps Zayn out of the ring, he rolls up Owens and the referee counts to three even though Owens is not the legal man. Winner, and STILL WWE Champion: AJ Styles
Predicted Winner: AJ Styles (1/1)
The Usos (c) vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin – SmackDown Tag Team Championships (2 Out of 3 Falls Match)
This is the third time in three months that Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin are challenging for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. The lost their first attempt due to the nature of a Fatal Four-Way match. Their second loss was due to them winning at first, but the referee then changing his decision.
After a ton of near falls, Jimmy and Jey Uso double-team Gable with an array of superkicks to pick up the first fall. Winners (first fall): The Usos
Jey Uso hits his head hard outside the ring but he gives the referee the “okay” to continue. Benjamin looks to get an easy pin but Uso counters into a roll-up and Gable does not get there in time to break it up. Winners, and STILL SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Predicted Winners: The Usos (2/2)
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
The concept is simple. Two men start the match, with 28 others entering one-by-one every 90 seconds or so. The winner gets a main event title match at WrestleMania.
Entry Order:
- Rusev
- Finn Balor
- Rhyno
- Baron Corbin
- Heath Slater
- Elias
- Andrade “Cien” Almas
- Bray Wyatt
- Big E
- Sami Zayn (attacked Tye Dillinger and took his spot)
- Sheamus
- Xavier Woods
- Apollo Crews
- Shinsuke Nakamura
- Cesaro
- Kofi Kingston
- Jinder Mahal
- Seth Rollins
- Woken Matt Hardy
- John Cena
- The Hurricane
- Aiden English
- Adam Cole
- Randy Orton
- Titus O’Neil
- The Miz
- Rey Mysterio
- Roman Reigns
- Goldust
- Dolph Ziggler
Elimination Order (Eliminator):
- Rhyno (Corbin)
- Baron Corbin (Balor)
- Sheamus (Slater)
- Heath Slater (Wyatt)
- Sami Zayn (Nakamura)
- Apollo Crews (Cesaro)
- Xavier Woods (Mahal)
- Big E (Mahal)
- Cesaro (Rollins)
- Jinder Mahal (Kingston)
- Kofi Kingston (Almas)
- Rusev (Wyatt & Hardy)
- Bray Wyatt (Hardy)
- Matt Hardy (Wyatt)
- Elias (Cena)
- The Hurricane (Cena)
- Aiden English (Balor)
- Andrade “Cien” Almas (Orton)
- Adam Cole (Mysterio)
- Titus O’Neil (Reigns)
- The Miz (Reigns & Rollins)
- Seth Rollins (Reigns)
- Goldust (Ziggler)
- Dolph Ziggler (Balor)
- Randy Orton (Reigns)
- Rey Mysterio (Balor)
- Finn Balor (Cena)
- John Cena (Nakamura)
- Roman Reigns (Nakamura)
Royal Rumble Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Predicted Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (3/3)
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (c) vs. Sheamus & Cesaro – Raw Tag Team Championships
On the final 2017 episode of Raw, Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan teamed up for the first time ever and on the same night, they captured the Raw Tag Team Championships. Tonight is the obligated rematch for Sheamus and Cesaro, who have already held the titles three times. Jordan is the only member of this match who didn’t compete in the Royal Rumble.
Jordan seems to get concusses early on in the match and The Bar quickly takes advantage of the two-on-one scenario. After eating a Brogue Kick, Rollins gets double-teamed and The Bar become four-time tag champs. Winners, and NEW Raw Tag Team Champions: Sheamus & Cesaro
Predicted Winners: Sheamus & Cesaro (4/4)
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane – WWE Universal Championship
This match could potentially determine who is the Universal Champion at WrestleMania. All three men are destructive forces in WWE. Kane has been dominant for about 20 years, Brock Lesnar is the Beast Incarnate for a reason, and Braun Strowman has wreaked havoc over Raw for the past year.
After knocking Braun Strowman out of the ring for a brief moment, Lesnar F5s Kane onto a steel chair to barely hold onto his title. Winner, and STILL Universal Champion: Brock Lesnar
Predicted Winner: Brock Lesnar (5/5)
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
For the first time ever, the women of WWE are having their own Royal Rumble match. The rules are exactly the same, with the winner facing her respective brand’s Women’s Champion. Stephanie McMahon is a guest commentator for the match, while Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair will be at ringside.
Entry Order:
- Sasha Banks
- Becky Lynch
- Sarah Logan
- Mandy Rose
- Lita
- Kairi Sane
- Tamina
- Dana Brooke
- Torrie 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
Elimination Order (Eliminator)
- Mandy Rose (Lita)
- Tamina (Lita)
- Lita (Lynch)
- Kairi Sane (Brooke)
- Dana Brooke (Wilson)
- Torrie Wilson (Deville)
- Sarah Logan (Holly)
- Sonya Deville (McCool)
- Liv Morgan (McCool)
- Molly Holly (McCool)
- Lana (McCool)
- Vickie Guerrero (McCool, Banks, Riott, & Lynch)
- Michelle McCool (Natalya)
- Becky Lynch (Riott)
- Jacqueline (Jax)
- Kelly Kelly (Jax)
- Ruby Riott (Jax)
- Naomi (Jax)
- Beth Phoenix (Natalya)
- Ember Moon (Asuka)
- Carmella (Nikki Bella)
- Mickie James (Stratus)
- Nia Jax (The Bella Twins, Natalya, Bayley, & Stratus)
- Bayley (Banks)
- Natalya (Stratus)
- Trish Stratus (Banks)
- Sasha Banks (The Bella Twins)
- Brie Bella (Nikki Bella)
- Nikki Bella (Asuka)
Royal Rumble Winner: Asuka
Predicted Winner: Asuka (6/6)
Before Asuka chooses her WrestleMania title match, she is interrupted by Ronda Rousey. Rousey points to the WrestleMania sign and goes to shake Asuka’s hand, but the Empress of Tomorrow slaps it out of the way. Rousey then heads to the commentary table and shakes the hand of Stephanie McMahon to close the show.
