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Royal Rumble kicked off with Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin showing up for the Falls Count Anywhere Match. The Kickoff show saw Sheamus defeat Shorty G and Andrade def. Humberto Carrillo to retain the US title.
Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin - Falls Count Anywhere Match
The match headed outside for a bit but then Corbin hit the Deep Six in the ring for a near fall. They ended up in the stands soon enough and were fighting among the crowd before Corbin slammed Reigns on the German announce table for a two count.
Corbin chokeslammed Reigns through the Spanish table for yet another near fall. They took to crowd again and now the international tables were in danger as Roman hit Corbin with Samoan Drops through two of them.
Roode and Ziggler attacked Roman and The Usos came out to even things up. Both Jimmy and Jey went down and the heels were setting them up for a big move on a guardrail but The Usos turned it around and Jimmy leaped on top of them from the scaffolding.
Roman was up and locked Corbin in a porta-potty and flipped it to the side before Corbin managed to escape it. Corbin attacked Reigns with a steel chair and Reigns hit a Superman punch and then a spear on the dugout for the win.
Result: Roman Reigns def. King Corbin
Match rating: A
Rate this match here.
Backstage, Kevin Owens was confident about the Rumble but Samoa Joe warned him from getting in his way. They were not going to be taking it easy on each other tonight
Mandy and Sonya were in an interview and Sonya said she would sacrifice her own chance at winning the Rumble for her partner Mandy.
Women's Royal Rumble Match
Alexa Bliss and Bianca Belair kicked us off followed by Mighty Molly, the Superhero alter ego of Molly Holly. Nikki Cross was out next and Alexa was really happy to have her teammate in the ring. Lana was the fifth entrant and Mercedes Martinez came out right after.
Liv Morgan came out and immediately threw Lana out before Martinez almost took her out. Lana came from the outside and eliminated Liv and they started fighting at ringside. Mandy Rose and Candice LeRae were out next before Molly Holly was eliminated.
Alexa threw Mandy out but Otis was there to save her from hitting the floor. Sonya Deville was in and helped Mandy eliminate Martinez. Kairi Sane and Miya Yim were in soon and Belair used Alexa as a weapon to eliminate Nikki Cross.
Otis was there again to catch Mandy when she was thrown out but then Deville was thrown as well and fell on the two, making Otis drop Mandy. Dana Brooke was in number 13 and Candice and Kairi were sent out as she walked in the ring.
Women's Royal Rumble Match (contd...)
Tamina was next but was immediately thrown out by Belair. Dakota Kai entered the match followed by Chelsea Green and Mia Yim and Dakota were sent out followed by Green and Brooke.
Bianca Belair eliminated Bliss and Charlotte walked in the ring followed by the returning Naomi, Beth Phoenix and Toni Storm. Belair was eliminated, ending her record winning streak of eliminations.
Kelly Kelly was in, followed by Sarah Logan but Logan was eliminated right away followed by Kelly Kelly. Natalya walked out followed by Xia Li and Zelina Vega. Phoenix was bleeding severely from the head but continued fighting as Shotzi Blackheart took to the ring.
Naomi saved herself by catching the barricades after being tossed out before Carmella and Tegan Nox entered the ring. Santina Marella was out next but eliminated 'herself'. Last one out was Shayna Baszler and she sent Xia Lee, Tegan Nox, Zelina Vega, Carmella, and Shotzi Blackheart out of the match.
Storm and Naomi were out as well while Beth Phoenix eliminated Natalya. Beth Phoenix was sent out by Baszler while Flair eliminated Baszler.
Result: Charlotte won the Women's Royal Rumble
Match rating: A+
Backstage, Corbin said he would put a stop to Roman at the Royal Rumble.
Bayley (c) vs. Lacey Evans - SmackDown Women's Championship match
Bayley was in control early on and went for a dive on Lacey Evans but missed. Evans hit a Bronco Buster and gained some control back for the moment. Bayley dived to the outside but missed Lacey and got thrown into the barrier. Evans hit a neck breaker and the moonsault but Bayley got her knees up in time to win the match and had a handful of tights to sneak out with a win.
Result: Bayley def. Lacey Evans to retain the SmackDown Women's Championship
Match rating: B
Rate this match here.
The Fiend (c) vs. Daniel Bryan - Strap Match for the Universal Championship
Bryan hit the 'Yes' kicks right away but Wyatt was in control soon as he whipped Bryan with the strap over and over. Bryan reversed a Sister Abigail and hit the knee strike for a near fall before he leaped to the outside from the top rope.
Bryan used the strap to drive Wyatt into the post a few times but the champ was back up and in control soon enough.
The Fiend (c) vs. Daniel Bryan - Strap Match for the Universal Championship (contd...)
Bryan hit some low blows and then a DDT on the announce tables before whipping away at Wyatt with the strap. Bryan hit the Yes kicks and The Fiend asked for more. Bryan hyped the crowd but then took a Sister Abigail for a near fall.
Bryan was caught on the top rope with a Mandible Claw but managed to lock in a triangle but was able to lock the LeBell in using the strap. The Fiend locked the Claw again and pinned Bryan for the win.
Result: The Fiend def. Daniel Bryan to retain the Universal Championship
After the match, the lights went out and when they were back on, The Fiend was gone and Bryan got a huge ovation from the crowd as he was being carried away.
Match rating: A
Rate this match here.
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Asuka - RAW Women's Championship match
Asuka took control of the match early but Becky dodged the hip attack and hit a dropkick.
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Asuka - RAW Women's Championship match (contd...)
Becky dropped Asuka from the apron and then hit a Bexploder into the barricades. Asuka sent Becky into the post with a hip attack on the apron. Becky got a near fall from a slam off the ropes.
Asuka hit a kick to the head and almost knocked Becky out. Becky hit a kick making Asuka spray the Green Mist in the air before Lynch picked up the win.
Result: Becky Lynch def. Asuka to retain the RAW Women's Championship
Match rating: A
Rate this match here.
The Street Profits were backstage and hyped the Royal Rumble match.
We learned that Rusev and Lashley got into a fight earlier in the parking lot and were not cleared for the Rumble match tonight.
Royal Rumble match (Men's)
Brock Lesnar and Elias kicked us off and Elias was playing a song when Lesnar attacked him and they went into the ring. Brock smashed Elias with the guitar and eliminated him. Rowan too entered the ring to be eliminated in eight seconds.
Royal Rumble match (contd...)
Robert Roode was in next and he too was eliminated right away before John Morrison was sent out in nine seconds with a German Suplex. Kofi Kingston was next in line followed by Rey Mysterio and Big E.
The three teamed up against Lesnar and Kofi, E and Mysterio were eliminated. Cesaro came in and was eliminated as well. Shelton Benjamin was in next and allied with Brock but the champ turned on him and eliminated him.
Nakamura too was eliminated right away before MVP returned and chased Heyman around the ring and Brock eliminated him too. Keith Lee was next, followed by Braun Strowman. Lee and Braun were fighting when Brock eliminated them both.
Ricochet and Drew McIntyre were in and Ricochet hit a low blow to Brock before Drew sent him outside for the elimination. McIntyre eliminated Ricochet before The Miz joined the match but was eliminated too.
AJ Styles was in, followed by Dolph Ziggler and Karl Anderson. The Edge made his return after nine years before Corbin was back. Edge eliminated AJ as Matt Riddle made his entrance but was eliminated.
Luke Gallows was in next before Corbin was eliminated. Randy Orton came in and teamed up with Edge to eliminate The OC. Roman Reigns was next and eliminated Ziggler. Kevin Owens came in at number 27 followed by Aleister Black.
Samoa Joe and Seth Rollins were the last men in as the ring was getting crowded. Rollins had AOP and Murphy with him as a brawl broke out ringside.
Black, KO and Joe were eliminated and they started fighting AOP and Murphy as they headed backstage. The four men took on Rollins and eliminated him. Edge eliminated Orton and Reigns eliminated Edge before McIntyre took out Reigns for the win.
Result: Drew McIntyre won the Royal Rumble
Match rating: A+
PPV rating: A+
The stacked PPV saw both Rumble matches and Reigns vs. Corbin steal the spotlight, though the other matches did not disappoint at all.
