Live from Staples Center in
Los Angeles, California
On Sunday, January 30, 2022WWE Commentary Team: Mauro Ranallo, Tony Schiavone and Corey Graves
WWE Ring Announcer: Howard Finkel
WWE Backstage Reporter: Mean Gene Okerlund
***
UWA UNIVERSAL MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: NICK ALDIS {c} vs. SAMOA JOE : Aldis and Joe jostled over positioning of a vertical suplex until Aldis appeared to gauge Joe’s eyes, finally allowing him to win the battle. When Joe got up, Aldis charged at him, but Joe lifted him over the ropes with a back body drop. Joe slammed Aldis into the barricade with a topé suicida. Joe picked up Aldis and gave him some knife-edge chops. He went for a whip, but Aldis reversed it and Joe slammed into the steps. Aldis slammed Joe’s face off the ring aprong, then ropped him into the ring. Aldis climbed the turnbuckle. Joe tripped him. Joe climbed up and headbutt him. He set up for a superplex, but Aldis blocked, punched Joe in the mid-section and sent him to the mat with a front suplex drop. Then, he gave Joe a diving elbow drop. He made the pin. 1…2… kick out!
Aldis decided to attempt a cloverleaf, but Joe used his leg strength to kick him away. Aldis slammed into the turnbuckle and when Joe got to his feet, he wrapped his arms around the waist of the champ and threw him across the ring with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Joe then struck him him with a running single-leg dropkick and gave him a running senton. He covered for a 2-count. Joe picked up Aldis and gave him a folding powerbomb for two. As Aldis was kicking out, Joe turned his kick out into a single-leg Boston crab. Aldis eventually got to the ropes to force a rope break. Joe picked him up and whipped him into the corner. He hit Aldis with a hip attack and then a CCS enzuigiri. Joe lifted Aldis onto the top turnbuckle. He was positioning him for the Muscle Buster, but Aldis fought him off and broke out a never before seen second rope diving tornado DDT! He went for the cover. 1…2… kick out!
Aldis picked up Joe and hooked his arms in for the Treasure Chest, Joe broke free and swept Aldis’ legs. He gave him a catapult into the top turnbuckle and followed it up with a bridging dragon suplex. 1…2… kick out! Joe tried for the Coquina Clutch, but Aldis had the move scouted. Slithering out and behind Joe, he gave him a full-nelson slam and put him in the cloverleaf. Joe pushed up and crawled to the ropes to force a rope break. Once Joe was on his feet, Aldis went for an Irish whip. Joe reversed it and exploded through Aldis’ chest with a running clothesline. Joe went to pick up Aldis but got pulled into a small package. Joe kicked out. Joe with a rear waistlock. Aldis gave him several back elbow smashes, then turned around and executed a swinging neckbreaker. He brought Joe to his feet and executed the Treasure Chest. 1…2…3! (21:20) --
Winner by Pinfall: Nick Aldis
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: BIANCA BELAIR {c} vs. RAQUEL GONZALEZ : Raquel Gonzalez hit Bianca Belair with a big boot, then scooped her up and gave her a powerslam. She pinned her, but Belair kicked out. Gonzalez put her in position for a One-Armed Powerbomb, but Belair punched Gonzalez and dropped her with a facebuster. They got up and Gonzalez tried for a clothesline. Belair ducked it and then dropkicked Gonzalez into the ropes. Gonzalez bounced back, right into the torture rack and the Kiss of Death! Belair made the pin for the 3-count to retain the title. (13:11) --
Winner by Pinfall: Bianca Belair
RAW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: TRIPLE H {c} vs. AJ STYLES : After dropping Triple H with a Pele kick, AJ Styles went to the ring apron to set up for the Phenomenal Forearm. Triple H countered the move with an inverted atomic drop and executed a running neckbreaker. He made the cover and got a 2-count. Triple H immediately switched gears by putting Styles in a figure-four leglock. Styles wouldn’t give up. Triple H reached out and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan reached into the ring to grab his arms for added leverage. This occurred a few times before the referee saw it and kicked Heenan and Triple H’s arms to break it up. Styles was then able to reverse it. Triple H crawled to the bottom rope to get a rope break.
Once back to their feet, they traded punches. Styles got the better of the situation and started rattling off some chops and shoot kicks. He went for the spinning back fist, but Triple H ducked it and gave him a knee to the face, followed by a vertical suplex. He pinned him for a 2-count. Triple H picked up Styles and hooked his arms. Styles freed his arms and counted the set up to the Pedigree with a back body drop. Styles then took him down with a standing hurricanrana and then gave him a ushigoroshi. He pinned him for a 2-count.
Styles went out to climb the turnbuckle. Triple H got up and ran towards the corner. Styles jumped down into a somersault. Triple H turned and charged at him again and Styles used his own momentum to take him down into the Calf Crusher. Triple H looked like his was on the verge of submitting, but he didn’t. FTR came out. Dax Harwood created a distraction, allowing Heenan to reach in and pull Triple H to the ropes. The Good Brothers came out and brawled with FTR. Meanwhile, Heenan handed a sledgehammer to Triple H. He hit Styles in the face with it. Triple H executed the Pedigree and pinned Styles. 1…2…3! Triple H retained the title. (19:17) --
Winner by Pinfall: Triple H
UWA UNIVERSAL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: STRIKE FORCE {c} vs. DUDLEY BOYZ : Tito Santana crawled to his corner and made the hot tag. Rick Martel entered the ring and gave Bubba Ray and D-Von arm drags, clotheslines, and dropkicks. He sent D-Von into the corner and charged in with a clothesline, then took him out of the corner with a running bulldog. Martel made the cover. Bubba Ray dove in and broke it up at two. Bubba Ray and Martel traded punches. Bubba Ray countered a whip attempt. Santana made the blind tag. Bubba Ray gave Martel a big back body drop. He and D-Von were setting up for the 3-D but Santana intercepted by taking Bubba Ray out with the flying forearm smash. D-Von went for a haymaker, but Santana ducked it, and he and Martel gave D-Von a double dropkick. Santana tagged out, then Martel came in and put D-Von in the Boston Crab to force him to submit. (14:23) --
Winners by Pinfall: Strike Force
SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: BAYLEY {c} vs. BECKY LYNCH : Becky Lynch climbed the turnbuckle and went for a diving leg drop, but Bayley moved out of the way. When they got up, Bayley hit Lynch with a spinning back elbow and then gave her the Bayley-to-Belly suplex. She made the pin, but Lynch kicked out at two. Bayley then picked up Lynch and tried for the amr-trap headlock driver, but Lynch shoved Bayley into the turnbuckles. She charged in but Bayley booted her in the face and gave her a bulldog out of the corner. Bayley went for the pin, but Lynch kicked out at two.
Bayley brought Lynch to her feet and sent her into the corner. She lifted her onto the top turnbuckle, facing the audience. Bayley climbed up. Lynch knocked her to the mat with some back elbows. Lynch turned around on the top turnbuckle. In that time, Bayley was able to recover, run up the turnbuckle to meet her and execute a super Bayley-to-Belly! She made the pin. 1…2… kick out!
Frustrated that it didn’t work out, Bayley left the ring and tore up the floor mats to exposed the concrete below. She tosses Lynch to the outside. After some punching and slamming Lynch into various items, Bayley tried to trap Lynch’s arm for her finisher, Lynch got free and executed a Bexploder suplex onto the exposed floor! She sent Bayley into the ring and climbed the top turnbuckle. Lynch executed the diving leg drop. She made the cover. 1…2… kick out! Lynch immediately put her in the Dis-arm-her. Bayley tapped out, thus crowning a new champion! (13:46) --
Winner by Submission: Becky Lynch
SMACKDOWN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: STING {c} vs. “STONE COLD” STEVE AUSTIN : Austin went for an Irish whip, but Sting reversed it, then dropped his head for a back body drop. Austin saw it and countered by grabbing two hands full of his hair and tossing him flat on his back. Austin hit a pair of running clotheslines and then dropped an elbow into the champion’s sternum and pinned him for a 2-count. Austin applied a chinlock. Sting battled to his feet and broke it with some elbows to the mid-section. Sting ran to the ropes and Austin set up for a back body drop, but Sting countered with a sunset flip for a 2-count.
When they were back to their feet, Austin went for a clothesline. Sting ducked, then hit Austin with alternating jabs and chops until he was backed into the corner. Sting gave Austin a cross-corner whip and ran in for a Stinger Splash, but Austin got out of the corner. Sting hit the top turnbuckle and stumbled back into a high-angle belly-to-back suplex. Austin made the cover for a 2-count. Austin took Sting into the corner and stomped a mudhole in him. He brought him back to his feet and went for a cross-corner whip, but Sting countered and followed in with the Stinger Splash!
Sting pulled Austin out of the corner and executed a gorilla press slam and pinned for a 2-count. Then, he applied the Scorpion Death Lock. Austin refused to quit. He crawled towards the ropes, but Sting pulled him back near the center. As the ref was down in Austin’s face asking him if he would give up, Austin flipped him the middle finger, then grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in for a headbutt to knock him out. Austin didn’t tap, but he was now face down on the mat and unresponsive when Sting finally noticed the referee was out. Sting released the hold and checked on the ref.
Austin rolled away and out of the ring. Austin stumbled over to the timekeeper’s position. Sting noticed Austin was gone, then left the ring to go after him. When he caught up to him and grabbed him by the shoulder, Austin turned and smoked Sting with a thunderous steel chair shot! He laid in two more for good measure. Austin picked up Sting and rolled him into the ring. He reached under the ring, pulled out a new steel chair, ans slid it into the ring. As he climbed onto the ring apron, he was yanked back down by John Cena. Austin was pissed and started in on him with the punches. He went for a big clothesline, but Cena ducked and used Austin’s own moment to lift him onto his shoulders before dropping him through the announce table with an Attitude Adjustment! He looked wrecked with guilt over the incident and shook his head as he walked away from ringside.
Austin was worse for wear as he returned to the ring, where he kicked Sting and turned for the Stone Cold Stunner, only to have Sting block and countered with a Scorpion Death Drop onto the steel chair. He pushed the chair out of the ring and covered Austin as the groggy ref crawled over for the count. 1…2…3! (24:03) --
Winner by Pinfall: Sting
UWA UNIVERSAL WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SASHA BANKS {c} vs. RHEA RIPLEY : Rhea Ripley reversed an Irish whip, sending Sasha Banks into the corner. She charged in and nailed a running clothesline. She picked up Banks and sat her on the top turnbuckle, then climbed up and executed a superplex. She made the cover. Banks kicked out at two. Ripley picked her up and attempted the Riptide, but Banks slipped down behind her and executed the backstabber and rolled it into the Bank Statement. Ripley turned her 90-degrees to get a foot onto the bottom rope to cause the rope break.
Banks ran at Ripley and took her down with a monkey flip. She went to the top role and attempted a frog splash, but Ripley put her knees up. When they got up, Ripley nailed Banks with a discus elbow smash before going to the ropes and taking her down with a running big boot. Ripley covered her, but Banks kicked out at two. Ripley picked up Banks and attempted a powerbomb, but Banks countered with a hurricanrana and followed it up with a superkick. Banks went up to the top and executed a meteora. She hooked both legs with a rana pin, but Ripley kicked out.
Banks went to punch Ripley, but she blocked and fired one of her own. They traded punches until Ripley knocked Banks down. Ripley picked up Banks into a deadlift bridging German suplex. Banks kicked out. Ripley grabbed the champion’s feet and tried to put her in the Prism Trap, but Banks made her way to the ropes. She got up on the ring apron. Ripley tried to bring her back into the ring with a delayed vertical suplex, but Banks slipped free and landed on her feet. She executed the backstabber and rolled her into the Bank Statement once again. This time, it was in the center of the ring, and this time, Ripley had no escape. She held out for over 20 seconds before slapping the mat with her left hand. (22:05) --
Winner by Submission: Sasha Banks
***
ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH
30 Men Compete for a shot at the
UWA Universal Men's Championship
at WRESTLEMANIA II
Note: Superstars entering the match coloured in red represent the RAW brand.
Superstars entering the match colour in blue represent the Smackdown brand.
The Miz had the unfortunate task of trying to win the Royal Rumble from the first spot. Making matters worse, his best friend and tag team partner,
John Morrison drew number two. When the bell rang, The Miz climbed through the ropes and went to get a microphone. He cut a promo on how he felt that someone had rigged the draw against The Miz and Morrison (probably the Hart Foundation) and said they wouldn’t fight. Johnny Drip-Drip joined in as they talked crap about the entire field and said that they would work together to make sure they weren’t just the first two in, but the last two in the match.
No eliminations after 1:30.PAC was next and The Bastard ran right in and took the fight to both men. He peppered them with shoot kicks, spin kicks, and other kicks. He did a matrix evasion to avoid a springboard roundhouse kick from Morrison, then kipped up and gave The Miz a cutter. He followed with tilt-a-whirl headscissors for Morrison.
No eliminations after 3:00.Adam Cole BAY-BAY! was the fourth superstar to enter the match. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan came down to ringside and got on commentary. He protested the fact that the only man he managed drew such an early spot in the Rumble. You don’t see this happening to any of the men represented by Paul Bearer, Miss Elizabeth, or Paul Heyman! Corey Graves was a sympathetic ear while Tony Schiavone defended the integrity of the contest.
No eliminations after 4:30.Ricky Steamboat came out next. Having a bone to pick with the Heenan Family after he and Keith Lee lost the RAW Tag Team Championships to FTR at Day 1, he immediately targeted Cole. He hit him with clotheslines, chops, gave him some deep arm drags, and hit a standing dropkick that sent Cole over the ropes to the ring apron. Meanwhile, The Miz and Morrison double-teamed PAC and tried to force him over the top rope in the corner.
No eliminations after 6:00.Coming in as the sixth man in the contest was
“Cowboy” James Storm. He hit Steamboat with a springboard clothesline and went to work on trying to eliminate him. Cole got away from Steamboat and started to trade punches with PAC, while The Miz and Morrison conserved their energy in the corner.
No eliminations after 7:30.Entering the match at number seven was
Stevie Ray of the Harlem Heat. The first true big man in the match, he threw his weight around, giving spinebusters, powerslams, back body drops, and flapjacks to everyone until Adam Cole put him down with a superkick. Cole had to drag Stevie Ray towards the ropes but struggled to lift his dead weight off the canvas.
No eliminations after 9:00.The first surprise debut of the Royal Rumble came from the number eight position in the form of one
Kenny Omega! Omega came in and brought clotheslines, dropkicks, and chops to anyone entering his path. He gave PAC and Cole some snap dragon suplexes, and gave V-Triggers to Morrison, The Miz, and Storm. After hitting the Cowboy with a V-Trigger, he tossed him over the top rope for the first elimination of the contest.
“Cowboy” James Storm was eliminated. The Miz, John Morrison, PAC, Adam Cole, Ricky Steamboat, Stevie Ray and Kenny Omega remained in the ring after 10:30.Entering the match at number nine was
Umaga, who was a force with which to be reckoned. He came into the ring and bowled over Morrison. He flattened Omega, Steamboat, The Miz, and PAC with clotheslines and savate kicks. The big Stevie Ray stood up to him, but lost the fight, getting clotheslined out of the ring. Morrison tried to hide in the corner, but Umaga trapped him. He ran in and went for a Samoan hip attack. Morrison got out of the corner and went for a springboard kick. Umaga swatted him away and launched him over the top rope with a biel throw.
Stevie Ray and John Morrison were eliminated. The Miz, PAC, Adam Cole, Ricky Steamboat, Kenny Omega, and Umaga remained in the ring after 12:00.The tenth man to enter the match was
Kevin Owens. He came in and took the fight to Umaga, one of the few men much bigger than the Prizefighter. Umaga went for a whip, but Owens reversed it and ran in with a knee lift. He gave Umaga superkicks until he fell down. The Miz tried to attack Owens but got whipped into the other corner and hit with a running clothesline to knock him down. Owens gaves Umaga a cannonball and then he gave The Miz a cannonball.
No one was eliminated. The Miz, PAC, Adam Cole, Ricky Steamboat, Kenny Omega, Umaga, and Kevin Owens remained in the ring after 13:30.Cesaro was the eleventh man to enter the Rumble and he did it by sliding in, running and ducking a clothesline from Owens before dropping him with a springboard tilt-a-whirl European uppercut. Cesaro gave gutwrench suplexes to PAC, Steamboat, and Omega. Umaga turned him inside out with a running clothesline. The Miz tried to give Owens a Skull-Crushing Finale, but Owens broke free and executed a stunner, then he tossed The Miz out of the ring.
The Miz was eliminated. PAC, Adam Cole, Ricky Steamboat, Kenny Omega, Umaga, Kevin Owens, and Cesaro remained in the ring after 15:00.John Bradshaw Layfield entered the ring next. He took his sweet time waving to everyone from the sunroof of his stretch limousine. Then he got out of the limo and slowly removed his cowboy hat and jacket before carefully placing them inside the limo, and shutting the door. As this was happening, back in the ring, PAC had just given Omega a hurricanrana before he received a superkick and the Boom! from Cole, who then picked him up and threw him out of the ring.
PAC was eliminated. Adam Cole, Ricky Steamboat, Kenny Omega, Umaga, Kevin Owens, and Cesaro remained in the ring after 16:30. JBL was still making his ring entrance.Coming in at number thirteen was
Pete Dunne, who caught up to JBL as he arrived at ringside and shoved him into the side of the ring apron. Dunne peppered him with body shots and kicks to the legs before whipping him into the steps and nailing him in the face with a running knee strike. Dunne got in the ring and went at it with Cesaro. Cole throw Steamboat over the top rope, but he held on and lifted himself up and over the top rope to get back in. He ran at Umaga and went for a cross body, but Umaga caught him, threw him onto his shoulders and gave his a Samoan drop. Owens executed a diving somersault senton onto Umaga before he could get up!
No one was eliminated. Adam Cole, Ricky Steamboat, Kenny Omega, Umaga, Kevin Owens, Cesaro, and Pete Dunne remained in the ring after 18:00. JBL had yet to enter the ring, and was knocked out on the floor.Finn Balor was the fourteenth entrant into the Rumble match. We came in and hit Dunne with a shotgun dropkick that sent him into the turnbuckles. Cole tried to throw Balor out of the ring right away, but Balor skinned the cat, then took Cole down with a pair of sling blades. When Cole got up by the ropes, Balor ran at him. Cole lifted him over the top rope with a back body drop. Balor landed on the apron and hit Cole with a rope assisted enzuigiri. He grabbed Cole and lifted with over the top rope with a vertical suplex, but dropped him face-first to the floor to eliminate him. Heenan was apopletic about Cole being a deliberate target of the Bullet Club and promised Ranallo, Schiavone, and Graves that the Heenan Family would soon rid the world of these degenerates once and for all!
Adam Cole was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Kenny Omega, Umaga, Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Pete Dunne, and Finn Balor remained in the ring after 19:30. JBL was still out on the floor.The fifteenth superstar to enter the Royal Rumble was the returning
Roman Reigns. He entered the ring and gave Dunne a Superman punch. He nailed Owens with a spear and threw him out of the ring. Balor came at him and he nailed him with a clothesline. He lined up Steamboat for a spear and hit him with it. Omega hit Reigns with a V-Trigger, but then Umaga picked up Omega and dumped him over the top rope. Cesaro gave Umaga some European uppercuts until he was in the corner, then mounted the middle turnbuckle and started punching to ten. Once Reigns shook out the cobwebs, he knocked Cesaro over the top rope to the floor. Reigns turned around and saw Dunne coming at him. He nailed him with a spear!
Kevin Owens, Kenny Omega and Cesaro were eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Umaga, Pete Dunne, Finn Balor, and Roman Reigns remained in the ring after 21:00. JBL was still out on the floor.“I hear voices in my head…” Reigns was in the process of picking up Dunne, but dropped him and looked to the entrance. Umaga walked across the ring and stood by the ropes in anticipation of
Randy Orton entering the ring as the sixteenth man. What they didn’t anticipate was Orton sliding in from the other side and hitting a RKO FROM OUTTA NOWHERE on Roman Reigns! He picked up Reigns and tossed him over the top rope. Umaga was shocked to see his cousin fly by him and hit the floor. He turned around and Orton gave him a RKO! Paul Heyman, who took over for Heenan as a guest on commentary, was losing his mind at this time. Orton couldn’t lift Umaga. Steamboat, Dunne and Balor tried to help, but getting Umaga off the mat proved too difficult. Dunne and Balor started pushing at one another and then Dunne was leveled with a Clothesline From Wall Street by JBL. He tossed Dunne over the top rope. Dunne caught the bottom rope and clung to it to stay away from the floor.
Roman Reigns was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Umaga, Pete Dunne, Finn Balor, Randy Orton, and John Bradshaw Layfield remained in the ring after 22:30.The sound of Sensational Sherri moaning through the speakers could only mean one thing: the debut of the Heartbreak Kid
Shawn Michaels! Michaels entered the ring and brought the fight to everyone until JBL dropped him with a big boot. He fought with Michaels as he tried to lift him over the top rope, but HBK proved to be exceptionally good at hanging onto the ropes. HBK hung on long enough to see JBL go up, over him and out, as he was dumped out of the ring by Dunne.
John Bradshaw Layfield was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Umaga, Pete Dunne, Finn Balor, Randy Orton, and Shawn Michaels remained in the ring after 24:00.The eighteenth superstar to join the Rumber was
Booker T. Booker mixed it up with everyone, landing kicks on everyone. After he hit Orton with a roundhouse, Umaga rushed Booker from behind and tossed him over the top rope. Booker grabbed the rope on his way over, which helped him land on the apron. He went over to the corner and climbed the turnbuckle, which he used to perform a missile dropkick on Umaga to take him off his feet. As Umaga was getting up, Booker gave him an axe kick and performed a spin-a-roonie. Orton attempted to give him a RKO, but Booker pushed him into the ropes and gave him a leg lariat.
No one was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Umaga, Pete Dunne, Finn Balor, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, and Booker T remained in the ring after 25:30.Coming in at number nineteen was
Daniel Bryan. He served up chops, European uppercuts, elbow strikes, and shoot kicks to everyone. With Balor, Steamboat, Dunne, and Michaels stuck to different turnbuckles, he performed four successive running single-leg dropkicks in the corner. His momentum was halted when Umaga dropped him with a clothesline. Orton struck Umaga, but Umaga dropped him with some headbutts.
John Bradshaw Layfield was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Umaga, Pete Dunne, Finn Balor, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Booker T, and Daniel Bryan remained in the ring after 27:00.Keith Lee became the twentieth man to enter the Rumble. His arrival certainly altered the proceedings as he came in and nailed Orton with lariat. He gave Michaels a big back body drop and rocked Dunne’s world with a pounce. He picked up the Bruiserweight and sent him over the top rope. Umaga and Lee faced off and the pair of 350-pounders threw down. They hit each other with bombs in the center of the ring. Everyone else backed into corners and waited to see what would happen. Umaga and Lee both hit the ropes and tried to knock the other one down with shoulderblocks and clotheslines. Finally, Umaga went to the ropes and ran right into a fireman’s carry lift by Lee, who then executed the Big Band Catastrophe! Lee started lifting Umaga. Orton came over to help him, then everyone else followed. Together they sent the Samoan Bulldozer over the top rope.
Pete Dunne and Umaga were eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Finn Balor, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Booker T, Daniel Bryan, and Keith Lee remained in the ring after 28:30.Coming into the match in the twenty-first position was
“Glorious” Bobby Roode. He targeted Ricky Steamboat as he entered the ring and tried to get him over the top rope. Balor and Bryan were grappling with each other. Orton was trying to eliminate Michaels, and Booker T and Keith Lee were engaged in a battle in the corner.
No one was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Finn Balor, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Booker T, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee and Bobby Roode remained in the ring after 30:00. Tommaso Ciampa entered the match at number twenty-two. He ran in and nailed Orton with a running knee to the side of the head, then tried to get him up and over the top rope. Orton clung to the ropes, and landed on the ring apron to stay in the match. Balor attacked Ciampa and went for a whip, but he reversed it and took him down with a Lou Thesz press. Ciampa pat himself on the back, but then Bryan grabbed him from behind and ran him into the ropes, tossing him over. Ciampa held onto the ropes and stayed in the match.
No one was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Finn Balor, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Booker T, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Bobby Roode and Tommaso Ciampa remained in the ring after 31:30. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase was the twenty-third participant in the Royal Rumble. He came in and helped Roode. The two members of the Billion Dollar Corporation worked together to target Orton and then Steamboat. While they didn’t succeed in eliminating either of them, the time was the charm. They targeted Balor, who sent DiBiase into the corner with a shotgun dropkick. He gave Roode a pair of sling blades, but then got a low blow from DiBiase from behind and was tossed over the top rope, out to the floor.
Finn Balor was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Booker T, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Bobby Roode, Tommaso Ciampa, and Ted DiBiase remained in the ring after 33:00.The lights went out as the sound of a gong filled the arena, followed by the eery sounds of an electric organ. As the fog rolled into the entrance aisle as the sights of Paul Bearer with an urn in hand signalled the arrival of
The Undertaker as the twenty-forth superstar in the match, the superstars in the ring stopped what they were doing and turned their attentions to the aisle. The Undertaker stopped short of the ring to remove his hat and long coat, then he walked up the stairs and stepped over the top rope. Ciampa charged at him first and got a back body drop over the top rope. Steamboat, Roode, Bryan, and DiBiase ran at him. He met them with uppercut throat thrusts. He dropped Michaels with a big boot. Booker T knocked The Undertaker down with a roundhouse kick, then tried to get him over the ropes. The Undertaker blocked, switched positions with him and clotheslined Booker to the floor. Keith Lee stood alone in the center of the ring when The Undertaker turned around. They stared each other in the eye as the buzzer sounded.
Tommaso Ciampa and Booker T were eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Bobby Roode, Ted DiBiase, and The Undertaker remained in the ring after 34:30.Coming in at number twenty-five was
Irwin R. Schyster, giving the Billion Dollar Corporation three members in the ring to work together. And, that, they did. All three of them attacked The Undertaker and tried to eliminate him from the match. Lee charged at Roode, who grabbed the top rope and pulled it down and as dropped to the mat. Lee went over top, but the big man got his hand on the middle rope and hit the ring apron. He wrapped his big legs around the bottom rope and Orton and Michaels tried to knocked him off, to no luck.
No one was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Bobby Roode, Ted DiBiase, The Undertaker, and Irwin R. Schyster remained in the ring after 36:00.Oh yeah! Coming in at number twenty-six, and accompanied to the ring by the lovely Miss Elizabeth, was the
“Macho Man” Randy Savage. He climbed the turnbuckle and entered with a diving pointed elbow drop to the forehead of IRS to knock him off his feet. Roode and and DiBiase mixed it up with Savage, but he got the better of them with jabs to the chest and face, atomic drops and clotheslines. They were spared further abuse when Steamboat dropkicked Savage, then picked him up and tried to toss him out of the ring. Michaels ran over and pushed Steamboat over the top. Steamboat held onto the top rope, then lifted himself back over top and in. Michaels had his back turned. He was tuning up the band to strike Bryan, but Steamboat grabbed him from behind, turned him around and sent him right over top and out to the floor!
Shawn Michaels was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Bobby Roode, Ted DiBiase, The Undertaker, Irwin R. Schyster, and Randy Savage remained in the ring after 37:30.Entering the ring twenty-seventh overall, in his WWE debut, was
“Ravishing” Rick Rude. He slowly walked to the ring in a beautiful robe. Removing it revealed that he had airbrushed onto his tights an image of Sasha Banks, the current UWA Universal Women’s Champion and a crude ‘quote’ that said,
“Please, Rick Rude, make a deposit in my bank.” Immediately after entering the ring, Rude mixed it up with Steamboat and lifted him high over head into a military press. Steamboat broke free and gave Rude a dropkick that sent him over the ropes, but not down to the floor. Meanwhile, DiBiase, IRS, and Roode were tried to eliminate The Undertaker, who fought them all off. The slapped a hand around DiBiase’s throat. Roode saved him by giving The Undertaker a double axehandle smash between the shoulder blades. The Undertaker released DiBiase and turned his attention to Roode. He gave him a throat thrust that backed him into the ropes, then lifted him over the top rope and released him with a chokeslam onto the ring apron. Roode fell to the floor after the impact.
Bobby Roode was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Ted DiBiase, The Undertaker, Irwin R. Schyster, Randy Savage, and Rick Rude remained in the ring after 39:00.The third last men to enter the match was none other than
John Cena! He frisbee tossed his hat into the audience, removed his shirt and threw it to the audience, then ran with a purpose right into the middle of the fray. After taking nearly everyone in the match off their feet, he planted IRS into the mat with a spinout powerbomb, and found himself to be the only superstar standing. He looked down and gestured
“You can’t see me!” to the taxman before giving him the Five-Knuckle Shuffle. Immediately after, he was grabbed from behind, rushed to the ropes and sent flying over them by
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin! The Texas Rattlesnake was not even a participant in the match, yet he scored an elimination. Cena couldn’t believe it. He walked around the ring to leave and when he looked up the entrance aisle, he saw Austin, who met his gaze with a double middle finger salute. Cena had a look of shock on his face when he realized that Austin eliminated him. He ran up the aisle. Austin ran to meet him and they brawled as the next man came out.
John Cena was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Ted DiBiase, The Undertaker, Irwin R. Schyster, Randy Savage, and Rick Rude remained in the ring after 40:30.Coming in at number twenty-nine was the Celtic Warrior,
Sheamus! He bypassed the brawling Austin and Cena on his way to the ring, where after entering, he nailed Steamboat, Orton, DiBiase, and Savage with Brogue Kicks! Sheamus was on fire until he charged at Keith Lee, who just shoulderblocked him to the mat before dropkicking him into the corner and squashing him with an avalanche splash. Sheamus was saved from more damage by Rude, who didn’t fear the biggest man in the match. On the contrary, he seemed to delight in brawling with him.
No one was eliminated. Ricky Steamboat, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Ted DiBiase, The Undertaker, Irwin R. Schyster, Randy Savage, Rick Rude, and Sheamus remained in the ring after 42:00.Last, but not least, entering in the coveted number thirty position, and making a surprise return to the ring after several months away, was none other than the “Hot Rod”
Rowdy Roddy Piper! The sound of the bagpipes seemed to blow the roof off the Staples Center. Piper didn’t disappoint as he immediately clotheslined IRS out of the ring.
Irwin R. Schyster was eliminated. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: Ricky Steamboat, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Ted DiBiase, The Undertaker, Randy Savage, Rick Rude, Sheamus, and Rowdy Roddy Piper remained in the ring.Piper squared off with his old nemesis, The Million Dollar Man, and had him teering on the ropes when Orton came up from behind and tried to dump them both over the top rope. Piper and DiBiase held on. Orton turned around and saw an opportunity to catch someone by surprise. Sheamus was beating his chest as he looked at Steamboat slowly lifting himself to his feet at the ropes. When Sheamus made his move, Orton made his, and intercepted with the RKO from out of nowhere! Orton then picked up Sheamus and tossed him over the top rope. The moment Orton turned around, Lee nailed him with a Pounce that took him over the top rope and out to the floor.
Sheamus and Randy Orton were eliminated. THE HATEFUL EIGHT: Ricky Steamboat, Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Ted DiBiase, The Undertaker, Randy Savage, Rick Rude, and Rowdy Roddy Piper remained in the ring.Lee and The Undertaker stood alone in the center of the ring. The two big men faced off, neither one showing an once of fear. Finally, they start trading punches. The Undertaker got the better of the exchange. He whipped Lee into the ropes and dropped his head for a back body drop. Lee leapfrogged him. The Undertaker turned around and Lee tried to send him flying with a Pounce, but The Undertaker stayed on his feet and responded with throat thrusts. He went for a whip, but Lee reversed it and The Deadman went off his feet with a jumping clothesline. Rude sensed an opportunity to get rid of The Undertaker and he went for it. As Lee got up, Piper came up from behind and tried to take him over the ropes by surprise. Steamboat came off the top rope with a diving chop to save Lee. When Piper got up, Steamboat gave him a dropkick. The longest man in the Rumble was firing up with a second (or third or fourth) wind, but then Lee grabbed him from behind and tossed him out of the ring.
Ricky Steamboat was eliminated. THE SEVEN SAMURAI: Daniel Bryan, Keith Lee, Ted DiBiase, The Undertaker, Randy Savage, Rick Rude, and Rowdy Roddy Piper remained in the ring.Steamboat looked up at Lee, the man with whom he held the RAW Tag Team Championships only a few weeks ago, questioning him about the elimination. Lee smirked, shrugged, and simply said that it was every man for himself. Lee giving his attention to Steamboat for so long proved to be a mistake as the Macho Man was able to push him into the ropes and lift him over top and out to the floor. Upset about his elimination, Lee takes out his anger on Steamboat, shoving him into the barricade. Steamboat recovers and strikes back. The brawling draws all the ringside referees over to the side of the ring to break it up.
Keith Lee was eliminated. THE SIX PACK: Daniel Bryan, Ted DiBiase, The Undertaker, Randy Savage, Rick Rude, and Rowdy Roddy Piper remained in the ring.Meanwhile, back in the ring, DiBiase sent Bryan into the corner and charged in behind him. Bryan stepped up on the turnbuckles and did a backflip over DiBiase. He ran to the ropes and took the Million Dollar Man down with clothesline. Bryan hit DiBiase with a full compliment of Yes! Kicks. On the last one, DiBiase fell face-first to the mat and rolled out to the floor. Bryan was then hit with a running clothesline by Savage. Rude and Piper were trying to get The Undertaker over the top rope in the corner, to no avail. Finally, the Lee-Steamboat brawl had been dealt with and the referees refocused on the match. When DiBiase got up, he was blocked from re-entering the ring by one of the officials who proclaimed him eliminated. DiBiase blew up at him. Another referee came over and backed his partner up. The fans cheered as DiBiase was escorted from ringside by security officials as he complained at the gross act of injustice being committed against him.
“The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase was deemed to have been eliminated, although he didn’t go over the top rope. THE FIVE MAN ARMY: Daniel Bryan, The Undertaker, Randy Savage, Rick Rude, and Rowdy Roddy Piper remained in the ring.Rude gave up on The Undertaker and turned on Piper. He whipped him into the ropes and hit him with a running clothesline. He scooped him up and gave him a bodyslam. Rude took Piper over to the ropes and tried to lift him over. Piper resisted, elbowing him in the jaw to create some space. Savage dropkicked Rude in the back, causing him to go over the top rope and out to the floor.
“Ravishing” Rick Rude was eliminated. THE FANTASTIC FOUR: Daniel Bryan, The Undertaker, Randy Savage, and Rowdy Roddy Piper remained in the ring.Piper and Savage exchanged punches. Piper racked Savage’s eyes and whipped him into the corner. He ran in and got a boot to the face. Savage racked his eyes and gave him a scoopslam. He went out to climb the turnbuckle. The Undertaker grabbed him around the neck and threw him to the ring apron with a chokeslam. Piper chopblocked The Undertaker and started working on his knee until Bryan grabbed him from behind and executed a high-angle belly-to-back suplex. The Undertaker got up and Bryan gave him shoot kicks to chop him back down to his knees. He ran to the ropes and knocked him over with a shotgun dropkick. Piper met Bryan with some jabs. Bryan threw some back. They were both knocked down when Savage came off the top rope with a diving double clothesline.
Savage picked up Bryan and tried to toss him to the floor, but He clung to the top rope. Savage tried breaking his grip, allowing Piper to recover and lift him over the top rope. Piper turned to see The Undertaker on his feet and ran at him. The Undertaker dropped him with a big boot. Piper got up and received another big boot. The Undertaker reached down to grab Piper but got a deep low blow. Piper kicked him over, then sat down on his chest and repeatedly punched his head.
Meanwhile, Savage and Bryan traded punches on the ring apron. Savage backed up Bryan near the ring apron. He tried to give him a kick but Bryan caught his leg. He spun Savage around and took him in a rear waistlock. He attempted a German suplex, but Savage clung to the top rope. He fired some back elbows at Bryan, then turned around and grabbed him for a vertical suplex. They jockeyed over positioning and used the ropes to block the move. Each man jabbed at the others ribs. Savage got the better and gave Bryan a pointed elbow smash to the forehead. Bryan lost his footing, but wrapped an arm around the top rope. Savage tried to pull him off, but Bryan held strong and drove a knee into Savage’s mid-section. He fired a pair of shoot kicks, then gave him a front dropkick that sent his back slamming into the turnbuckle post.
“Macho Man” Randy Savage was eliminated. THE THREE MUSKATEERS: Daniel Bryan, The Undertaker, and Rowdy Roddy Piper remained in the ring.Piper had dragged The Undertaker over to the corner and was trying to get him over the top corner. The Undertaker fought back and climbed the turnbuckle, going old school on Piper. He picked up Piper and chokeslammed him. The Undertaker tried to scoop him up for a Tombstone but he slipped behind him and applied a sleeperhold. The Undertaker backed over towards the ropes and leaned into them. He reached back for Piper’s head. Piper tried to bite at his hands. After taking a breather, Bryan looked up to see Piper on The Undertaker’s back, leaning against the ropes. He took his shot, running over and hitting the Deadman with the high running knee. The impact was enough to send him backwards over the top rope, and with Piper on his back, they both went over and out to the floor.
The Undertaker and Rowdy Roddy Piper were eliminated. THE LONE RANGER: Daniel Bryan remained in the ring.Official Decision:
Daniel Bryan wins the Royal Rumble.
Summary of EliminationsPlace | Eliminated Superstar | Time Entered | Time of Elimination | Eliminated By |
30 | ”Cowboy” James Storm | 6:00 | 10:23 | Kenny Omega |
29 | Stevie Ray | 7:30 | 11:20 | Umaga |
28 | John Morrison | 0:00 | 11:38 | Umaga |
27 | The Miz | 0:00 | 14:32 | Kevin Owens |
26 | PAC | 1:30 | 16:05 | Adam Cole |
25 | Adam Cole | 3:00 | 18:27 | Finn Balor |
24 | Kevin Owens | 12:00 | 20:02 | Roman Reigns |
23 | Kenny Omega | 9:00 | 20:25 | Roman Reigns |
22 | Cesaro | 13:30 | 20:49 | Roman Reigns |
21 | Roman Reigns | 19:30 | 21:40 | Randy Orton |
20 | John Bradshaw Layfield | 22:17 | 23:10 | Pete Dunne |
19 | Pete Dunne | 16:30 | 27:31 | Keith Lee |
18 | Umaga | 10:30 | 28:23 | Lee, Orton, Steamboat, Balor, and Bryan |
17 | Finn Balor | 18:00 | 32:12 | “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase |
16 | Tommaso Ciampa | 30:00 | 33:53 | The Undertaker |
15 | Booker T | 24:00 | 34:21 | The Undertaker |
14 | Shawn Michaels | 22:30 | 37:05 | Ricky Steamboat |
13 | “Glorious” Bobby Roode | 28:30 | 38:44 | The Undertaker |
12 | John Cena | 39:00 | 39:36 | “Stone Cold” Steve Austin |
11 | Irwin R. Schyster | 34:30 | 42:28 | Rowdy Roddy Piper |
10 | Sheamus | 40:30 | 43:17 | Randy Orton |
09 | Randy Orton | 21:00 | 43:28 | Keith Lee |
08 | Ricky Steamboat | 4:30 | 44:50 | Keith Lee |
07 | Keith Lee | 27:00 | 45:08 | “Macho Man” Randy Savage |
06* | “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase | 31:30 | 46:35 | Daniel Bryan |
05 | “Ravishing” Rick Rude | 37:30 | 47:11 | “Macho Man” Randy Savage |
04 | “Macho Man” Randy Savage | 36:00 | 49:45 | Daniel Bryan |
T2 | The Undertaker | 33:00 | 50:28 | Daniel Bryan |
T2 | Rowdy Roddy Piper | 42:00 | 50:28 | Daniel Bryan |
NE | Daniel Bryan | 25:30 | 50:28 | Winner / Not Eliminated |
* Superstar did not go over the top rope.
NE = Not eliminated (winner / first place finisher)