Payouts
$20 Dylan Goats - Last Man Standing
(a)
$5 Stella Mismas - First to lose a wrestler
(b)
$5 Jack Newell - First to lose all three wrestlers
(c)
$5 Marc Iacianci - Wrestler #13
(d)
$5 Darrin Goats Jr. - Wrestler who eliminated Wrestler #13
(e)
The Match
In-ring: Lilian Garcia introduced the Royal Rumble match happening. The Shield’s music played to bring out WWE World Hvt. champion
Roman Reigns to boos. Lilian announced Reigns as the #1 entrant. Reigns stood in the crowd hearing the boos, then he held up the title belt in the air. Cole said it’s been 18 years since they had back-to-back Rumble Winners when "Stone Cold" Steve Austin did it. Cole called it a "very mixed reaction" for Reigns tonight. Reigns hit the ring and held up the title belt to boos. Cole said the fans like change and they like to see different people win the Rumble, trying to cover for the reaction.
And, the person who drew #2 is …
Rusev. Well, not a huge name like Brock Lesnar or a a ridiculous pick like someone from Social Outcasts. Instead, it was the final two from last year’s Rumble. Rusev was accompanied by Lana.
Reigns and Rusev battled to begin the Rumble, then Reigns eliminated Rusev
(b) as the countdown clock counted down. And, out at #3 was …
A.J. Styles. Nice new music for Styles, who emerged to a huge reaction. Cole talked him up as the top free agent right now. He also called him the "Phenomenal One" and “star around the world.” JBL said is a former IWGP World champion, like Brock Lesnar. Styles flipped his hood on the stage and slowly made his way to the ring as the crowd went nuts. Saxton added that he is an innovator offense. Styles slowly entered the ring and went after Reigns, teasing the Clash, but Reigns countered with a Samoan Drop. Stalemate for Styles and Reigns.
Tyler Breeze came out next at #4. Breeze and Styles battled as Reigns hung out in the corner. Reigns and Styles then knocked Breeze out for the second elimination. The Social Outcasts’s music played next to bring out all four members.
Curtis Axel stormed the ring to officially enter the Rumble this year after not making it in last year at #5. Styles suddenly eliminated Axel with a clothesline over the top rope.
Out at #6 was
Chris Jericho to join Styles and Reigns in the ring. Big moment for all three standing together in the ring. Jericho then went after Reigns before chopping Styles. Jericho back-elbowed Styles, then walked into a boot from Reigns. Styles came back with a Clash tease on Jericho, but Jericho blocked and went for the Liontamer, but Styles blocked.
Out next at #7 was
Kane, making his return to WWE TV as the Big Red Machine. Cole said its his 17th Rumble, a record. Styles and Kane went at it, then Kane big-booted him to the mat. Uppercut to Jericho. Clothesline and Sidewalk Slam to Reigns. Kane tried to eliminate Styles, but A.J. held on. Next out at #8 was
Goldust. The wrestlers battled amongst themselves as Reigns and Styles took a secondary role looking to remain in the match. “A-J-Styles” chant from the crowd.
Out next at #9 was
Ryback, who did not get a good reception for a “standard fare” WWE wrestler. The audience is spoiled wanting someone new or different or surprising for each entry. Ryback got the crowd behind him with “Feed Me More” chants, though. He was nearly eliminated by Goldust, but everyone held on until the next entry.
New Day’s music played to bring out
Kofi Kingston at #10, joined by his New Day tag partners. Cole hyped Kofi’s big moments in past Rumbles. The Rumble was filling up with stars at this point. Ryback then tossed Styles high into the air with a huge back body drop. Wrestlers then tried to cut Styles, but he held on.
Titus O'Neil came out at #11. Big charge from Titus looking for people to go after. Titus tossed Jericho around, then he caught Styles in mid-air for a backbreaker. Titus was fired up in his home state. Titus landed more offense, then he dumped out Goldust for the first elimination in a while.
Out next was
R-Truth at #12. Truth suddenly grabbed a ladder from under the ring. Truth slid the ladder into the ring as everyone stopped to watch Truth, who slowly climbed the ladder and looked up to the sky looking for the WWE Title belt hanging above the ring. “Who moved the belt?!” he shouted as the crowd laughed at the bit. Kane then dumped out Truth for an elimination. Kane tried to eliminate Kofi, but Kofi landed on Big E.’s shoulders. Big E. carried Kofi around ringside to help him avoid elimination, then Kofi grabbed a drink from ringside.
After the chaos, out next at #13 was
Luke Harper (d), the first member of the Wyatts in the Rumble entering at the 20:00 mark. Harper slowly walked down to the ring and went after Ryback. Meanwhile, Kofi was still on Big E.’s shoulders. Suddenly, Mr. McMahon ran down to ringside leading League of Nations to drag Reigns out of the ring to attack him. No elimination, but they roughed up Reigns. JBL said not enough Roman can make it through this. Long interval until the next entry.
After the attack,
"Stardust" Cody Rhodes came out as #14. Meanwhile, The League continued to attack Reigns at ringside. Chaos everywhere in this Rumble. Rusev then ran off the announce tables to splash Reigns through an alternative language table. Cole was indignant about this attack on the champion. The League then walked away from ringside with McMahon as the Rumble continued in the ring. Cole said Kofi Kingston was eliminated during all of this.
Next out was
The Big Show at #15. Show slowly marched down to the ring as the other Rumblers waited nervously for Show’s arrival. Wrestlers decided to try to go after Show, but Show brushed them aside. Show then pushed Titus over the top rope. Ryback was out next. Meanwhile, Reigns was helped away from ringside by medics, still not eliminated.
Out next was
Neville at #16 making his Rumble debut. Meanwhile, Reigns refused medical attention. He eventually walked backstage selling the effects of the attack. Styles was still in there, of note. He tried to dump out Neville, but Neville held on. Out next at #17 was another Wyatt Family member. This time it was
Braun Strowman. Strowman quickly went after folks before going face-to-face with Kane, who Strowman eliminated. Kane’s outta there.
Strowman and Show then came face-to-face for a big-man battle. Strowman did his weak-looking bear hug as Show called his spot. Strowman tried to dump out Show, but Show held on. Strowman did one last heave and Show was gone. JBL wondered who will get rid of Braun Strowman.
Out next was
Kevin Owens at #18. Owens sold and sold and sold on the way down to the ring limping down to ringside after the Last Man Standing match earlier in the night. Owens and Styles met in the middle of the ring for a big fight that popped the crowd. Styles avoided an elimination from Neville, then tried the Clash, but Owens superkicked Styles. Owens then tossed Styles over the top rope to boos, ending Styles’s run at 28 minutes.
(c) Cole hyped Styles’s introductory run as the crowd went from booing Owens to chanting, “A-J-Styles.” Very loud cheer for Styles on the way out. Owens vs. Styles is a big-time feud to follow it seems like.
Out next was
Dean Ambrose at #19. Owens was waiting for Ambrose, who shook of the effects of the opening match and resumed his feud with Owens. Still no return from Reigns at this point. Cole said he’s running out of time to return. No eliminations in this segment.
Out next at #20 was
Sami Zayn. Another feud for Owens, who seethed as Zayn stormed the ring to resume their NXT feud. Zayn beat down Owens as the crowd roared. Zayn clotheslined Stardust, but Owens smashed him from behind. Owens yelled at Zayn to go back to NXT, then Zayn suddenly eliminated Owens. What a big segment.
At 35:00, it was Harper, Zayn, Jericho, Strowman, Ambrose, and Neville (with Roman in the back). Out next at #21 was
Erick Rowan to silence. Rowan went after Jericho, then Neville. Neville held on, but Harper smashed him with a clothesline for an elimination. Stardust was cut by Harper, too.
Jericho neared the 30-minute mark in the match as Strowman locked him in the bearhug. Out next at #22 was
Mark Henry. Henry marched down to the ring to pick a fight with the Wyatts. But, they eliminated him with a double-team. That was quick for Henry. Strowman then dumped out Zayn. Jericho and Dean were left with the Wyatts as they hit the next entry.
Out at #23 was
Brock Lesnar to a huge reaction. Lesnar marched down to the ring with Paul Heyman. Lesnar immediately took the Wyatts to Suplex City. But, Strowman cut him off. Lesnar smashed him, then clotheslined him, though. Lesnar had enough of Rowan and dumped him for an elimination. Then, a German Suplex to Harper. Strowman posted himself, then Brock clotheslined him to the mat.
Out next at #24 was
Jack Swagger. Lesnar had enough of him and dumped him out. That was quick. Cole said Swagger was in there for 15 seconds. Lesnar then suplexed Ambrose before turning back to Harper. Jericho was still in there, so Brock thought about giving him a suplex. Instead, he kneed Strowman in the back. And again.
Next out at #25 was
The Miz, drawing groans running out of spots. Lesnar licked his chops as Miz approached the ring. Miz walked around the ring, not wanting a piece of Lesnar. So, he grabbed a headset at ringside and talked trash toward Lesnar. Miz continued to talk on the headset about picking the right time to enter the Rumble. Meanwhile, Lesnar sent everyone to Suplex City. Lesnar then dumped out Harper
(e) while Miz kept talking.
Out next at #26 was
Alberto Del Rio. Del Rio jumped in the ring to kick Lesnar, who shook him off. Ambrose joined the Lesnar-Del Rio party while Miz kept talking on commentary. Lesnar then eyed Strowman to eliminate him, taking out the Wyatt Family except for Bray.
On cue, out next at #27 was
Bray Wyatt. Wyatt marched down to the ring without his henchmen to help out. Suddenly, Wyatt summoned his henchmen to hit the ring. They re-entered the Rumble to attack Lesnar as the crowd booed. It feels like a waste of Lesnar in this spot. In any event, Lesnar re-eliminated the henchmen, then went face-to-face with Bray. Bray missed a clothesline and Brock sent him to Suplex City. Lesnar went for the F5 on Wyatt, but Harper re-entered the Rumble and attacked Brock. Cole called this ridiculous. Bray hit Brock with Sister Abigail. The eliminated henchmen then dumped Lesnar out of the Rumble, giving Lesnar and Heyman their out for the loss. Heyman screamed at the refs for the outcome as Lesnar walked away from ringside.
Out next at #28 was
Dolph Ziggler. JBL name-dropped Batista as a previous winner from this spot. Ziggler attacked folks, then Miz decided it was time to enter the Rumble with Brock eliminated. Miz dropped Ziggler with the Skullcrushing Finale, then he danced around the ring. Everyone else was down besides Miz. He tried to dump out Ziggler, but Ziggler held on. The crowd was restless at this point with the Rumble falling apart.
Out next at #29 was
Sheamus for another crowd-killer. Taking the crowd way down for a big surprise pop at #30. Suddenly, Roman Reigns ran back to ringside and Superman-Punched Sheamus in the aisleway. The crowd booed as Reigns returned to the ring after taking a long breather. Reigns quickly eliminated Miz, then Del Rio. Ziggler nearly eliminated Reigns, which popped the crowd.
Reigns went wild on Bray Wyatt to boos, then the crowd came to their feet for #30 as Reigns stood tall in the ring. And, out last was #30 was
Triple H. Hunter, looking aged in the face, made his way down to the ring as Reigns welcomed the fight. Hunter slowly walked to the ring to a mixed reaction since he’s been a heel for years, but hasn’t been on TV in five weeks.
Hunter and Reigns came face-to-face, then Hunter grabbed Ziggler and gave him The Pedigree. Reigns played one-up by spearing Wyatt to boos. Hunter and Reigns circled each other as the crowd kinda booed. They met mid-ring for a battle. Hunter delivered a knee to Reigns’s face, then teased the Pedigree, but Reigns countered with a Samoan Drop teaser. Except, Sheamus entered the ring and nearly eliminated Reigns. Suddenly, finishers started flying.
It was Jericho, Reigns, Hunter, Ziggler, Wyatt, Ambrose, and Sheamus. Ziggler nearly eliminated Hunter with a superkick, but Hunter absorbed, then took a Fameasser from Ziggler. Ziggler tried to end Hunter, but he side-stepped Ziggler and tossed him at 56:26.
Bray and Hunter then came face-to-face. Hunter pointed down at Reigns, but Bray punched Hunter in the face instead. Bray wanted Sister Abigail to Hunter, but Sheamus hit him with the Brogue Kick. Sheamus and Hunter then dumped out Wyatt. Reigns then tried to eliminate them, but they both held on. Suddenly, Hunter and Jericho battled like it was 2000. Ambrose then dumped out Jericho, ending Jericho’s 50+minute run.
The Final Four was Ambrose, Reigns, Hunter, and Sheamus.
Ambrose and Sheamus battled. Ambrose was unable to eliminate Sheamus, who answered with a Brogue Kick. Sheamus then airballed a pump kick and Reigns punched him out for an elimination. But, Hunter suddenly dumped out Reigns, shocking him. Hunter crotch-chopped Reigns, who sold disbelief on the outside being eliminated just before the one-hour mark at 59:50. You could see why they
It was Ambrose and Hunter as the Final Two, with it clear that WWE did not want Hunter and Reigns as the Final Two for an anti-Reigns and mild-Hunter reaction. The crowd got behind Ambrose, who walked into a knee from Hunter, but responded with a giant rebound lariat. Ambrose, looking to become dual champion, approached Hunter for a big clothesline, but Hunter blocked. Ambrose tossed Hunter over the top rope, but Hunter held on. Ambrose again kneed him in the face, but Hunter lifted Ambrose over the top rope and eliminated him to win the Rumble.
Post-match, Stephanie stormed the ring to celebrate with Hunter, who gasped for air as he held onto the WWE Title belt. Mr. McMahon then entered the ring to celebrate with Hunter, who stood in the middle as fireworks shot off. The crowd was mixed as the PPV ended right at the top of the hour to complete a three-hour PPV.
WINNER: Triple H at 1:01:42.
Dylan Goats (a)
Summary
|
| Order of Entry | Order of Elimination |
| 1 | Stella Mismas | Roman Reigns | Rusev (Mismas) (b) eliminated by Reigns (Mismas) at 1:30 |
| 2 | Stella Mismas | Rusev | Breeze (C. LeGates) by Reigns (Mismas) & Styles (J. Newell) at 5:13 |
| 3 | Jack Newell | A.J. Styles | Axel (J. Newell) by Styles (J. Newell) at 7:03 |
| 4 | Carol LeGates | Tyler Breeze | Goldust (M. Newell) by O'Neil (Goats Jr.) at 17:15 |
| 5 | Jack Newell | Curtis Axel | Truth (J. Newell) by Kane (D. LeGates) at 18:53 |
| 6 | Marc Iacianci | Chris Jericho | Kofi (C. LeGates) by Jericho (Iacianci) around 24:00 |
| 7 | David LeGates | Kane | O'Neil (Goats Jr.) by Show (Iacianci) at 25:15 |
| 8 | Monica Newell | Goldust | Ryback (M. Newell) by Show (Iacianci) at 25:20 |
| 9 | Monica Newell | Ryback | Kane (D. LeGates) by Strowman (Kowel) at 28:20 |
| 10 | Carol LeGates | Kofi Kingston | Show (Iacianci) by Strowman (Kowel) a 29:10 |
| 11 | Darrin Goats Jr. | Titus O'Neil | Styles (J. Newell) (c) by Owens (D. LeGates) at 30:45 |
| 12 | Jack Newell | R-Truth | Owens (D. LeGates) by Zayn (D. LeGates) at 34:37 |
| 13 | Marc Iacianci (d) | Luke Harper | Neville (C. LeGates) by Harper (Iacianci) at 36:15 |
| 14 | Dylan Goats | "Stardust" Cody Rhodes | Stardust (Goats) by Harper (Iacianci) at 36:25 |
| 15 | Marc Iacianci | The Big Show | Henry (Kowel) by Harper (Iacianci) & Strowman (Kowel) at 38:00 |
| 16 | Carol LeGates | Neville | Zayn (D. LeGates) by Strowman (Kowel) at 38:38 |
| 17 | Kevin Kowel | Braun Strowman | Rowan (Goats Jr.) by Lesnar (Goats Jr.) at 39:55 |
| 18 | David LeGates | Kevin Owens | Swagger (Wolford) by Lesnar (Goats Jr.) at 41:18 |
| 19 | Monica Newell | Dean Ambrose | Harper (Iacianci) by Lesnar (Goats Jr.) (e) at 44:18 |
| 20 | David LeGates | Sami Zayn | Strowman (Kowel) by Lesnar (Goats Jr.) at 45:45 |
| 21 | Darrin Goats Jr. | Erick Rowan | Lesnar (Goats Jr.) by eliminated Wyatt (Kowel) at 48:35 |
| 22 | Kevin Kowel | Mark Henry | Miz (Wolford) by Reigns (Mismas) at 51:25 |
| 23 | Darrin Goats Jr. | Brock Lesnar | Del Rio (Goats) by Reigns (Mismas) at 51:35 |
| 24 | Cathy Wolford | Jack Swagger | Ziggler (Mismas) by HHH (Goats) at 56:26 |
| 25 | Cathy Wolford | The Miz | Bray Wyatt (Kowel) by HHH (Goats) & Sheamus (Wolford) at 57:40 |
| 26 | Dylan Goats | Alberto Del Rio | Jericho (Iacianci) by Ambrose (M. Newell) at 58:40 |
| 27 | Kevin Kowel | Bray Wyatt | Sheamus (Wolford) by Reigns (Mismas) at 59:45 |
| 28 | Stella Mismas | Dolph Ziggler | Reigns (Mismas) by HHH (Goats) at 59:50 |
| 29 | Cathy Wolford | Sheamus | Ambrose (M. Newell) by HHH (Goats) at 1:01:42 |
| 30 | Dylan Goats | Triple H | WINNER: Triple H (Dylan Goats) (a) |
