TROPICANA FIELD, FLORIDA — The road to WrestleMania is officially underway, and the Royal Rumble ended with two huge stars earning their spot in the main event. Cody Rhodes and Bayley earned their right to point at the WrestleMania sign in front of a wild, sold out crowd in Tampa.
There was a feeling of unknown in WWE as McMahon resigned from WWE and TKO following a lawsuit featuring new allegations of sexual assault. For the first time since the 1950s, no McMahon was at... as Roman Reigns calls himself... The Head of the Table. There are more questions than answers internally.
“Look, we just had an amazing week. A ten-year, $5 billion Netflix deal, Rock joining our board. We just sold out the Royal Rumble, put 48,000 people in Tropicana Field. I choose to focus on the positive," Triple H, who stated he didn't read the lawsuit yet, said when asked about the McMahon allegations via Wrestlezone. "Yes, there’s a negative, but I want to focus on that and just keep it to that.”
In-ring-wise, WWE was able to work past that.
MORE: Vince McMahon resigns after sexual assault claims
Cody Rhodes won his second Royal Rumble match, the first to go back-to-back since "Stone Cold" Steve Austin over 20+ years ago. The son of Dusty Rhodes survived a final four that included Gunther, Drew McIntyre, and CM Punk, the latter in his first Rumble since leaving WWE in 2014. Rhodes and Punk competed in an epic final few minutes, the best closing sequence in Royal Rumble history.
With his second Rumble win, Rhodes returns to the main event of WrestleMania, looking to "finish the story,' whether against rival Seth Rollins or Reigns.
Other highlights from the men's match include Jey and Jimmy Uso fighting one another at the beginning, teasing a match at WrestleMania. Pat McAfee pulled a Drew Carey (entering the Royal Rumble match and eliminating himself), and NXT stars Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes having big moments.
The women’s Royal Rumble match opened the show. A key highlight in the contest included the return of Naomi, who walked out of WWE with Sasha Banks not long ago. A special surprise followed her as TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace, who beat Naomi out of TNA, entered the match to a thunderous ovation. It showcased a unique partnership with WWE and TNA, and the second star from the latter to join a Rumble match since Mickie James.
Bayley entered at number three and lasted an hour+ to win the match. She weaseled her way into the end of the contest by biding her time. She was in the final three with Liv Morgan and the debuting Jade Cargill, who looked like money. Morgan eliminated Jade, and Bayley took care of Morgan to secure a title match at WrestleMania.
With the win, Bayley broke the record for the longest time spent in a women's Rumble match at 1:03:03. Will Bayley choose Rhea Ripley or her Damage CTRL teammate, Iyo Sky?
Banks, aka Mercedes Mone, did not show up at the Rumble, meaning returning to WWE doesn’t seem likely.
Roman Reigns continued his reign of terror as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion by beating LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. The highlight was Knight, who had the crowd in his hands with every move. Everyone gave it their all, but Reigns had help from Solo Sikoa. Following a few distractions and a spear, Reigns retained the title, his reign now over 1,200+ days.
MORE: Why is Dwayne Johnson called The Rock?
Meanwhile, Logan Paul defended the WWE United States Title against Kevin Owens. Owens promised to punish Paul in the ring, and he did. However, Paul used his connections to beat Owens. An associate tried giving him brass knuckles, and after Austin Theory and Grayson Waller gave it to Paul, Owens used them. The referee saw them in Owens' possession and disqualified K.O., who attacked Paul after the bell. It appears Owens isn't done with Paul just yet.
The Sporting News provided results from the full Royal Rumble card.
WWE Royal Rumble 2024 full card results
- Bayley won the Women's Royal Rumble match
- Roman Reigns (c) def. Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Title
- Logan Paul (c) def. Kevin Owens to retain the WWE United States Title
- Men's Royal Rumble match
Women’s Royal Rumble match entrances and eliminations
- Natalya (Eliminated by Nox)
- Naomi (eliminated by Cargill)
- Bayley - WINNER (1:03:03)
- Candice LeRae (eliminated by Sane, Asuka, and Bayley)
- Jordynne Grace (eliminated by Belair)
- Indi Hartwell (eliminated by Bayley)
- Asuka (eliminated by Chance and Carter)
- Ivy Nile (eliminated by Jax)
- Katana Chance (eliminated by Jax)
- Bianca Belair (eliminated by Bayley)
- Kairi Sane (eliminated by Asuka)
- Tegan Nox (eliminated by Bayley)
- Kayden Carter (eliminated by Niven)
- Chelsea Green (eliminated by Lynch)
- Piper Niven (eliminated by Jax)
- Xia Li (eliminated by Jax)
- Zelina Vega (eliminated by Stark)
- Maxxine Dupri (eliminated by Bayley)
- Nia Jax (eliminated by Cargill)
- Shotzi (eliminated by Jax)
- Becky Lynch (eliminated by Naomi)
- Alba Fyre (eliminated by Naomi)
- Shayna Baszler (eliminated by Jax)
- Valhalla (eliminated by Jax)
- Michin (eliminated by Jax)
- Zoey Stark (eliminated by Morgan)
- Roxanne Perez (eliminated by Stratton)
- Jade Cargill (eliminated by Morgan)
- Tiffany Stratton (eliminated by Bayley)
- Liv Morgan (eliminated by Bayley)
Men's Royal Rumble match entrances and eliminations
- Jey Uso (eliminated by Gunther)
- Jimmy Uso (eliminated by Breakker)
- Grayson Waller (eliminated by Hayes)
- Andrade El Idolo (eliminated by Reed)
- Carmelo Hayes (eliminated by Balor)
- Shinsuke Nakamura (eliminated by Rhodes)
- Santos Escobar (eliminated by Carlito)
- Karrion Kross (eliminated by Lashley)
- Dominik Mysterio (eliminated by Punk)
- Carlito (eliminated by Lashley)
- Bobby Lashley (eliminated by by Kross)
- Ludwig Kaiser (eliminated by Kingston)
- Austin Theory (eliminated by Rhodes)
- Finn Balor (eliminated by Breakker)
- Cody Rhodes - WINNER (45:01)
- Bronson Reed (eliminated by Omos
- Kofi Kingston (eliminated by Gunther)
- Gunther (eliminated by Rhodes)
- Ivar (eliminated by Breakker)
- Bron Breakker (eliminated by Gunther)
- Omos (eliminated by Gunther)
- Pat McAfee (eliminated by himself)
- JD McDonagh (eliminated by Jey Uso)
- R-Truth (eliminated by Priest)
- The Miz (eliminated by Gunther)
- Damian Priest (eliminated by Zayn)
- CM Punk (eliminated by Rhodes)
- Ricochet (eliminated by McIntyre)
- Drew McIntyre (eliminated by Punk)
- Sami Zayn (eliminated by McIntyre)