WWE Royal Rumble 2024 results, match grades: Cody Rhodes goes back-to-back, Bayley wins first Rumble

Daniel Yanofsky

• 16 min read

(WWE.com/Sporting News)

TROPICANA FIELD, FLORIDA — From 2020-2021, WWE used Tropicana Field as the Thunderdome during the COVID-19 pandemic. It became its home during a time of the unknown. Years later, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays was used to highlight a new chapter in WWE history. There were two Royal Rumble winners in the first event without a member of the McMahon family in charge of the company.

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, especially following the post-Rumble press conference.

“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.

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.

MORE: Vince McMahon resigns after sexual assault claims

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.

Here's how it all went down:

WWE Royal Rumble 2024 results, highlights

Welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the 2024 Royal Rumble.

Hulk Hogan opened the show and the fans were already on their feet. Pat McAfee once again surprised fans by entering the ring to be guest commentator.

The women's Royal Rumble match opened the show.

Iron Woman: Bayley weasels her way to WrestleMania by winning women's Royal Rumble

The match started strong, had a mirky middle, and a fantastic finishing sequence. The future was on display and a veteran won the match.

Natalya was the first entrant. The returning Naomi, is back at number two to a huge ovation. She left WWE a few years ago with Sasha Banks and is back after a run as TNA Wrestling Knockouts Champion.

Feel the GLOW at #RoyalRumble!

NAOMI IS BACK!!! pic.twitter.com/GK7EeYlOsK
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

Bayley entered at number three (more on her later) followed by Candice LeRae. TNA Wrestling Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace made her debut. Fresh off beating Naomi for the title. The crowd gave her a huge reaction, and it showcased WWE’s relationship with TNA that worked well with Mickie James a few years ago. Indi Hartwell (eliminated early) came to help Candice and then Asuka came to help Bayley. The theme early on was teams and debuts/returns.

As the event went on, NXT and WWE stars entered the ring, Grace and Ivy Nile used their strength to showboat, a cool sight. Things picked up when Bianca Belair entered at number ten. Kairi Sane entered her first Rumble match since returning from Japan and Tegan Nox followed her. Sane almost had the saving move of the match, putting her feet on the LED boards to hold herself together. Sadly, she could not keep it up.

Eliminations started going wild, with Belair landing the KOD on Grace on the outside a key highlight. Naomi and Bayley were the Iron Women of the match as Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Xia Lee, Zelina Vega, and Maxxine Dupri entered. Nia Jax entered at 19 to loud boos. Very loud boos. All the women teamed up on Jax and Niven. The focus went on Jax, who took care of everyone. Niven was taken out, only leaving Jax. And then Becky Lynch came out and the place exploded when she went after Jax.

Shayna Baszler ran wild for a bit after coming out at 23 as the arena simmered down. R-Truth entered the ring as Valhalla tried to join, and was immediately out of the match. As Valhalla entered, she got eliminated after. Some light comedy. Roxanne Perez entered the match with three more spots left. Jade Cargill came out to a huge reaction, she has arrived. She eliminated Jax, and Jade immediately became a made wrestler. At number 30 was Liv Morgan, so Banks did not return.

A STORM IS COMING! ⚡️@Jade_Cargill is here in the 2024 Women's #RoyalRumble Match! pic.twitter.com/wBTCqAaVXX
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

The final three were Jade, Liv, and Bayley, who bided her time in this match. Cargill used her strength to her advantage. All three were on the apron. Morgan eliminated Cargill and Bayley eliminated Morgan to win the match. Three of the Four Horsewomen have now won the Royal Rumble. The beginning and the last few minutes saved what could have been a slow start to the event.

BAYLEY IS GOING TO WRESTLEMANIA!

Congratulations to 2024 Women's #RoyalRumble Match Winner @itsBayleyWWE! You EARNED it!!! pic.twitter.com/fhPuX2he7K
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

Grade: A-

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)

Up next was Roman Reigns defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Title against Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight. Reigns not main eventing must mean a big surprise for the men's Rumble match, right? Right?

Roman Reigns overcomes the odds, remains champion

The challengers teamed up on Reigns to start things off. Knight took control as the fans would not stop cheering his every move. Orton took care of Reigns on the outside, while Styles and Knight fought one another. Knight and Orton went at it, and the crowd would not stop chanting "YEAH." Orton put Knight's back through hell with a table spot. Orton was doing vintage spots on Reigns, who put him out of action for a long time.

Reigns finally took over in he ring by halting Knight and Orton's momentum. "The Tribal Chief" attempted a Superman Punch but Knight regained momentum and took him out with a DDT. He also took care of Orton. Styles tried to go up top but Knight stopped him. The latter almost had Reigns but the ref only got to two. Reigns was getting bullied by everyone, with Styles landing the Styles Clash, but Knight stopped it. Orton's turn, and he landed a hanging DDT to Knight. Going for the RKO, he landed a top-rope one to Styles, then to Knight, then to Reigns. He could only get two on Reigns as Solo Sikoa stopped the pin by hurting the ref.

Sikoa took Orton out, and then Knight. He stacked then on top of one another, and was going to rush through the barricade to Styles, but the latter moved. Reigns got him with the Phenomenal Forearm on top of the stacked men, and Styles only got two after pinning them all. Styles got a chair and hit Reigns with it, then Knight. As he was going to hit Orton with the chair, he stopped Styles in his tracks. Reigns speared Orton, and Knight went wild on Reigns. As he was going for the ending shot, he got put into the ropes, stopping a Styles forearm. Reigns speared Styles for the win and retained.

There was a sense that Reigns was going to retain, making this a predictable outcome. However, the match was fun in its own right. The star of the match was Knight. What happens now with Reigns, who continues his reign of terror.

Grade: B

Logan Paul defends the WWE United States Title against Kevin Owens.

Logan Paul retains U.S. Title thanks to Kevin Owens using Paul's brass knuckles

Owens believed he could beat up Paul and he couldn't touch him in a ring, and proved it early by bullying Paul out the ring. Move after move, Owens had control. He chopped Paul hard and landed a big suplex. Paul finally took over and pushed Owens several times through the step. He landed a crossbody and a standing moonsault for two.

Paul showboated for a while, posing while attempting to pin Owens. Back in control, Owens headbutted, slapped, chopped, and landed a cannonball to Paul. He landed another cannonball and landed a frog splash. Paul was in pain, but persevered. Going for a Swanton, Owens crashed and burned. And when Paul tried to go for a splash, Owens returned the favor by moving away.

A Buckshot Lariat by Paul connected, and he landed a frog splash, but only for two. Up top, Owens countered and regained momentum. He tried for a Stunner, but Paul blocked. He tried to land a punch and it connected, but only for two. Paul's business partner tried helping him out, but security go to him. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller got brass knuckles from him and tried using it on Owens. Owens used them instead, and as the referee was about to count to three, he saw the knuckles, disqualifying Owens.

After the match, Owens put Paul through a table. Match did its job, but it wasn't Paul's best. That is shocking considering his dance partner was Owens. The ref being competent was not expected. Perhaps there is a rematch in the future?

Grade: C+

The main event is next: The men's Royal Rumble match. Will there be any surprises?

Cody Rhodes goes back-to-back at the Royal Rumble, looks to 'finish the story' at WrestleMania

Jey Uso was the first man in the match, with his brother Jimmy second. A family reunion. The crowd was eating this up. A potential preview for WrestleMania. They traded moves to the delight of the crowd, a solid way to open the men's Rumble match. The moment was ruined by Grayson Waller. Andrade El Idolo is back after a run with AEW and the crowd went wild. It looked like he never left until Carmelo Hayes entered at number five. A solid way to start the match, with Waller the first eliminated.

USO vs. USO at #RoyalRumble!

😲😲😲 pic.twitter.com/hERi5eAZ5B
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

The ring continued to be full of talent with Shinsuke Nakamura, Santos Escobar, and Karrion Kross. Andrade and Escobar are not Tranquilo together. Jimmy directed traffic through the match, getting wrestlers to beat up on Jey. Dominik Mysterio got the loudest reaction of the night with boos. Carlito was the tenth man up, who eliminated Escobar.

Stories were being told in this match outside the Usos war. As Lashley eliminated Kross, the Authors of Pain distracted Lashley and Kross took care of him. Lashley and Kross' faction brawled through ringside. The match did reach a lull period by the time Austin Theory entered at 13. Hayes getting eliminated by Finn Balor didn't help, but Cody Rhodes got the crowd on their feet. He eliminated Nakamura, ending their feud for good.

The match went by very fast as Gunther made things interesting at 18, chopping everyone in his way. NXT's Bron Breakker made his Royal Rumble debut, eliminating Jimmy, which was surprising. As expected, Pat McAfee entered the Royal Rumble match. However, seeing Omos and Breakker in the match, he eliminated himself, like Drew Carey against Kane years ago.

LET'S GO! 🗣️@PatMcAfeeShow competes in the Men's #RoyalRumble Match! pic.twitter.com/WhdUFk8ssV
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

R-Truth came back, bringing some comedy into the match by helping Miz and Judgement Day members. And then CM Punk came out at 27 and the crowd once again erupted. Ricochet was 28 followed by Drew McIntyre (who eliminated Ricochet). Jey got eliminated early, which surprised many. Sami Zayn was number 30.

The final four were Gunther, McIntyre, Rhodes, and Punk. Gunther and McIntyre had a chop-off. It was Punk vs. McIntyre and Rhodes vs. Gunther. McIntyre kicked Gunther, Rhodes, and Punk. Punk eliminated McIntyre. Gunther tried to take control, but Rhodes tool him out of the match. Punk vs. Rhodes. Goosebumps.

Rhodes and Punk traded moves in the ring to dueling chants. The crowd couldn't decide who they wanted, it was very divided. Rhodes went for the cutter and Punk reversed with suplexes. Punk teased the GTS, and Rhodes tries the Cross Rhodes. Rhodes used Dusty Rhodes' moves on Punk and was emotional. Punk tried to get Rhodes out of the ring, but Rhodes hit the Cross Rhodes. Punk landed the GTS on a tired Rhodes and both went down. Punk lifted Rhodes, but Rhodes tried to use his momentum against him. Punk hit the Pedigree.

Going for the GTS, Punk was hyping himself and the crowd up. Rhodes caught him in the act and threw Punk out for the win.

The match was very fast paced, which was needed. A lot of All-Stars involved in the match, which helped when there was some lull in the action. One of the best finishing sequences in men's Rumble history. Cody Rhodes is ready to finally "finish the story."

Grade: A+

Men's Royal Rumble match entrances and eliminations

Check here for updates

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)