Royal Rumble

* Poll results: Grade WWE’s Royal Rumble PPV
* Poll results: Best match at the Royal Rumble

Follow along as the Starman recaps the 32nd annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view that takes place live from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Feel free to put down your Royal Rumble match predictions in the comments.

PRESHOW

We join the preshow panel Jonathan Coachman, Beth Phoenix, Booker T, Jerry Lawler who run down the card for the Royal Rumble and announce that John Cena will not be in the Royal Rumble match due to injury, but Braun Strowman will be in the match.

We are then sent to Charly Caruso and JBL who sets up the match for the Raw Women’s Championship with Ronda Rousey facing Sasha Banks. A video package highlighting their feud is aired. JBL thinks Rousey is stronger and more physical than Banks and thinks that will be a key factor in the match. The panel returns to discuss the match and Phoenix thinks Banks will come out on top, while Lawler and Booker T puts Rousey on top.

Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville are backstage and say tonight’s the night for someone to step up and get onto the road to WrestleMania with a Royal Rumble victory. Mandy says she is glad someone has her back, but Sonya says until she doesn’t.

Kayla Braxton is backstage and runs into Drake Maverick who says that Akam is injured but he was given a opportunity to have Rezar team with Scott Dawson to face off against Bobby Roode and Chad Gable on the preshow. The panel thinks it is a recipe for disaster.

A Royal Rumble by the numbers video package is aired. The panel then discuss their favorites for the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Booker T says he is going all in on Nia Jax, while Lawler puts his money on Charlotte Flair. Phoenix talks about participating in the match last year and are interrupted by R-Truth and Carmella. R-Truth says he is happy to announce that they number 30 for their matches and Carmella says they are going to have a huge dance party after they both win. The crowd then begins to call for a dance break and they are happy to comply.

An interview with Alexa Bliss aired and says she is excited to be in the Royal Rumble since she wasn’t able to last year. She goes on about winning the match and challenging for either championship. Samoa Joe is in the locker room and talks about his eyes and how they say that he will win the Royal Rumble match.

Footage of Braun Strowman destroying Vince McMahon’s limo from two weeks ago is aired, which caused him to be removed from the Universal Championship match. Finn Balor won a fatal fourway match later that night to take the empty spot. The panel discuss that match and wonder if Balor is able to slay the Beast, Brock Lesnar. Lawler thinks Lesnar is going to win, while Phoenix thinks Balor will find a way. A video package highlighting this match is then aired.

The panel changes focus to the WWE Championship match between Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles. We head to Charly and JBL, who thinks this match will steal the show and calls Styles the modern day HBK. We then see a video package that shows the recent feud between the two. JBL says the match is a coin-flip, but he thinks Bryan will walk out as champion. They then talk about the Chase Field Royal Rumble Burger that Chase Field is making for tonight’s event. Footage of Bryan from earlier in the day is aired who talks about the fans clogging their arteries with that burger while cheering for AJ Styles. Bryan then tosses the burger on the ground and steps on it before walking away.

Match 1: Bobby Roode & Chad Gable vs. Rezar & Scott Dawson
Roode and Gable get a quick start on Dawson and pick up a few near falls in the opening moments. Dawson is able to slip away and make a reluctant tag to Rezar, who comes in and takes Gable down with a chokeslam. Dawson and Rezar begin making quick tags and isolate Gable on their side of the ring to wear him down. Gable is finally able to counter Rezar with an armbar before making the tag to Roode. Dawson is also tagged in as Roode takes him down with a spinebuster and hits Rezar with a Blockbuster. Dawson is able to counter Roode’s attack and Dawson and Rezar try for a double team move, but Dawson nails Rezar with a dropkick. Roode and Gable then hit their double team finisher to pick up the pin fall.

Winners: Bobby Roode & Chad Gable defeated Rezar & Scott Dawson by pin fall.

JBL and Charly Caruso are joined by Lio Rush and Bobby Lashley where Rush says Lashley came to the Royal Rumble to dominate and that’s what he is going to do. The pair then turns their focus to the Women’s Smackdown Championship match between Asuka and Becky Lynch as a video package is aired. JBL thinks Lynch has a lot of momentum going into this match.

We return to the panel for the second hour to see Shawn Michaels and David Otunga replacing Booker T and Jerry Lawler, and they run down the card once again before heading into the next match of the night.

Match 2: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev (WWE United States Championship)
The bell rings and Rusev quickly goes on the attack and picks up a couple near falls. Rusev then clotheslines Nakamura out to the floor and tries to send him into the steps, but Nakamura counters and takes Rusev down with a kick to the face. The match returns to the ring where Nakamura continues on the attack and picks up a near fall. Rusev is able to counter Nakamura’s attack and takes him down with a fallaway slam and a spin kick for another near fall. Nakamura ends up on the floor again and Rusev tries for a dive but Nakamura connects with a kick. Rusev is able to recover quickly and takes Nakamura down with a kick to the head for a near fall.

Rusev tries for an Accolade, but Nakamura escapes and takes Rusev down with a kick to the head. Rusev counters an attempt at a Kinshasa and takes Nakamura down with a Matchka Kick. Nakamura then counters with a triangle choke and transitions into a gullatine choke, that Rusev counters into a suplex to break the hold. Nakamura then counters an attempt at a superplex and begins taking a turnbuckle pad off. Lana calls him out on it and Rusev tries to hit Nakamura from behind, but Nakamura moves and Rusev knocks Lana off the apron and onto the floor. Nakamura then hits Rusev with the Kinshasa to pick up the pin fall and win the United States Championship.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Rusev by pin fall to win the WWE United States Championship.

We return to the panel who discuss the breaking news that John Cena will not be competing in the Royal Rumble match due to injury and that Braun Strowman will take his spot. They then turn their attention the tag team match for the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship with the Bar taking on the Miz and Shane McMahon.

Nikki Cross is backstage who says bodies are going to fly tonight and she will win the Royal Rumble because chaos always wins.

We are then treated with a video package highlighting the NXT Takeover: Phoenix show that happened last night. Shawn Michaels talks about working behind the scenes with NXT and how they tore the house down last night. We then see footage of what happend after the show with Velveteen Dream, Ricochet and Aleister Black getting into a brawl on the stage and in the gorilla position with Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano and Tomaso Champa. Michaels talks about setting up a six-man tag team match between the two sides on Sunday for Halftime Heat.

Match 3: Kalisto vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Hideo Itami vs. Buddy Murphy (Fatal Four Way for WWE Cruiserweight Championship)
The match begins and a series of quick rollup pin attempts and done between the competitors. Tozawa takes Murphy down out to the floor, however, Murphy is able to counter and sends Tozawa into the barrier. Kalisto tries to take Murphy out, but Murphy is able to grab Kalisto and suplex him hard on the floor. Itami tries to pick up pin falls over anyone he can and sends Murphy out to the floor. Kalisto then launches Tozawa onto Murphy and connects with a series of moves on Itami for a near fall. Tozawa comes in and hits Murphy with a series of moves for a near fall of his own.

Tozawa then nails Itami with a hurricanrana that has a bad landing for Itami, and dives out to the floor and takes out Itami. Kalisto then follows with a dive and takes both of them out. Murphy then does one of his own and takes out all three of them. Back in the ring, Kalisto takes Murphy down with a hurricanrana for another near fall. Kalisto ends up hung up on the top rope and Murphy takes him down with a powerbomb for a near fall. Tozawa then connects with an inverted hurricanrana and goes for a near fall but it is broken up. Kalisto then hits the Selena del Sol on Itami for a near fall.

All four make it to the feet and begin to battle and Itami is taken out with a kick from each of them. Tozawa then connects with a kick that takes down Kalisto. Murphy then connects with a knee to Tozawa and then Kalisto that sends them out to the floor. Murphy then connects with a couple knees on Itami and hits Murphy’s Law to pick up the pin fall and retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Winner: Buddy Murphy defeated Hideo Itami, Kalisto and Akira Tozawa to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Drew McIntyre who says he has hurt many people on his way to the top, including Dolph Ziggler, Kurt Angle and John Cena. He continues to say that he doesn’t care who wins tonight’s match for the Universal Championship as he will win the Royal Rumble tonight and go on to win the Universal Championship at WrestleMania.

The panel runs down the card one final time to hype the Royal Rumble event. Shawn Michaels says he thinks Drew McIntyre will win the Rumble and David Otunga puts his money on Bobby Lashley. As for the Women’s Royal Rumble, Beth Phoenix thinks Natalya will win the match. Attention is turned to the Universal Championship match and Michaels thinks Finn Balor has a shot if the match goes long, but Otunga thinks Brock Lesnar will walk out as champion. The Raw Women’s Championship match is hyped and Phoenix thinks Sasha Banks is going to walk out as the winner.

The crowd then gets ready for the rumble and counts down the end of the preshow as it’s time for the Royal Rumble.

Royal Rumble

A video package that shows past Royal Rumble winners and moments and hypes the upcoming matches is aired. The road to WrestleMania starts tonight. We head to the live crowd at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, and into the first match of the night.

Match 1: Becky Lynch vs. Asuka (WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship)
The match starts and the champion and challenger go back and forth with strikes and trash talking. Asuka takes Lynch down with a few kicks and goes for an early pin attempt but Lunch kicks out. Lynch takes Asuka down with a shoulder block and Asuka goes out to the floor to regroup. Asuka then connects with a hip attack that sends Lynch out to the floor. Lynch quickly recovers and kicks Asuka with a kick that sends her out to the floor. The two continue to battle around the ringside area until Lynch launches Asuka into the barrier with a Backsploder suplex. Lynch rolls Asuka into the ring and picks up a near fall.

Lynch continues to go on the attack and picks up a near fall after connecting with a suplex. Lynch begins to work over Asuka’s arm but Asuka is able to counter with the Asuka lock in the ropes. Lynch is able to return the favor by locking in the Disarm Her in the ropes. Asuka then connects with a missile dropkick a German suplex and a hip attack for a near fall. Asuka then misses an attempt at a high risk move, which gives Lynch an opening, but Asuka is able to get the Asuka Lock on Lynch, but Lynch rolls out to the floor to break the hold.

The two then exchange strikes on the apron and Asuka tries for a German suplex onto the floor, but Lynch blocks and tries for an Backsploder suplex, but Asuka blocks it. Asuka then sends them both to the crashing to the floor and Lynch is able to get back into the ring at the count of nine. Asuka then connects with a kick to the face and picks up a near fall on the challenger. The two begin to exchange strikes in the middle of the ring and begin fighting on the turnbuckle and Lynch hits a super Backsploder for another near fall. Lynch then tries for a high risk move but Asuka counters with the Disarm Her. Lynch then counters and puts Asuka in the Asuka Lock, but Asuka escapes. Lynch then puts Asuka in the Disarm Her but Asuka counters and puts Lynch in the Asuka Lock with a bridge to make Lynch tap out as Asuka retains the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship by submission.

Winner: Asuka defeated Becky Lynch by submission to retain the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship.

Match 2: The Miz & Shane McMahon vs. The Bar (WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
Miz’s dad is seen ringside for this match. Both McMahon and the Miz are wearing matching jerseys. The bell rings and McMahon takes Sheamus down with a tackle and Sheamus heads to the floor. The Miz and Cesaro are tagged in and the Bar begins to double team him in their corner. Sheamus takes over and the double team continues as the Miz is sent out to the floor. The match breaks down around the ringside area where Cesaro is put on the announce table and McMahon begins climbing the ropes but Sheamus makes the save for his partner. McMahon then takes out Sheamus from the top rope but Cesaro nails McMahon with an uppercut before sending him into the barricade.

Back in the ring, Cesaro picks up a near fall on the Miz before making quick tags to continue wearing down the Miz. The Miz is able to make a comeback and connects with a jawbreaker on Sheamus and makes the hot tag to McMahon, who comes in and takes Sheamus down with a shoulder block and a DDT for a near fall. McMahon then puts Sheamus in the corner, but Cesaro tags himself in and is quickly taken down with a back elbow and lands on Sheamus. McMahon tries to go coast to coast, but Cesaro stands up and counters into the giant swing. Once Cesaro finally stops, McMahon locks in a triangle choke but Sheamus comes in and breaks it up.

Sheamus is tagged back in and the champions hit White Noise but McMahon kicks out of the pin attempt. Sheamus then sets up for a Brogue Kick but the Miz pushes Cesaro in the way and takes him out. McMahon then connects with a Shooting Star Press to pick up the pin fall to win the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship. The Miz and McMahon celebrate their victory and the Miz puts his title over his dad’s shoulder.

Winners: The Miz & Shane McMahon defeated The Bar by pin fall to win the WWE Smackdown Tag Tram Championship.

Michael Cole announce that 48,193 fans are in attendance at Chase Field for the Royal Rumble. The Raw announce team begins to run down what has gone down between Ronda Rousey and Sasha Banks as that match is up next. Sasha Banks is seen backstage and is stopped by Charly Caruso who asks if she will be able to keep her emotions in check. Sasha says she puts her heart and soul into everything in the ring and she is going to prove to everyone that she is the best when she makes Rousey tap out.

Match 3: Sasha Banks vs. Ronda Rousey (WWE Raw Women’s Championship)
The bell rings and the two counter each other in the early going before Rousey goes for a trio of suplexes to show that she can wrestle. The fight goes out to the floor and Banks is able to evade Rousey’s attack and she nails the ring post, which cuts out the video board. They return to the ring, where Banks wears Rousey down and picks up a near fall over the champion. Banks continues working over Rousey’s arm and locks in an armbar. Rousey is able to escape, but Banks puts her in the Bank Statement, Rousey is able to escape once again and takes Banks down with the Piper’s Pit to take control of the match.

Rousey heads to the top rope where Banks knocks her down. The two begin to fight on the top rope and Banks takes Rousey down with a superplex for a near fall. Banks then goes back after the arm but Rousey counters with a body slam to pick up a near fall. Banks then sends Rousey out to the floor and tries diving on her, but Rousey catches her and locks in the armbar on the floor. Banks taps out but it doesn’t mean anything as it’s not in the ring. Rousey sends Banks into the ring and the two exchange strikes until Rousey connects with a knee to the head for a near fall. Rousey tries for another armbar but Banks counters and puts Rousey into a Banks Statement while using part of her ring gear to wrap it around Rousey’s head. Banks then puts Rousey in another armbar but Rousey counters into a gutwrench suplex. Rousey follows with another Piper’s Pit to pick up the pin fall and retain the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.

After the match, Ronda grabs Banks by the hand and lifts her to her feet. Rousey lifts the ropes for Banks as she exits the ring. Banks stops up the ramp and turns around to shake Rousey’s hand. She then raises four fingers and walks away.

Winner: Ronda Rousey defeated Sasha Banks by pin fall to retain the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.

The Raw announce team recap the preshow matches that took place and talk about John Cena not being able to participate in the Royal Rumble due to injury. Braun Strowman will take his place in the Rumble. They then turn their attention to the WWE Universal Championship match. Beth Phoenix is then announced as the special guest commentator as we head into the 30 Women Royal Rumble match.

Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Lacey Evans is the first entrant into the Royal Rumble and she grabs a microphone after getting into the ring. Evans say we will all witness history tonight as she is there to clean up the entire women’s division. Natalya is the second participant and the Women’s Royal Rumble match gets started. Natalya clotheslines Evans over the top rope, but she lands on the apron and is able to get back into the ring. Natalya then takes Evans down with a hurricanrana as Mandy Rose is the third person in the Rumble. Mandy takes Natalya down with a clothesline and a knee strike, but Natalya comes back with a clothesline on Mandy. She then stacks both Mandy and Evans as puts them in a double Sharpshooter as Liv Morgan comes out at number four and is quickly eliminated by Natalya.

Mickie James comes out at number five and goes right after the other three in the ring. James is nearly eliminated but is able to slide back into the ring. James then tries to eliminate Mandy, but she is able stay on the apron and get back into the ring. Ember Moon comes out in the sixth spot and takes out both James and Natalya with a cross body block. Moon tries to send Mandy out to the floor but James comes in and tries to eliminate Moon. Mandy and Evans try to work together to eliminate Natalya as Billie Kay comes out at number seven and refuses to get into the ring without Peyton Royce. Meanwhile, four women are tied up in the rope but nobody is eliminated.

Nikki Cross is number eight who runs down and sends Billie Kay into the barrier before jumping off the top rope and taking out everyone in the ring. Cross nearly eliminates Evans but she is able to get back into the ring. Billie Kay finally enters the ring and is quickly taken out by Cross. Peyton Royce then makes her entrance at number nine and helps out her partner. The Iconics begin working over Moon and she is nearly eliminated as Tamina comes out at number 10 and begins dropping anyone who comes at her. Tamina then climbs the top rope and gives Cross a splash. Tamina then eliminates James as Xia Li comes out at number 11 and goes right after Tamina.

Sarah Logan comes out at number 12 and starts taking people out with a series of strikes and slams. Logan tries to eliminate Moon, but she hangs on to the ropes by her boots. The Iconics then eliminate Nikki Cross as Charlotte Flair comes out at number 13. Evans then eliminates both members of the Iconics by herself as Flair eliminates Xia Li. Flair then connects with a series of chops on Tamina as Kairi Sane comes out at number 14 and immediately hits Flair with a series of chops, which she just absorbs. Flair comes back with some chops of her own and knocks Sane down. Natalya and Sane then work together to eliminate Sarah Logan from the match as Maria Kanellis comes out at number 15.

Maria gets in the middle of a stand off between Evans and Flair and gets knocked to the side before taking them both down with a double bulldog. Flair comes back and takes Maria down with a spear as Evans and Flair continue to go at it. Naomi comes out at number 16 and goes right after Mandy. The two fight on the ring apron and Naomi connects with a kick and sends Mandy to the floor. Mandy then tries to take Naomi to the floor but she is able to handstand and make it to the ring barrier. Naomi then walks the barrier and jumps onto the steel steps, however, Mandy runs in and pulls Naomi to the floor.

Mandy and Naomi continue fighting out on the floor as Flair eliminates Evans from the match. Candice LeRae comes out at number 17 as the women pair off. Alicia Fox comes out at number 18 and takes a few people down with a series of dropkicks. Maria forms an alliance with Alicia until Maria stomps on Alicia’s hat. Alicia then goes after Maria and eliminates her as Kacy Catanzaro comes out and number 19 and nearly eliminates Alicia with an impressive hurricanrana. Zelina Vega comes out at number 20 and sets her sights on LaRae as the two exchange blows.

Ruby Riott comes out at number 21 and she comes out with Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan. The two start pulling people out of the ring and attacking them before rolling them back in. Riott uses this to her advantage and eliminates Alicia Fox. Vega slides out to the floor and hides under the ring as the Riott Squad pull out LaRae and powerbomb her into the barricade. They then roll her back in and Riott eliminates her from the Rumble.

Dana Brook comes out at number 22 as the Riott Squad sets their sights on Sane. Io Shirai comes out at number 23 and takes out the Riott Squad on the floor with a moonsault from the top rope. Shirai then fights with Ruby Riott on the apron as Rhea Ripley comes out at number 24. Dana Brook then sends Catanzaro to the floor, but she lands on her but and her feet never touch the floor. She the handstands her way to the ring post and pulls herself up to the apron and back into the ring. She meets up with Ripley who picks her up and sends her out to the floor to be eliminated.

Sonya Deville comes out at number 25 and goes after Brook as Natalya is surprisingly still in the match. Ripley then eliminates Brook as we see Vega stick her head out from under the apron and we also see Hornswaggle, who chases her into the ring. Ripley then eliminates Vega as she runs up the ramp followed by Hornswaggle. Alexa Bliss comes out at number 26 and goes after Flair before eliminating Deville from the match.

Bayley comes out at number 27 and goes after anyone still standing and eliminates both Ruby Riott and Rhea Ripley from the Rumble. Lana comes out at number 28 and slowly limps her way down the ramp after being injured earlier in the show. Medical staff come out to check on her as Moon nearly eliminates Shirai. Nia Jax comes out at number 29 and kicks Lana in the face before stomping on her ankle. Jax the goes into the ring and begins using her power advantage to toss the other participants around the ring. Jax then tosses Shirai out to the floor to eliminate her from the match. Jax then quickly eliminates Natalya from the match as Carmella comes out as the final participant.

Carmella takes Jax down with a hurricanrana but she quickly recovers and takes Carmella down with a clothesline. Becky Lynch then comes out and pleads with Fit Finlay to let her take Lana’s spot in the Rumble. Finlay allows her to enter as she enter the ring and stares down Jax. The two trade blows until Flair comes in and tries to eliminate Lynch, but she is able to stay on the apron. Meanwhile, Bliss and Moon battle on the apron until Bliss knocks down Moon and eliminates her from the Rumble. Bayley and Carmella then work together to eliminate Bliss from the match.

Carmella, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Bayley are the five remaining in the Royal Rumble. Flair sends Carmella to the apron and is able to kick her out to the floor. Bayley then tries to eliminate Flair and takes her down with a neckbreaker. Jax then grabs Bayley and Flair kicks Jax to send Bayley crashing out to the floor.

The final trio stares off and Jax is able to crush them both in a corner. Lynch rolls out to the floor as Jax tries to toss Flair out to the floor. Flair fights back and picks up Jax and puts her out to the apron as Lynch pulls her down to the floor. As Lynch is getting back into the ring, Jax sends her crashing down to the floor and is grabbing her knee. The referees come to check on Lynch but she slides into the ring and says she can still go. Flair then goes after the injured knee until Lynch connects with an enzigui. Lynch tries to eliminate Flair and sends her out to the apron before leveling Flair with a clothesline and sending her out to the floor.

Winner: Becky Lynch won the Women’s Royal Rumble.

A hobbled Becky Lynch celebrates her victory in the ring and points at the WrestleMania sign. A video package highlighting the feud between Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles is aired, which brings us to the next match of the night.

Match 5: AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship)
Bryan and Styles feel each other out in the opening moments of the match, until Bryan heads out to the floor to regroup. The two begin to trade punches and chops until Bryan is able to send Styles into the top of the ring post and Styles falls out to the floor. Styles is grabbing his arm and Bryan sees that and sends him shoulder first into the ring post. The match returns to the ring where Bryan begins to focus on Styles’ left arm and tries to lock in an armbar but Styles fights it and makes it to the rope to break the hold.

Styles fights his way back into the match and takes Bryan down with a dropkick. Styles then connects with a backbreak and a neckbreaker to pick up a near fall over the champion. Styles then sets up for the Styles Clash but Bryan counters and the two go into a series of rollups for near falls. Bryan then sends Styles facefurst into the turnbuckle and follows with a series of kicks before hitting a dragon suplex for a near fall. Bryan then puts Styles on the top rope but Styles counters, however, Bryan is able to kick Styles in the head a few times sending Styles crashing to the floor.

Bryan looks to dive out to the floor but Styles is able to counter and takes Bryan down hard with a reverse DDT onto the floor. Styles then rolls Bryan into the ring and looks to go for the 450 splash, but Bryan gets his knees up to block it. Bryan then puts Styles in the LeBell Lock but Styles is able to escape. Styles then locks Bryan in the calf crusher but Bryan is able to get to the ropes. Bryan then takes Styles down with an enziguri but his knee is too injured to follow up with a pin attempt. Bryan then gets up and connects with a series of kicks for a near fall.

Bryan then heads to the top rope but Styles knocks him down and tries to set up for a superplex but Bryan escapes and knocks him onto the turnbuckle. Bryan tries to go for a back body drop off the top rope but Styles lands on his feet and then locks Bryan in the calf crusher and into a pin attempt but Bryan kicks out. Styles then connects with a brainbuster for another near fall. Styles then tries for a flying forearm, but Bryan counters and kicks Styles off the top rope. Styles recovers and tries again, but Bryan counters it only to be taken out with a Pele kick.

Erick Rowan then makes his way to the ringside area wearing a flannel shirt and not looking like a Bludgeon Brother. In the ring, the referee gets knocked down as Styles hits Bryan with the Styles Clash. Rowan then comes into the ring and facepalm slams Styles which allows Bryan to cover and score the pin fall to retain the WWE Championship. After the match, Rowan picks up Styles to allow Bryan to take him out with a running knee. Bryan and Rowan then leave the ring together.

Winner: Daniel Bryan defeated AJ Styles by pin fall to retain the WWE Championship.

A video package for Halftime Heat is aired as the Raw announce team run down what happened after NXT Takeover: Phoenix went off the air. A video that highlights how Finn Balor ended up with this title shot is aired, which brings us into the next match of the night.

Match 6: Finn Balor vs. Brock Lesnar (WWE Universal Championship)
Paul Heyman takes the microphone from the ring announcer and does his own introduction for Brock Lesnar. Balor goes on the attack as soon as the bell rings and hits him with a series of strikes and kicks. Lesnar is able to counter Balor’s attack and take him down with a belly to belly suplex that sends Balor out to the floor. Lesnar goes out to the floor to continue on the attack and takes him down with another belly to belly suplex on the floor. Lesnar looks to send Balor through the announce table, but Balor counters and sends Lesnar into the corner of the table. Balor follows up by sending Lesnar into the table one more time.

The match returns to the ring where Lesnar tosses Balor into the corner and hits him with a couple of shoulder blocks. Lesnar continues tossing Balor around with suplexes but Balor is able to counter with a kick and takes Lesnar down with a Slingblade. His momentum doesn’t last long, though, as Lesnar levels Balor with a clothesline. Lesnar tries to give Balor a German suplex but he is unable to get him up. Lesnar then tries for an F5 but Balor counters with a DDT for a near fall. Balor then sends Lesnar out to the floor and dives on him three times. Lesnar crawls back into the ring as Balor hits the Coup de Grace for a near fall. Lesnar then locks Balor in the kimura lock and makes Balor tap out to retain the WWE Universal Championship.

After the match, Lesnar gets up and takes Balor down with a series of German suplexes. Lesnar then holds up the title to a smattering of jeers and then turns his attention back to Balor. Lesnar picks up Balor and takes him down with an F5 before finally leaving the ring.

Winner: Brock Lesnar defeated Finn Balor by submission to retain the WWE Universal Championship.

JBL and Jerry Lawler join Michael Cole and Corey Graves at the announce desk for the Men’s Royal Rumble match, which is coming up next.

Match 7: Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Elias drew number and is sitting in the ring with his guitar. Elias makes a comment about drawing a crowd of over 48,000 people and feels like he should take a photo and send it to the Arizona Diamondbacks who can’t draw a crowd like this one. Elias is then going to start playing a song but he is interrupted by the music of the second entry, Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett comes into the ring and does his famous strut and does his typical mic work. Elias says he gets interrupted a lot but it is nice to be interrupted by someone who brings something to the table. Elias asks Jarrett to do a duet and asks him to spell his name one more time. Elias then takes Jarrett down with a punch to the face to get the Men’s Royal Rumble started.

Jarrett tries to fight back but Elias smashes the guitar over his back and sends Jarrett out to the floor. Shinsuke Nakamura comes out as the third entrant and hits Elias with a series of strikes. Elias then grabs Nakamura and walks the top rope and takes him down with a hip toss. Kurt Angle is the fourth to enter the Rumble and takes Elias and Nakamura down with suplexes. Angle tries to eliminate Elias as Big E comes out at number five and tosses pancakes out to the crowd. Big E goes right after Nakamura and connects with a splash. Angle then takes Big E down with an Angle Slam, but Nakamura then sends Angle into the ring post before eliminating Angle from the Rumble.

Johnny Gargano is number six and mixes it up with Elias and Big E. Jinder Mahal then comes out at number seven and takes out everyone standing before Gargano eliminates him from the match. The Singh Brothers also come in and are decimated in short order. Big E, Elias and Gargano then team up to take on Nakamura as Samoa Joe comes to the ring as number eight. Joe goes after anyone in his way way and tosses Big E out to the floor to eliminate him from the match. Curt Hawkins comes out as number nine and comes into the ring before heading back to the floor to let the other go at it. Hawkins tries a hit and run method but Joe locks in the coquina clutch but ends up getting out of it and goes and hides under the ring.

Seth Rollins comes out as number 10 and eliminates Elias from the match. Rollins then turns his attention to Gargano as Titus O’Neil runs down the ramp and slows down as he approaches the ring. He then see Hawkins hiding under the ring and crawls after him. Hawkins then runs into the ring and O’Neil follows but Hawkins drops the rope and is eliminated from the match. Samoa Joe then sends Hawkins out to the floor to eliminate him from the match. Kofi Kingston then comes out as number 12 and goes after Samoa Joe as Rollins and Nakamura are battling in the corner.

Mustafa Ali is number 13 and he goes right after Samoa Joe. Nakamura then mixes up with Ali and gets himself eliminated in the process. Ali then goes after Joe once more as Joe sends him hard into the turnbuckle as Dean Ambrose comes out to the ring as number 14. Ambrose and Rollins go at it for a moment before Ambrose tries to eliminate Kingston but only one foot touches the floor. Kingston then rolls himself to the steps and enters the ring once again. Dean Ambrose then eliminates Johnny Gargano as No Way Jose comes out at number 15 along with his conga line. No Way Jose enters the ring and is immediately clotheslined over the top rope to be eliminated. The conga line starts up again as they dance their way up the ramp.

Drew McIntyre is number 16 and connects with a couple of Claymore Kicks on Ambrose and Rollins. McIntyre and Joe then go at it until he is also leveled with a Claymore Kick. Xavier Woods enters the Rumble at number 17 and Kingston is nearly eliminated once again but Woods assists his partner back to the steps. The two enter the ring and McIntyre clotheslines them both to send them out to the floor to be eliminated. Pete Dunne comes out at number 18 and goes right after Ali, Joe and McIntyre.

Andrade comes out at number 19 takes Dunne out with a DDT. McIntyre and Rollins are going at it when Apollo Crews comes out at number 20. Crews taks down anyone who comes at him and tries to eliminate Ambrose. Rollins has McIntyre in the ropes and nearly eliminated as Aleister Black comes out at number 21. Black takes down both Dunne and Rollins before kicking McIntyre in the face. Black then levels Ali with a kick but is taken down by Ambrose. Black then comes back and nails Ambrose with a Black Mass kick to send him out to the floor.

Shelton Benjamin comes out at number 22 and catches Crews with a kick to the face. Dunne tries to eliminate Benjamin, but he is able to hold on to the ropes and bring himself back in. Meanwhile, Ali is able to eliminate Samoa Joe from the match. Benjamin nearly eliminates Ali as Baron Corbin comes out at number 23. Corbin comes in and tries to eliminate Crews before taking Ali down with a Deep Six. Corbin then eliminates Crews as Jeff Hardy comes out as number 24. Hardy hits a series of moves on several people but meets a boot to the face from Black. Dunne and Black start exchanging blows until Corbin runs in and eliminates Black from the Rumble. McIntyre then eliminates Dunne from the match.

Rey Mysterio comes out as number 25 and is immediately caught by Corbin who takes him out with a backbreaker. Andrade then takes Mysterio down with a powerbomb. Bobby Lashley comes out at number 26 and goes right after Rollins, who drops the rope and sends Lashley crashing to the floor to be eliminated. Lashely then pulls Rollins from the ring and slams Rollins through the announce table. Referees try to get Lashley out of there as Braun Strowman comes to the ring at number 27.

Strowman comes in and quickly eliminates Corbin and Benjamin as Mysterio and Andrade are close to eliminating each other. Dolph Ziggler comes out at number 28 and quickly eliminates McIntyre from the match. Randy Orton comes out at number 29 and stares down Strowman. Orton goes for an RKO but Strowman counters into a slam. Strowman then charges after Orton and ends up hitting the ring post and slides through the ropes and onto the floor.

R-Truth then comes out as the final entrant into the Men’s Royal Rumble. R-Truth doesn’t make it far as he is taken out by Nia Jax and makes her way to the ring. Jax headbutts Ali and tosses him out to the floor to be eliminated. Orton tries to sneak up on Jax but she turns around to see him. Orton tries for a RKO but Jax takes him down with a shoulder block and lands on the ropes. Jax tries to get Mysterio to go for the 619 but she grabs him instead. Ziggler then connects with a superkick and Mysterio hits the 619. Orton then comes in with the RKO before Mysterio and Orton work together to eliminate Jax from the Rumble.

Orton then takes Mysterio down with a RKO and eliminates him from the ring and Andrade sends Orton out to the floor. We are down to Andrade and Ziggler in the ring and Rollins and Strowman out on the floor. The two in the ring exchange blows until Strowman comes in and takes them down with clotheslines. Strowman then sees Rollins get up and he runs out to the floor and takes him out with a running shoulder block. Strowman tosses Rollins back into the ring and everyone starts teaming up against Strowman.

Strowman then eliminates Andrade and tries to eliminate both Ziggler and Rollins, but they both land on the apron. Strowman then charges at them and knocks Ziggler down to the floor and we are down to the final two. Strowman tries to eliminate Rollins, but Rollins hangs on and drags Strowman out to the apron. Rollins then kicks Strowman into the ring post and gives Strowman a curb stomp that knocks him out to the floor to win the Men’s Royal Rumble.

Rollins celebrates his victory and stares down the WrestleMania sign and points at it as the 2019 Royal Rumble event comes to a close.

Winner: Seth Rollins won the Men’s Royal Rumble.

Quick Results
– Bobby Roode & Chad Gable defeated Rezar & Scott Dawson by pin fall.
– Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Rusev by pin fall to win the WWE United States Championship.
– Buddy Murphy defeated Hideo Itami, Kalisto and Akira Tozawa to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

– Asuka defeated Becky Lynch by submission to retain the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship.
– The Miz & Shane McMahon defeated The Bar by pin fall to win the WWE Smackdown Tag Tram Championship.
– Ronda Rousey defeated Sasha Banks by pin fall to retain the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.
– Becky Lynch won the Women’s Royal Rumble.
– Daniel Bryan defeated AJ Styles by pin fall to retain the WWE Championship.
– Brock Lesnar defeated Finn Balor by submission to retain the WWE Universal Championship.
– Seth Rollins won the Men’s Royal Rumble.