Tonight’s Royal Rumble 2018 PPV is airing live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is the 31st Royal Rumble event and will feature two Royal Rumble matches for the first time ever.
Below is the match-card for tonight:
• Men’s Royal Rumble Match
• Universal Championship Match: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Kane vs. Braun Strowman
• WWE Championship Match: AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
• Women’s Royal Rumble Match
• Raw Tag Team Championship Match: Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (c) vs. The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro)
• 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match For The SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c) vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable
• Kickoff Show Match: Bobby Roode’s US Title Open Challenge
• Kickoff Show Match: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Revival
• Kickoff Show Match: Kalisto, Lince Dorado, and Gran Metalik vs. TJP, Gentleman Jack Gallagher, and Drew Gulak
The first match of the night is the 6 man tag team match in the Cruiserweight division on the Kickoff show.
Now THIS is what #205Live is all about!#RoyalRumble @WWEGranMetalik @KalistoWWE @LuchadorLD pic.twitter.com/R03XzL5pv1
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) January 28, 2018
Kalisto hits Salida Del Sol on TJP to pick up the win for his team.
Kalisto, Lince Dorado, and Gran Metalik def. TJP, Gentleman Jack Gallagher, and Drew Gulak
Up next is a rematch from Raw 25 – Gallows & Anderson vs. The Revival! The Revival lost the match in quick fashion at Raw 25, but tonight they end up picking up a big win over the former Raw Tag Team Champions!
The Revival def. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Up next is Bobby Roode’s Glorious US Title Open challenge. It gets answered by Mojo Rawley. After some back & forth action, Roode ends up putting away Rawley with a Glorious DDT for the win.
Bobby Roode (c) def. Mojo Rawley to retain the United States Championship
The main show begins the 2 on 1 handicap match for the WWE Championship. The team of Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn make their way out first and then comes out the phenomenal WWE Champion!
At first, it looks like Owens will be starting the match, but he quickly tags out and Zayn begins the match. After good back and forth action, Styles locks-in the Calf Crusher and Owens is about to tap out, but Sami makes the save.
After some more action, Styles nails the Phenomenal Forearm on Zayn and goes for the pin, but Owens makes the save this time.
Owens nails a Superkick on Styles and goes for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Styles counters and rolls up Owens and pins up!
AJ Styles (c) def. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn in a Handicap match to retain the WWE Championship
ROLL UP!!!!!! @AJStylesOrg RETAINS THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! #RoyalRumble #WWEChampionship pic.twitter.com/S6D15C6F8b
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 29, 2018
We go to a backstage segment and Owens & Zayn are complaining to Shane McMahon and saying that the referee screwed them. Owens & Zayn were complaining about the fact how Zayn never tagged out and yet Styles pinned Owens to win the match.
.@SamiZayn never made the tag to @FightOwensFight #RoyalRumble #WWEChampionship pic.twitter.com/4o6CKhZmTv
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 29, 2018
Up next is the 2 out of 3 falls match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable make their way out first and out next are The Usos.
DOUBLE SUPERKICK!!!! @WWEUsos GET THE FIRST FALL #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/FrXPRrcwOn
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 29, 2018
After good back & forth action, The Usos win the first fall when they pin Gable after nails a double Superkick! The Usos quickly pick up the second fall as well and make yet another successful Title defense!
The Usos (c) def. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin 2-0 in their 2 out 3 falls match to retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championship
Up next is the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The Women’s Royal Rumble match will close tonight’s show.
WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler comes out to call the Men’s Royal Rumble match!
The first entrant in the 2018 Royal Rumble match is Rusev! He gets introduced by Aiden English. Finn Balor is the #2 entrant in the match.
The match starts and Rusev is giving Balor a hard time due to the huge size advantage. Balor comes back with a dropkick.
#3 Entrant is Old School WWF Veteran Rhyno! Rhyno goes straight at Rusev and delivers Belly-to-Belly suplexes to both Rusev & Balor. Rhyno is looking to eliminate Balor, but Rusev stops him and attacks Rhyno.
Rusev lays out Rhyno with a spinning heel kick. #4 Entrant is “The Lone Wolf” Baron Corbin! He eliminated Braun Strowman in last year’s Royal Rumble match!
Rhyno goes for the Gore, but Corbins nails a Deep Six and then eliminates Rhyno!
Eliminated: Rhyno
Balor then eliminates Corbin out of nowhere!
Eliminated: Baron Corbin
Corbin pulls Balor & Rusev out of the ring and lays them out outside the ring. #5 Entrant is Heath Slater and Corbin lays him out as well.
#6 Entrant is Elias! He comes out playing his Guitar! Elias says the clock has stopped and he’s going to sing a song.
#7 Entrant is NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas! Elias & Andrade go at it. #8 Entrant is former WWE Champion Bray Wyatt. He got eliminated last year by “The Big Dog” Roman Reigns. Wyatt attacks Slater before entering the ring and Slater hasn’t entered the ring yet!
Wyatt lays out Elias & Balor as soon as he enters. #9 Entrant is Big E of The New Day. This is Big E’s 4th Royal Rumble match. Big E stuffs pancakes in Slater’s mouth on his way to the ring.
#10 Entrant is the “Perfect 10” Tye Dillinger. He entered at #10 last year as well. We go to a backstage scene where Owens & Zayn are attacking Dillinger and Zayn takes Dillinger’s spot in the match.
#11 Entrant is Sheamus. He will compete in the Raw Tag Team Title match later in the night as well. Sheamus throws Slater in the ring and Slater immediately clotheslines Sheamus out of the ring!
Eliminated: Sheamus
Slater eliminated Sheamus on his birthday! Wyatt then goes on to eliminate Slater.
Eliminated: Heath Slater
#12 Entrant is Xavier Woods of The New Day. #13 Entrant is Apollo Crews of Titus Worldwide. Wyatt & Balor are still going at it in the ring.
#14 Entrant is Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura eliminates Sami Zayn.
Eliminated: Sami Zayn
#15 Entrant is Cesaro. #16 Entrant is Kofi Kingston of The New Day and he immediately gets attacked by Cesaro. Cesaro eliminates Apollo Crews.
Eliminated: Apollo Crews
#17 Entrant is former WWE Champion “The Modern Day Maharaja” Jinder Mahal! This is Mahal’s first ever Royal Rumble match. He goes after Xavier Woods (who he defeated in the US Title tournament). Mahal goes on to eliminated Woods & Big E on The New Day!
Eliminated: Xavier Woods
Eliminated: Big E
#18 Entrant is Seth Rollins and he’s sporting new tights. Rollins eliminates Cesaro!
Eliminated: Cesaro
Mahal throws Kofi out of the ring as well, but Kofi’s one foot lands on Woods’ chest, so he’s not eliminated. Big E & Woods help Kofi enter the ring again and Kofi hits a Trouble In Paradise on Mahal and eliminates him!
Eliminated: Jinder Mahal
Almas eliminates Kofi after this.
Eliminated: Kofi Kingston
#19 Entrant is WOKEN Matt Hardy! Wyatt & Hardy are now working together and eliminate Rusev. But they start fighting now and eliminate each other!
Eliminated: Rusev
Eliminated: Bray Wyatt
Eliminated: WOKEN Matt Hardy
#20 Entrant is the 16 time WWE World Heavyweight Champion and the two time Royal Rumble winner, John Cena! All the entrants attack Cena!
Elias now looks to attack Cena, but Cena quickly eliminates him!
Eliminated: Elias
#21 Entrant is The Hurricane!!!! He goes one on one with Cena and gets eliminated quickly.
Stand back! @ShaneHelmsCom is coming through! #whatsupwiththat pic.twitter.com/RskEbIToaQ
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 29, 2018
Eliminated: The Hurricane
#22 Entrant is Aiden English. #23 Entrant is NXT’s Adam Cole. Balor eliminates Aiden English.
Eliminated: Aiden English
#24 Entrant is last year’s Royal Rumble winner, “The Viper” Randy Orton! Almas comes flying from the top rope, but Orton nails an RKO on him and eliminates him!
Eliminated: Andrade “Cien” Almas
Almas lasted 29 minutes in the match.
#25 Entrant is Titus O’Neil. #26 Entrant is Intercontinental Champion The Miz. He goes on to hit the YES! kicks on Rollins & Cena.
Miz nails the Skull Crushing Finale on Cena, but then got Superkicked by Rollins.
#27 Entrant is REY MYSTERIO!!!
#2️⃣7️⃣ = 2006 #RoyalRumble match winner @reymysterio!!!#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/b0NCis6REn
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Mysterio eliminates Adam Cole.
Eliminated: Adam Cole
#28 Entrant is “The Big Dog” Roman Reigns! Reigns eliminates Titus.
Eliminated: Titus O’Neil
Rollins nails the Curb Stomp on Miz! Reigns Powerbombs Miz out of the ring and then throws Rollins out as well!!!
Eliminated: The Miz
Eliminated: Seth Rollins
#30 Entrant is Dolph Ziggler!
Eliminated: Dolph Ziggler
Only 6 men remain now. Reigns eliminates Orton and takes revenge from last year’s Rumble! Mysterio hits a double 619 on Reigns & Cena!
Balor eliminates Mysterio.
Eliminated: Rey Mysterio
Balor has been in the match for 52 minutes.
Balor, Nakamura, Cena & Reigns left. Reigns attacks Balor and Cena goes after Nakamura. Now Cena & Reigns go face to face.
Cena eliminates Balor!
Eliminated: Finn Balor
Balor lasted 57 minutes & 30 seconds.
Reigns, Cena & Nakamura left. Reigns & Cena are now double teaming on Nakamura. Cena AAs Reigns!
Nakamura eliminates Cena.
Eliminated: John Cena
Reigns & Nakamura are left in the ring now!
Reigns lands a Superman Punch on Nakamura. Nakamura has applied a Triangle on Reigns, but Reigns Powerbombs him.
Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa, but Reigns nails a Spear!
Nakamura hits the Kinshasa on Reigns and eliminates Reigns to win the Royal Rumble.
Shinsuke Nakamura of SmackDown Live wins the Men’s Royal Rumble match
ROMAN REIGNS ELIMINATED!!!!! @ShinsukeN IS GOING TO WRESTLEMANIA #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/doYeahauzt
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 29, 2018
Nakamura reveals after the match that he’s going to face WWE Champion AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34.
Up next is the Raw Tag Team Title match. The Champions make their way out first, followed by The Bar.
Cesaro sends Jordan face-first into the ring post and the trainers are checking on him. It’s almost a handicap match for Rollins now.
Jordan refuses to compete in the match and is holding his head. Sheamus hits Rollins with a Brogue Kick and then tags in Cesaro to hit a double team move and Cesaro pins Rollins to twin the match!
The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) def. Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (c) to win the Raw Tag Team Titles
The Bar are now 4 time Raw Tag Team Champions.
Up next is the Triple Threat match for the Universal Championship. Heading into tonight’s match, Brock Lesnar has been the Universal Champion for 301 days.
Lesnar has a big smile on his face heading into the match. The match begins and Lesnar goes straight after Kane. However, Braun Strowman stops him and attacks both of them.
Strowman hits a clear knee to Lesnar’s face and Lesnar is visibly angry at Strowman and punches him in the head. Lesnar attacks Kane with a Steel Chair. However, Strowman punches the chair out of Lesnar’s hands and Strowman thows Lesnar out of the ring.
Strowman attacks Lesnar with Steel Steps! Strowman now takes out two tables and sets them up in the ring. Strowman Chokeslams Kane and goes for the pin, but Lesnar breaks it up and delivers multiple German Suplexes to Strowman.
However, Strowman gets up immediately and Powerslams Lesnar through a table! Strowman goes for the cover on Lesnar and Kane breaks it up.
Kane throws Strowman shoulder-first into the table. Kane chokeslams Strowman and goes for the pin, but Lesnar breaks it up and hits an F5 on Kane.
Lesnar goes for the pin, but Strowman German Suplexes Lesnar and he goes out of the ring. Strowman throws Lesnar into the barricade. Strowman is now clearing the announce table.
Strowman is looking to slam Lesnar through the announce table, but Lesnar counters and F5s Strowman through the announce table!
Lesnar then puts an announce table over Strowman and takes revenge from what happened at SummerSlam 2017! Lesnar now F5s Kane through the announce table!
Strowman still stands up and kicks Brock in the face and Lesnar falls down and the back of his head hits the steel steps.
Strowman nails two Powerslams on Lesnar and Kane comes in and attacks Strowman with a Steel Chair. Kane is now looking to Tombstone Lesnar on a Steel Chair, but Lesnar counters and F5s Kane on a Steel Chair and pins the former WWF Champion!
Brock Lesnar (c) def. Kane & Braun Strowman to retain the Universal Championship
Strowman is back on his feet and he’s screaming in the ring that Lesnar didn’t beat him.
Up next is the main event of the evening, the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match!
Guest ring announcer Maria Menounos announces the guest commentator Stephanie McMahon, Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss, SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and the #1 & #2 Entrant.
#1 Entrant is Sasha Banks & #2 Entrant is Becky Lynch. #3 Entrant is Sarah Logan of The Riott Squad. #4 Entrant is Mandy Rose of Absolution. #5 Entrant is WWE Hall of Famer Lita!!!
Lita gets attacked by Sasha & Becky, but Lita comes back with a double clothesline on them! Lita eliminates Mandy!
Eliminated: Mandy Rose
#6 Entrant is Kairi Sane (Mae Young Classic winner). Kairi is putting down all the women in the ring. Kairi nails a high flying elbow drop on Sasha!
#7 Entrant is Tamina Snuka. Lita nails a DDT on Tamina and Twist of Fates on Sasha & Becky! Lita then goes on to hit a double moonsault on both Sasha and Becky! Crowd chants “You Still Got It” for Lita and rightfully so!
Lita! pic.twitter.com/CZPlApwl1f
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 29, 2018
Lita eliminates Tamina and then Becky eliminates Lita.
Eliminated: Tamina Snuka
Eliminated: Lita
#8 Entrant is Dana Brooke.
Dana eliminates Kairi Sane.
Eliminated: Kairi Sane
#9 Entrant is former WWF Diva Torrie Wilson!
Eliminated: Dana Brooke
#10 Entrant is Sonya Deville! Deville goes straight after Sasha. Deville eliminates Torrie.
Eliminated: Torrie Wilson.
#11 Entrant is Liv Morgan of the Riott Squad. #12 Entrant is WWF Veteran Molly Holly!
Molly Holly previously denied entering the Women’s Royal Rumble match, but she was obviously working the fans!
NEVER LOST IT. pic.twitter.com/2jqrWuu89r
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 29, 2018
Molly eliminates Sarah Logan.
Eliminated: Sarah Logan
#13 Entrant is Lana!
#14 Entrant is Michelle McCool and “Undertaker” chants begin (as she’s The Undertaker’s wife). McCool eliminates 4 women!
.@McCoolMichelleL is eliminaiting everbody. #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/lhIKsnTAGa
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 29, 2018
#15 Entrant is Ruby Riott of The Riott Squad. #16 Entrant is Vickie Guerrero and she gets eliminated by all women!
Eliminated: Vickie Guerrero
#17 Entrant is Carmella and she’s flaunting her Money In The Bank briefcase in front of the eliminated Vickie Guerrero and Vickie snatches the briefcase and hits Carmella with it!
#18 Entrant is Natalya. #19 Entrant is former WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly!
Natalya eliminates Michelle McCool.
Eliminated: Michelle McCool
#20 Entrant is Naomi.
Ruby Riott eliminates Becky.
Eliminated: Becky Lynch
#21 Entrant is WWE Hall of Famer Jacqueline. #22 Entrant is Nia Jax. Nia eliminates Jacqueline, Kelly Kelly & Ruby Riott.
Eliminated: Jacqueline
Eliminated: Kelly Kelly
Eliminated: Ruby Riott
The undeniable power of @NiaJaxWWE! pic.twitter.com/trfZ26Fw4p
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) January 29, 2018
Nia Jax kicks Naomi out of the ring, but all the women on the outside catch her and she gets placed on the barricade.
#23 Entrant is NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon! Naomi finds a way to get back into the ring, but Nia Jax throws her out of the ring and eliminates her!
INCREDIBLE @NaomiWWE #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/84TOLTscAt
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 29, 2018
Eliminated: Naomi
#24 Entrant is the youngest WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix! This is Beth’s second Royal Rumble match!
Natalya eliminates Beth.
Eliminated: Beth Phoenix
#25 Entrant is Asuka. Asuka eliminates Ember Moon.
Eliminated: Ember Moon.
#26 Entrant is Mickie James. #27 Entrant is former WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella! Carmella mocks Nikki with Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” and then hits a Bronco Buster!
Nikki eliminates Carmella.
Eliminated: Carmella
#28 Entrant is former WWE Divas Champion Brie Bella and this is Brie’s in-ring return. Her last match was at WrestleMania 32. The Bella Twins are now working together.
#29 Entrant is former Raw Women’s Champion Bayley.
#30 Entrant is WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus! Trish hits a Double Stratusfaction on The Bella Twins!
Trish & Mickie go face to face to a big pop! Trish eliminates Mickie and Nia takes down Trish.
Eliminated: Mickie James
Nia Jax enters the ring again and taken down all women. All the women team up to take out Nia Jax.
Eliminated: Nia Jax
NIA'S ELIMINATED #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/L0fedMQUAs
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 29, 2018
Sasha eliminates Bayley.
Eliminated: Bayley
Natalya locks-in the Sharpshooter on Trish, but Trish manages to break it up. Trish then kicks Natalya out of the ring and eliminates her.
Eliminated: Natalya
Trish mocks Sasha and Sasha eliminates Trish!
Eliminated: Trish Stratus
Sasha & The Bella Twins are now teaming up on Asuka. Sasha goes for double knees in the corner on Asuka, but the Bella Twins catch her and throw her out of the ring!
Eliminated: Sasha Banks
Nikki hits her finisher on Asuka and she then turns on Brie and eliminates her!
Eliminated: Brie Bella
Asuka & Nikki Bella are left now!
Asuka hits a missile dropkick from the top rope on Nikki! Nikki throws Asuka over the top rope, but Asuka hangs on.
Asuka and Nikki are now both over the top rope and on the apron and Asuka kicks Nikki and she falls off the apron!
Asuka wins the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match
NIKKI BELLA ELIMINATED!!!! @WWEAsuka IS GOING TO WRESTLEMANIA!!!! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/dE68VNM6DN
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 29, 2018
HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE! @WWEAsuka is GOING to @WrestleMania as the first-ever winner of the Women's #RoyalRumble match!#RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/xtuNPLshQQ
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Asuka remains undefeated in the WWE.
Ronda Rousey music hits after the match! Ronda Rousey makes her way out! Rousey points at the WrestleMania 34 sign!
WHAT?!
ROWDY @RondaRousey is HERE in Philadelphia at @WWE #RoyalRumble!!! pic.twitter.com/Aue3HOrJIT
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Ronda offers a handshake to Asuka, but Asuka slaps her hand away. Ronda points at the WrestleMania sign again and leaves the ring.
It seems @RondaRousey ALSO wants to go to @WrestleMania…#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/yha3PGBPL8
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Ronda shakes hand with Stephanie McMahon as well.
ROWDY @RondaRousey is shaking hands with @StephMcMahon?!#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/R2miS8E377
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018