WWE Royal Rumble 2020 aired live from Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
WWE Royal Rumble 2020 Results:
- Sheamus def. Shorty G (Kickoff Show)
- Andrade def. Humberto Carrillo to retain the US Title (Kickoff Show)
- Roman Reigns def. King Corbin
- Charlotte won the women’s Royal Rumble
- Bayley def. Lacey Evans to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship
- The Feind def. Daniel Bryan to retain the Universal Championship
- Becky Lynch def. Asuka to retain the RAW Women’s Championship
- Drew McIntyre won the men’s Royal Rumble
Here are 6 takeaways from the PPV:
Reigns Pinned Corbin On Top Of The Dugout
Roman Reigns faced King Corbin in a Falls Count Anywhere match tonight at the Royal Rumble.
Match Recap: Reigns started off the match in control and sent Corbin flying into the steel steps. Roman brought Corbin in the ring and unloaded several right hands to Baron’s face in the corner. The action spilled out of the ring and Corbin tried to escape by hopping over the barricade.
Reigns followed him into the crowd and continued to beat the hell out of him with right hands to the face. Corbin battled back and Chokeslammed Roman on top of an announce table for a near fall. Reigns went for a Superman Punch but Corbin caught him and hit another Chokeslam through an announce table for a two count.
King Corbin brought Reigns through the crowd and to the production area. Reigns hit a Samoan Drop through an international announce table. Roman then hit another one through a table for a near fall. Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler then attacked Reigns from behind and beat him down.
The Usos joined the party and attacked Ziggler and Roode. Jimmy Uso hit a massive Crossbody but turned around into a Sidewalk Slam from Corbin on top of a barricade. Reigns leveled Corbin with a Superman Punch and followed it up with another Superman Punch.
Roman threw Corbin in a portable toilet and flipped it over as the crowd erupted. Corbin grabbed a steel chair and threw Reigns on top of the dugout in Minute Maid Park. Reigns hit a Superman Punch and then connected with a Spear for the pinfall victory.
Opinion: Reigns and King Corbin delivered a much better match that their bout at TLC tonight at the Royal Rumble PPV. I hope that this was the final match of the feud and both superstars can finally move on. Reigns and Corbin will both be in the men’s Royal Rumble match later tonight.
Charlotte Flair Won The Women’s Royal Rumble
Below is the list of entrants in the women’s Royal Rumble match tonight.
- Alexa Bliss
- Bianca Belair
- Molly Holly
- Nikki Cross
- Lana
- Mercedes Martinez
- Liv Morgan
- Mandy Rose
- Candice LeRae
- Sonya Deville
- Kairi Sane
- Mia Yim
- Dana Brooke
- Tamina
- Dakota Kai
- Chelsea Green
- Charlotte Flair
- Naomi
- Beth Phoenix
- Toni Storm
- Kelly Kelly
- Sarah Logan
- Natalya
- Xia Li
- Zelina Vega
- Shotzi Blackheart
- Carmella
- Tegan Nox
- Santina Marella
- Shayna Baszler
Match Recap: Belair and Bliss started the rumble off tonight. Bliss hit Bianca with a Dropkick but Belair shrugged it off and hit a Backbreaker. Mighty Molly Holly was the 3rd entrant and got a great reaction from the crowd. Molly got in some offense as the crowd chanted “you still got it!”. Nikki Cross sprinted down the entrance ramp and hit Belair and Molly with a Clothesline. Lana was the 5th entrant and cut a promo while walking down the ramp. Lana referred to herself as the greatest superstar in the world and that she is better than the pathetic losers in the crowd.
Mercedes Martinez was #6 and marched to the ring. Liv Morgan sprinted to the ring and immediately eliminated Lana. Liv climbed to the top rope and Lana eliminated her. Liv then beat Lana down outside the ring before WWE officials separated them. Candice LeRae and Mandy Rose were the next two superstars in the match. Belair eliminated Molly Holly and Mandy Rose was thrown over the top rope but landed on Otis ringside. Sonya Deville was #10 and teamed up with Mandy in the ring.
Mandy and Sonya eliminated Mercedes Martinez. Kairi Sane was #11 and came down to the ring with her umbrella. Sane took out Cross and bliss with a Spear. Mia Yim was #12 and quickly hit Sane with a Neckbreaker. Belair eliminated Nikki Cross by slamming Bliss into her. Bliss hung onto Belair’s hair and saved herself from elimination. Sonya Deville accidentally hit Mandy Rose but Otis caught her. Belair then sent Deville flying onto Otis and Mandy. Deville and Rose were eliminated.
Dana Brooke was #13 and climbed to the top rope. Dana hit Yim with a Senton and followed it up with a Splash to Belair and Bliss in the corner. Belair lifted Lerae above her head and eliminated Candice for her fifth elimination of the match. Alexa Bliss eliminated Kairi Sane. Tamina entered the match at #14 and had a stare down with Bianca. Belair quickly eliminated Tamina for the sixth elimination.
Dakota Kai entered at #15 and battled with Dana Brooke as Alexa eliminated Mia Yim. Chelsea Green was #16 and quickly eliminated Dakota Kai. Alexa snuck up behind Chelsea and quickly eliminated her. Belair eliminated Dana Brooke for her seventh elimination. Bliss and Belair were the only superstars remaining and Alexa climbed to the top rope. Alexa went for Twisted Bliss but Bianca got her knees up. Both women went over the top rope and battled on the ring apron. Belair sent Alexa into the ring post and eliminated her for another elimination.
Charlotte Flair entered the match at #17. Flair hit Belair with a series of chops as the crowd chanted “woo!”. Naomi made her return at #18 and got a great reaction from the crowd. Charlotte and Naomi teamed up and hit Belair with a Suplex. WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix entered the match at #19. Naomi hit Charlotte and Beth with a Splash and then beat Flair down in the corner. Bianca hit Beth with a punch and Phoenix bounced her head on the ring post pretty hard.
Toni Storm was #20 and got a great reaction from the Houston crowd. Charlotte Flair eliminated Belair after being in the Royal Rumble for 33-minutes. Kelly Kelly was entrant #21 and hit Toni with a Hurricanrana. Beth knocked Charlotte over the top rope but Flair was able to hang on.
Sarah Logan entered at #22 and went right after Charlotte. Flair quickly eliminated Sarah with a big boot. Kelly Kelly tried to eliminate Charlotte but it backfired and Flair sent her flying over the top rope. Natalya was #23 and teamed up with Beth Phoenix. Beth was bleeding from the back of her head after bouncing it off the ring post. Beth and Natalya Powerbombed Flair to the canvas.
Xia Li entered at #24 and leveled Phoenix with a kick to the face. Zelina Vega was entrant #25 and slammed Naomi to the mat. Xia Li, Phoenix, and Natalya tried to eliminate Charlotte but she still hung on. Shotzi Blackheart was entrant #26 as Naomi avoided elimination by leaping to the barricade. Naomi scooted across the top of the barricade as the crowd chanted her name. Naomi made it to the announce table and stood there as Carmella made her entrance at #27.
Charlotte hit Carmella with the Natural Selection but turned around into a Glam Slam from Beth. Tegan Nox entered at #28 and hit Vega with a Chokeslam. Phoenix hit Nox with another Glam Slam. Santina Marella entered at #29 and tried to hug Beth. Santina broke out the cobra as Beth and Natalya surrounded him. Santina then thought better of it and eliminated himself.
Shayna Baszler was the final entrant in the women’s Royal Rumble match. Shayna attacked Charlotte who was thrown through the ropes and sent her into the steel steps. Shayna eliminated Xia Li, Tegan Nox, Zelina Vega, and Shotzi Blackheart as Naomi made a bridge using the top of the announce table to make it back into the ring.
Baszler eliminated Carmella and Toni Storm. Baszler then quickly eliminated Naomi for her seventh elimination. Beth and Natalya attacked Baszler and hit the Hart Attack. Phoenix then turned her back on Natalya and eliminated her. Charlotte tried to sneak up and eliminate Shayna but she held onto the ropes. Baszler eliminated Beth Phoenix and sent Charlotte to the apron. Flair used her legs and locked them around Shayna’s neck. Flair sent Baszler over the top rope to win the match. Charlotte is going to WrestleMania to fight for a title.
After the match, Charlotte was interviewed in the ring as the crowd booed. Flair said she is a diamond cut to last and claimed that this is her division. Flair shouted “woo!” into the microphone to end the promo.
Opinion: I enjoyed this match up until the end. Charlotte Flair is unbelievably talented but I certainly didn’t want to see this result. It would have been nice to see someone new have a moment and earn a title shot at WrestleMania.
Bayley Retained The SmackDown Women’s Championship
Bayley defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Lacey Evans tonight at the PPV. Lacey’s daughter was in the crowd for the match.
Match Recap: Evans controlled the match early and Bayley faked an injury. Bayley hit Evans with a cheap shot and bounced Evans’ face off the top rope. Bayley followed it up with an Elbow Drop off the top rope and went for the cover but Evans was able to kick out at two. Bayley slowed the match down and applied a Headlock.
Lacey finally broke free and rolled up Bayley for a near fall. Evans hit a Bronco Buster and followed it up with a Dropkick to Bayley’s face. Lacey connected with a Neckbreaker and then a Standing Moonsault. Lacey went for another Moonsault but Bayley got her knees up. Bayley then rolled up Lacey and used her tights for leverage to win the match.
Opinion: The match ended a minute ago and I’ve already forgotten about it. There was zero energy from the crowd and the match simply couldn’t overcome it.
The Fiend Retained In A Great Match With Daniel Bryan
The Fiend defended the Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan in a Strap Match.
Match Recap: The Fiend dominated early and planted Bryan with a Powerbomb. Daniel knocked The Fiend to the outside and went for a Suicide Dive but The Fiend caught him. The Friend slammed Daniel into the barricade and beat the hell out of him with the strap. Bray hung up Bryan on the turnbuckle and hit him several more times with the strap.
The Fiend went for Sister Abigail but Bryan escaped and hit the Running Knee for a two count. Bryan hit a Crossbody outside the ring and slammed The Fiend into the ring post several times. Bryan connected with another Running Knee but The Fiend shrugged it off and absolutely leveled Daniel with a Clothesline.
Bryan battled back with a few kicks to the groin and planted The Fiend on top of the announce table with a DDT. Daniel then got some revenge and hit The Fiend several times with the strap. Back in the ring, Daniel hit The Fiend with the strap and a series of Yes Kicks.
Daniel stomped away on The Fiend’s face and started a “yes!” chant. Bryan went for the Running Knee but The Fiend countered into a Sister Abigail for a near fall. Bryan locked in the LeBell Lock in the middle of the ring while using the strap. The Fiend quickly escaped and unloaded punches to Daniel’s face.
The Fiend went for Sister Abigail but Bryan countered into a roll-up for a near fall. Daniel Bryan quickly hit another Running Knee but The Fiend kicked out at two. The Fiend locked in the Mandible Claw and slammed Bryan to the canvas for the pinfall victory. After the match, the crowd applauded Daniel Bryan as he stumbled to his feet. Bryan stumbled out of the ring and all the way up the ramp.
Opinion: I really enjoyed this match and it brought the crowd back to life after the terrible SmackDown Women’s Championship bout. Both Wyatt and Bryan beat the hell out of each other with the strap and it just added a sense of brutality that captivated me.
Bryan suggested the stipulation because he accused The Fiend of running away but at the end of the night he was the one looking lost and stumbling around. It was a pretty simple storyline but I just thought this whole feud was very well done. It’ll be interesting to see what lies next for Daniel Bryan and where he will be on the WrestleMania card. There is absolutely no reason to take the Universal Championship off of The Fiend anytime soon.
Becky Lynch Finally Defeated Asuka
Becky Lynch defended her RAW Women’s Championship against Asuka. Kairi Sane was ringside for the match.
Match Recap: Asuka went for the Hip Attack but Lynch locked in the Dis-Arm-Her on the ropes. Becky broke the hold before the referee counted to five and made her way to the top rope. Lynch connected with a Dropkick and went for the cover but Asuka kicked out at two.
Becky Lynch lifted Asuka up for a Suplex on the apron and dropped her to the floor. Lynch followed that up with an Exploder Suplex into the barricade. Back in the ring, Lynch connected with a Leg Drop off the top rope for a near fall.
Asuka hit the Hip Attack on Lynch against the ring post. Becky hung up Asuka on the ropes and hit a Rock Bottom for a two count. Lynch applied the Dis-Arm-Her but Asuka countered into the Asuka Lock. Becky reached the bottom rope but Asuka quickly hit a German Suplex.
Asuka booted Becky in the face and the referee was going to stop the match because he thought Lynch was knocked out. Becky stopped him and Asuka hit another kick to the face for a two count. Lynch hit a Reverse DDT and went for the cover but Asuka was able to kick out at the last moment. Asuka sent Becky into the referee and went to spit the green mist into her eyes but Lynch avoided it. Lynch then locked in the Dis-Arm-Her for the submission victory.
Opinion: I thought this was a very good match. Unfortunately, the crowd was either exhausted or simply waiting around for the men’s Royal Rumble and were silent during the match.
Drew McIntyre Won The Men’s Royal Rumble
Below is the list of entrants in the men’s Royal Rumble match tonight.
- Brock Lesnar
- Elias
- Erick Rowan
- Robert Roode
- John Morrison
- Kofi Kingston
- Rey Mysterio
- Big E
- Cesaro
- Shelton Benjamin
- Shinsuke Nakamura
- MVP
- Keith Lee
- Braun Strowman
- Ricochet
- Drew McIntyre
- The Miz
- AJ Styles
- Dolph Ziggler
- Karl Anderson
- Edge
- King Corbin
- Matt Riddle
- Luke Gallows
- Randy Orton
- Roman Reigns
- Kevin Owens
- Aleister Black
- Samoa Joe
- Seth Rollins
Match Recap: Elias insulted Lesnar during his entrance and Brock sprinted up the ramp. Lesnar brought Elias to the ring and planted him with a German Suplex. Heyman slid the guitar into the ring and Lesnar bashed Elias before throwing him over the top rope. Rowan was #3 and was eliminated in a matter of seconds.
Robert Roode was #4 and got in a couple of punches before Lesnar leveled him with a Clothesline. Brock followed it up with an F5 and then eliminated him. John Morrison entered at #5 and immediately got eliminated via a Belly to Belly Suplex over the top rope.
Kofi Kingston entered the match at #6 and got in some offense as the crowd chanted his name. Kingston lasted the couple minutes and Rey Mysterio was #7. Mysterio got in a couple kicks before Lesnar launched Rey onto Kofi in the corner. Lesnar hit a Kingston and Rey with a couple German Suplexes before Big E made his way to the ring as #8.
Rey, Kofi, and Mysterio teamed up and attacked Lesnar. Brock battled back and quickly eliminated Big E and Mysterio. Brock then delivered an F5 to Kingston that sent him over the top rope. Cesaro came down to the ring and was promptly eliminated. I’ll be saying Cesaro deserves better until I die.
Shelton Benjamin entered at #10. Benjamin shared a hug with Heyman and Paul told him to reunite with Brock. Lesnar shook Shelton’s hand and the former college teammates shared a hug. Brock then hit Benjamin with a German Suplex and Clotheslined him over the top rope for his ninth elimination.
Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura made his way to the ring and was eliminated immediately. Brock Lesnar has now eliminated ten superstars. MVP entered the match at #12 and got a great reaction from the crowd. MVP chased Heyman around the ring and then poked Lesnar in the eye. Brock shrugged it off and hit MVP with an F5. Lesnar then threw him out of the ring for his eleventh elimination.
Keith Lee entered the match at #13 and took his time getting in the ring. The crowd was hyped as Lee stepped through the ropes and had a stare down with Lesnar.
Lee leveled Lesnar with a shoulder tackle and the crowd erupted. Lee and Lesnar then hit a Clothesline at the same time and both superstars fell to the canvas. Braun Strowman marched to the ring as the 14th entrant. Braun leveled Lee with a Dropkick that knocked him out of the ring. Strowman got out of the ring and hit Keith with a shoulder tackle. Back in the ring, Braun hit Lesnar with a Clothesline. Brock got right up and hit Strowman with a German Suplex.
Brock hit Lee with a German Suplex and everyone was down. Lee and Strowman traded punches against the ropes and Brock came up from behind to eliminate both of them. Lesnar has now tied the record at 13 eliminations. Ricochet entered the match at #15 and Lesnar greeted him with a Backbreaker.
Drew McIntyre entered the match at #16 and Lesnar took off his gloves. Ricochet hit Brock with a low blow and McIntyre eliminated Brock with a massive Claymore Kick. The crowd went absolutely nuts as Lesnar tumbled over the top rope and to the floor.
McIntyre quickly threw Ricochet over the top rope to eliminate him. The Miz entered the match at #17 as McIntyre continued to stare at Lesnar. Drew leveled The Miz with a Claymore Kick and quickly eliminated him. AJ Styles entered the match at #18 as Brock exited through the crowd.
AJ locked in the Calf Crusher but McIntyre broke free and slammed Styles to the canvas. Dolph Ziggler entered at #19 and got in Drew’s face. McIntyre launched Ziggler across the ring and followed it up with a loud chop in the corner. McIntyre hit Styles with a chop as Karl Anderson entered at #20.
Anderson and Styles teamed up on McIntyre and Ziggler hit him with a Superkick. Anderson hit Ziggler with a Spinebuster and sent him to the apron. Ziggler battled back and avoided elimination. Edge made his anticipated return and entered the match at #21 and the crowd went insane.
Edge leveled Anderson and then McIntyre with a Spear as the crowd chanted “holy sh*t!”. Styles connected with a Pele Kick but Edge battled back and leveled him with a Spear. King Corbin entered at #22 and made his way to the ring. Edge eliminated AJ Styles as Matt Riddle entered the match at #23.
Riddle leveled Edge with the Ripcord Knee but was then eliminated by King Corbin. Luke Gallows entered the match at #24 and sent Ziggler to the apron again. Drew McIntyre then eliminated King Corbin. Randy Orton entered at #25 and went right after The OC. Orton planted Gallows and Anderson with an RKO before staring at Edge. Edge eliminated Gallows and Orton eliminated Anderson.
Orton and Edge smirked at each other and Randy told Edge he looked shredded. Roman Reigns then entered the match at #26. Roman hit Ziggler with a Spear and eliminated him. Reigns bounced Drew’s face off the top turnbuckle but McIntyre battled back with a chop to the chest.
Kevin Owens sprinted to the ring at #27. Owens went after McIntyre and beat him down in the corner. Kevin hit Reigns and Edge with a Cannonball before connecting with a Pop-Up Powerbomb to McIntyre. Owens then hit Reigns with a Stunner and another one to Orton.
Aleister Black was #28 and traded shots with Kevin Owens. Black leveled Owens with a knee to the face and did the same to Edge. Aleister hit McIntyre with Black Mass and Drew collapsed to the canvas. Samoa Joe entered at #29 and went after Aleister.
Owens hit Black with a Cannonball in the corner of the ring and then bumped into Joe. They started trading punches and Joe got the better of the exchange with an Atomic Drop. Seth Rollins was the final entrant at #30 and came down to the ring with Buddy Murphy and AOP.
Samoa Joe and Owens attacked Rollins on the ramp but the numbers game caught up to them. Rollins got into the ring and hit McIntyre with the Stomp as AOP dragged Orton out of the ring from under the bottom rope. Rollins hit Roman with the Stomp as Buddy tripped up Black. Rollins capitalized and eliminated Aleister Black.
Owens hit Rollins with the Stunner and threw him over the top rope but AOP caught him. Akam and Rezar rolled Seth back into the ring and Rollins eliminated Owens. Samoa Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch but Buddy Murphy broke it up with a boot to the head. Rollins capitalized again and eliminated Joe.
A brawl broke out as Rollins begged for his crew to come back to the ring. The brawl continued up the entrance ramp and Seth was left alone in the ring. Edge, Randy Orton, McIntyre, and Reigns then surrounded Seth. Rollins tried to team up with Roman Reigns but he wasn’t having it. Reigns hit Rollins with the Superman Punch and Orton followed it up with a Powerslam. McIntyre hit the Claymore Kick and eliminated Rollins.
Randy launched Roman into the ring post and then went after McIntyre. Orton connected with the RKO and Edge followed it up with a Spear. Edge and Orton planted Drew with a double RKO but Randy snuck up behind him. Edge saw it and Orton smirked. Edge then eliminated Randy Orton and started trash-talking with him.
It was now Edge, Reigns, and Drew McIntyre remaining in the match. Reigns and Edge traded punches in the middle of the ring. Roman leveled Edge with a Superman Punch and geared up in the corner. Reigns went for a Spear but Edge leaped over him and hit a Spear of his own. Edge sent Reigns to the apron but Roman brought him over the top rope as well.
Both superstars battled on the apron as McIntyre slowly got up. Reigns eliminated Edge and punched McIntyre in the face. Roman hit McIntyre with a Superman Punch and tried to eliminate him but Drew hung on. Roman went for a Spear but Drew McIntyre absolutely leveled him with the Claymore Kick. McIntyre then launched Roman Reigns over the top rope to win the Royal Rumble.
Opinion: What an incredible Royal Rumble match. That will be one that I definitely go back and watch years from now. Edge’s return was an unbelievable moment and gave everyone chills. When it was all said and done, the right man won. It is awesome to see Drew McIntyre finally get his moment and challenge for a title at WrestleMania. Overall, this year’s Royal Rumble was very entertaining and the men’s Royal Rumble match stole the show.