Kickoff Show
Naomi, Nikki Bella & Becky Lynch defeated Mickie James, Alexa Bliss & Natalya
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson defeated Sheamus & Cesaro to become Raw Tag Team Champions
Nia Jax defeated Sasha Banks
Stephanie McMahon banned Seth Rollins from appearing tonight at the Royal Rumble and said that she will address Rollins face to face tomorrow night on Monday Night Raw.
Shawn Michaels came down to the ring and pumped up the San Antonio crowd before the Royal Rumble.
Main Card:
Raw Women’s Championship Match: Charlotte (c) vs Bayley
Charlotte started out the match in control. Charlotte launched Bayley out of the ring and posed for the crowd. Bayley then tossed Charlotte out of the ring and continued the attack outside the ring. Bayley connected with a Crossbody off the second rope and then brought Charlotte back in the ring. Bayley went for the pin but Charlotte kicked out and rolled out of the ring. Bayley followed her but Charlotte drove Bayley into the ring apron and then the steel steps.
Back in the ring, Charlotte bashed Bayley’s head off the ring mat and followed it up with a Suplex. Charlotte continued to beatdown Bayley with a chop in the corner. Charlotte then locked in a Chinlock in the middle of the ring. Charlotte controlled the next few minutes of the match and connected with a Neckbreaker and a boot to Bayley’s face.
Charlotte continued to control the match and taunted Bayley several times. Bayley fought back but both Superstars connected with a Clothesline at the same time and they both fell to the mat. Bayley and Charlotte then traded chops but Bayley got the upper hand and and connected with a springboard Crossbody. Bayley climbed to the top turnbuckle but jumped down and stomped on Charlotte instead. Bayley went back up to the top turnbuckle and connected with an Elbow Drop for a two count.
Charlotte locked in the Figure Eight in the center of the ring. Bayley reversed the hold but Charlotte reversed it once again and used the ropes for leverage. The referee caught it but Charlotte held onto the hold for a couple of seconds to inflict more pain to the knees of Bayley. Charlotte was bleeding from her mouth and went for a Moonsault off the top rope but Bayley got her knees up.
Bayley charged at Charlotte while she was perched on the top turnbuckle but Charlotte was ready for it and shoved Bayley out of the ring. Charlotte connected with the Natural Selection on the ring apron and won the match. Charlotte is now 16-0 at PPVs.
Winner & Still Raw Women’s Champion: Charlotte
Reaction: Solid match to start off the show. I think these two can put on a better match and I’m guessing that we will see that in the near future. I think Charlotte should hold onto the Raw Women’s Championship at least until Wrestlemania.
No DQ Universal Championship Match: Kevin Owens (c) vs Roman Reigns
Chris Jericho was locked in the shark cage above the ring for this match. Jericho and Owens attacked Reigns before the match started. Reigns fought back and laumched Jericho into the side of the cage and then threw him into the cage. Jericho freaked out in the cage and begged for it to not be raised above the ring. The match finally started as the cage was being raised and Kevin Owens attacked Reigns.
Reigns fought back and knocked Owens outside the ring. Reigns followed him and threw Owens over the barricade. Owens and Reigns fought through the crowd for the next couple of minutes. The action returned to the ringside area and Reigns was in control. Owens launched Reigns shoulder first into the steel steps. Owens dragged out a bunch of chairs from under the ring and attacked Reigns with one. Owens set up four chairs outside the ring. Reigns got back up but Owens hit him with a monitor and then connected with a Cannonball as Roman was up against the barricade.
Owens placed two more chairs on top of the four chairs he had already set up. Owens targeted the ribs of Reigns with a steel chair. Owens once again placed another chair on top of the six he had set up. Reigns fought back as the two were battling on the ring apron. Reigns went for a Suplex through the chairs but Owens blocked it. Back in the ring, Reigns planted Owens with two Clotheslines. The crowd booed as Reigns got pumped up. Reigns launched Owens shoulder first into the ring post.
Roman brought out a table from under the ring and brought it to the ring. Reigns began to set up the table but Owens planted him with a Backstabber for a two count. Owens then shoved the table out of the ring and the crowd booed. Owens mocked Reigns and charged at him but Reigns connected with a boot and followed it up with a Powerbomb for a two count. Jericho rattled the cage above the ring and cheered Owens on.
Reigns set up for the Superman Punch but Kevin Owens rolled out of the ring. Reigns followed him and hit him with the Drive By. Owens set up Reigns on the table outside the ring and Owens hit him with a ridiculous Frog Splash off the top turnbuckle through the table. The crowd broke out in a “holy sh**!” chant. Owens rolled Reigns back into the ring and went for a pinfall but Reigns kicked out at two.
Owens brought a chair into the ring and hit Reigns with it a couple of times. Owens set up the chair in the corner but Reigns got up and beat the hell out of Owens in the corner. Owens battled back and kicked Reigns in the face and launched him into the chair in the corner. Jericho tossed brass knuckles to Owens in the ring and Byron Saxton flipped out. Owens went for a Superman Punch with the brass knuckles but Reigns blocked it. Owens went for the Superman Punch again and connected but Reigns kicked out at two.
Kevin Owens went for a Powerbomb onto a chair but Reigns reversed it into a Samoan Drop through the chair. Reigns went for a pinfall but Owens kicked out at two. Reigns went outside the ring and brought another table into the ring. Reigns hit a Superman Punch but Owens kicked out at two. Reigns set up the table in the corner and went for the Spear but Owens blocked it and hit a Stunner on Reigns for a two count. Owens then stomped Reigns in the corner and landed another Cannonball.
Kevin Owens went for a Superplex on Reigns through the chairs set up earlier in the match. Reigns blocked it and hit a Superman Punch and Owens fell through the chairs. Reigns Powerbombed Owens through the announce table and brought him back into the ring. Reigns was setting up for the Spear but Braun Strowman attacked Reigns from behind. Strowman Chokeslammed Reigns onto the German announce table and then hit the Running Powerslam on Reigns through the table in the ring. Kevin Owens then crawled onto Reigns and pinned him.
Winner & Still Universal Champion: Kevin Owens
Reaction: I wasn’t excited for this match at all and it turned out to be awesome. There were rumors of a Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman storyline occurring after the Royal Rumble but those rumors included the Universal Championship. Reigns can still win it before Wrestlemania but it seems he may be preoccupied with Strowman for a while.
Cruiserweight Championship Match: Rich Swann (c) vs Neville
Neville dominated the first several minutes of the match. The match was really slow and the crowd wasn’t too into it. Neville went out of the ring and Swann followed him. Neville launched Swann into the barricade a couple of times. Back in the ring, Neville went for a move off the top rope but Swann planted him with a Superkick. Swann followed it up with a Hurricanrana. Neville went outside the ring and Swann hit a big time Splash onto him. Swann and Neville got back into the ring before the referee could count to ten.
Swann controlled the next few minutes of the match. Swann went to the top turnbuckle but Neville shoved him and Swann fell to the top turnbuckle. Neville knocked him to the mat and then hit a Superkick. Swann connected with a kick of his own and went for a pinfall but Neville got his foot on the bottom rope. Neville connected with a Superplex for a two count but Neville immediately applied a Crossface for the submission victory.
Winner & New Cruiserweight Champion: Neville
Reaction: This match was alright but I was expecting much more. It makes sense for Neville to be the Cruiserweight Champion, he is pretty much the only member of the division that generates a response from the WWE Universe.
WWE Championship Match: AJ Styles (c) vs John Cena
Cena connected with a Clothesline on Styles to start off the match. Cena charged at Styles in the corner but AJ caught him with an elbow. Styles connected with a couple of knees to Cena’s head while he was on the mat. Styles took a break to pose for the crowd. Styles taunted Cena and went for another knee but Cena got out of the way and hit Styles with a Back Body Drop. Cena went for the AA but Styles landed on his feet and connected with a kick that sent Cena to the mat.
Cena battled back and hit a couple of shoulder tackles. Styles fought back and hit a Hurricanrana and a Clothesline to Cena in the corner. Styles hit a German Suplex and followed it up with a Facebuster for a two count. Cena got back to his feet and connected with a Clothesline that sent Styles flipping to the mat. Cena then hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle and went for another AA but Styles once again avoided it. Styles was perched on the top turnbuckle and Cena hit a couple of right hands to the face of Styles. Cena went for a Superplex but Styles slipped through and put Cena into a Torture Rack and then planted him with a Powerbomb for a two count.
Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Cena avoided it and hit the AA for a two count. Cena geared up in the corner and landed a big time Clothesline for a two count. Cena once again geared up in the corner and went for another Clothesline but Styles avoided it and hit the Pele Kick. Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm for a two count. Cena planted Styles with a Facebuster and both men were on the mat.
AJ and Cena traded punches when they got back to their feet. Styles got the upper hand and locked in the Calf Crusher. Cena reversed it into the STF but Styles got out of the hold. Cena went to the top turnbuckle and went for a Leg Drop but Styles countered it into a Powerbomb. Styles then planted Cena with a Styles Clash for a two count.
Styles went to the ring apron and went for a springboard 450 Splash but Cena got his knees up. Styles once again went for the Styles Clash but Cena reversed it and catapulted Styles into the turnbuckle. Cena hit an AA off the top turnbuckle and Styles kicked out. Cena couldn’t believe it and had a look of disbelief on his face. Cena went for another AA but Styles countered it into the Styles Clash. AJ went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Cena caught him and hit an AA. Cena then rolled through and hit a second AA for the pinfall victory. John Cena has now tied Ric Flair with 16 World Championships.
Winner & New WWE Champion: John Cena
Reaction: What a match. There really is nothing more to say. People will obviously be pissed off that Cena won but hopefully that doesn’t take away from how good this match was. Hopefully these two meet again in the near future.
Royal Rumble Match
#1. Big Cass. Enzo Amore joined him and they cut a several minute long promo. Big Cass said he is going to win the Royal Rumble.
#2. Chris Jericho was the second entrant into the Royal Rumble. Cass beatdown Jericho as the crowd chanted “stupid idiot!”.
#3. Kalisto entered the match. He immediately connected with a Dropkick to Big Cass and then hit Jericho with a kick to the side of the head. Big Cass almost knocked Kalisto’s head off with a boot. Jericho hit Cass with a couple of chops to slow down his momentum.
#4. Mojo Rawley was the fourth entrant in the Royal Rumble. Mojo hit Kalisto with a massive shoulder tackle and then knocked Jericho to the mat. Mojo and Jericho tried to eliminate Cass but he fought them off.
#5. Jack Gallagher entered the match at number five and brought his umbrella with him. The crowd cheered Gallagher as he attacked Kalisto. Jericho then attacked Gallagher from behind and then posed for the crowd. Gallagher hit Jericho in the groin with the umbrella and twirled it around.
#6. Mark entered the match at number six. Henry charged at Cass and hit a Splash on him in the corner. Henry launched Gallagher through the ropes. Gallagher jumped at Henry from the top rope with his umbrella but was tossed out of the ring and eliminated.
#7. Braun Strowman entered the match at number seven. Strowman eliminated Rawley and Big Cass. Braun then launched Kalisto onto Cass and Mojo outside the ring. Strowman then eliminated Mark Henry and Jericho was hiding outside the ring.
#8. Sami Zayn entered the match and Strowman immediately knocked him to the mat. Strowman continued to beat him down for the next couple of minutes.
#9. Big Show was the ninth entrant in the Royal Rumble. Last year, Strowman eliminated the Big Show and the two had a stare down in the ring. Strowman planted Big Show with a Clothesline. Strowman went for another Clothesline but Big Show caught him and hit a Chokeslam. Jericho finally got back into the ring and was greeted with a KO punch from Big Show. Strowman then lifted up the Big Show and Big Show was eliminated by Strowman.
#10. Tye Dillinger entrant at number ten because he is the perfect ten. The crowd went bananas but Strowman was in the ring waiting for him. Dillinger connected with a couple of forearms and a series of punches in the corner. Zayn joined in and attacked Strowman from behind. Strowman hit them with a double Suplex.
#11. James Ellsworth entered the Royal Rumble at number eleven. Carmella told him to get in the ring but Ellsworth didn’t want to confront Strowman. Zayn and Dillinger tried to eliminate Braun from behind but he held on to the ropes and then planted them with a Clothesline.
#12. Dean Ambrose was the twelfth entrant and asked Ellsworth to team up with him and take on Strowman. Ambrose didn’t join Ellsworth in the ring and Strowman immediately eliminated him. Strowman has now eliminated six Superstars in tonight’s Royal Rumble match. Ambrose attacked Strowman and Dillinger hit a Dropkick on Braun. Ambrose, Dillinger and Zayn all tried to beatdown Strowman but Braun knocked them all down.
#13. Baron Corbin entered the match at unlucky number thirteen. Everyone once again teamed up to beatdown Strowman. It didn’t work out too well as Strowman eliminated Dillinger. Zayn hit the Helluva Kick and Corbin Clotheslined Strowman over the top rope to eliminate him. Ambrose planted Corbin with the Dirty Deeds.
#14. Kofi Kingston entered the match at number fourteen.
#15. The Miz entered at number fifteen as Corbin was completely in control of the match. Miz immediately hit the Skull Crushing Finale on Zayn. Miz tried to throw out Ambrose but he held onto the ropes. Miz once again mocked Daniel Bryan but ran into a Deep Six from Corbin. Kofi climbed up on top of the ring post and Corbin shoved him and Kofi managed to hang onto the post to escape elimination. Kingston then hit the Trouble in Paradise on Corbin.
#16. Sheamus was the sixteenth entrant in the Royal Rumble match. Sheamus was pissed off about losing the Raw Tag Team Championships during the Kickoff Show earlier tonight. Sheamus took out his anger on everyone in the rumble. The Miz tried to run away but Sheamus caught him and clubbed him in the chest ten times. Sheamus then hit a Brogue Kick on Chris Jericho.
#17. Big E joined the match at number seventeen. He spanked Jericho a few times as the crowd in San Antonio chanted “New Day Rocks!”. Kofi and Big E tried to eliminate Jericho but he held onto the ropes.
#18. Rusev was the eighteenth entrant in the Royal Rumble match. He came to the ring with a face guard due to the broken nose he suffered on Monday Night Raw. Rusev hit everyone with a Splash and then hit Sheamus with a kick to the face.
#19. Cesaro was the nineteenth entrant and immediately hit the Cesaro Swing on The Miz and Big E. He then hit the Cesaro Swing on Corbin and went for it on Sheamus but Rusev kicked him in the face.
#20. Xavier Woods was the twentieth entrant to the Royal Rumble match. The ring was very crowded now. Woods and Kofi teamed up and attacked Sheamus. Big E hit a Big Splash on Sheamus and the New Day celebrated in the ring.
#21. Bray Wyatt was the twenty-first entrant in the match. The crowd lit up with cell phone flashlights and it was an awesome visual. Wyatt planted The Miz and knocked down Ambrose. Wyatt Clotheslined Xavier Woods’ head off.
#22. Apollo Crews was the twenty-second entrant and connected with a couple of kicks to Bray Wyatt when he entered the match. Crews hit a standing Moonsault onto The Miz in the middle of the ring. The crowd started to chant “Goldberg”. Sheamus and Cesaro eliminated all three members of the New Day. Sheamus tried to eliminate Cesaro but Jericho wound up eliminating them both. Sheamus and Cesaro argued outside the ring.
#23. Randy Orton was the twenty-third entrant in the Royal Rumble match. Orton planted The Miz with a Powerslam. The Miz has pretty much had the crap kicked out of him the entire match. Orton hit an RKO onto Rusev and Corbin. Zayn then launched off the top rope and Orton hit him with a massive RKO.
#24. Dolph Ziggler was the twenty-fourth entrant into the match. He caught Wyatt and Orton with a Superkick and planted Rusev with a Superkick as well. Ziggler hit Crews and The Miz with a Double DDT and then hit them both with a Superkick for good measure. The crowd once again started to chant “Goldberg!”.
#25. Luke Harper was the twenty-fifth entrant to the rumble. Harper eliminated Apollo Crews and had a stare down with Randy Orton in the ring. Harper hit Bray with a Clothesline and then booted Orton in the face. The crowd cheered as Harper posed in the ring. Harper went for a Sister Abigail on Bray Wyatt but Orton popped up and hit an RKO on Harper.
#26. Brock Lesnar was the twenty-sixth entrant in the Royal Rumble match and he got his pyro back. Lawler changed his pick from Randy Orton to Lesnar to win the match. Lesnar eliminated Ambrose and Ziggler. Lesnar hit a German Suplex onto Rusev, Jericho and Corbin. Lesnar then hit an F-5 on The Miz and Randy Orton and the crowd erupted.
#27. Enzo Amore was the twenty-seventh entrant in the match. Lesnar was the only man standing as everyone else was on the mat. Enzo hopped up onto the ring apron and took his shirt off and taunted Lesnar. Enzo danced around the ring and was greeted with a Clothesline by Lesnar. Brock then tossed Enzo over the top rope. Lesnar hit a big time Suplex on Zayn in the middle of the ring. The crowd once again started to chant “Goldberg!”.
#28. Goldberg was the twenty-eighth entrant in the Royal Rumble match. Goldberg hit Lesnar with a Spear and eliminated Lesnar by Clotheslining him over the top rope. Lesnar’s face turned bright red and he sat on the entrance ramp in disbelief. Goldberg hit Zayn with the Jackhammer. Wyatt and Orton teamed up to attack Goldberg. Goldberg fought them off and hit a Double Spear onto Wyatt and Orton.
#29. The Undertaker was the twenty-ninth entrant and the crowd went bananas. The Undertaker appeared in the ring behind Goldberg and the two had a stare down. Undertaker grabbed Goldberg by the throat but Rusev and Corbin attacked the two from behind. Goldberg eliminated Rusev and The Undertaker eliminated Corbin. Goldberg hit a Spear onto The Undertaker. Goldberg then eliminated Luke Harper. From behind, The Undertaker eliminated Goldberg. The Undertaker Chokeslammed The Miz and Sami Zayn.
#30. The thirtieth and final entrant to the Royal Rumble was Roman Reigns. The crowd booed him out of the building. I guess there was no Samoa Joe in this match. Reigns and The Undertaker traded punches in the ring. Reigns went for a Superman Punch but was planted with a Chokeslam. The Undertaker eliminated The Miz and Sami Zayn. The Undertaker hit Chris Jericho with a Chokeslam. Roman Reigns eliminated The Undertaker from behind and the crowd booed. The crowd started to chant “bullsh**!”.
Reigns eliminated Jericho with a Superman Punch while he was on the top turnbuckle. It was down to Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns. Orton planted Reigns with a DDT while he was hung up on the second rope. Reigns hit Orton and Wyatt with a Superman Punch. Reigns eliminated Bray Wyatt and went for a Spear to Roman Reigns but Orton caught him with an RKO. Orton then Clotheslined Reigns out of the ring and won the Royal Rumble.
Winner: Randy Orton
Reaction: This was a great Royal Rumble. The crowd almost flipped out when they thought that Roman Reigns was going to win the match. There was no Samoa Joe, Kenny Omega or Kurt Angle despite all the rumors. Randy Orton wouldn’t have been my first choice to win the Royal Rumble match but I cannot imagine what the reaction would have been if Roman Reigns had won it. Overall, this was a great event and I found it very entertaining.
What did you think of the 2017 Royal Rumble? Share your thoughts in the comments below.