Royal Rumble

Airing tonight at 7PM ET with a 2 Hour pre-show starting at 5:00 PM likely featuring two of the below matches. WWE has advertised eight matches:

• Men’s Royal Rumble Match
• Women’s Royal Rumble Match
• Universal Championship Strap Match: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (Champion) vs. Daniel Bryan
• Raw Championship Match: Becky Lynch (Champion) vs. Asuka
• Smackdown Championship Match: Bayley (Champion) vs. Lacey Evans
• United States Championship Match: Andrade (Champion) vs. Humberto Carillo
• Falls Count Anywhere Match: Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin
• Shorty G vs. Sheamus

Pre-Show

Jonathan Coachman leads the panel with Christian, Charly Caruso, and David Otunga. Caruso confirmed that Shorty G vs. Sheamus will take place on the Pre-Show.

Booker T, Sam Roberts, and Renee Young also have a panel in the entrance way.

Coach confirmed U.S. Championship will take place on the Pre-Show.

Kayla Braxton Interview with Bayley

Bayley hopes Lacey’s daughter sits front row, so she can see her teach Lacey a lesson firsthand.

Sheamus defeated Shorty G

This match marks Sheamus’ return to action. Shorty G went for a single leg takedown and Sheamus tossed him away. After two minutes of feeling each other out, Shorty G hit a cross body to take Sheamus over the top rope. Back in the ring, Sheamus drove Shorty G into the post and used a shoulder breaker to solidify his advantage. Earlier in the match, Sheamus stomped on Shorty G’s fingers and now Sheamus continues to bend and work the hands. After calling Gable a rat and telling him he doesn’t belong in the ring, Shorty G came back with some open hand palm strikes, elbows, and a drop kick.

Now having the advantage, Shorty G stomped on Sheamus’ ankle, attempted a moonsault but got caught and then countered into a DDT. Shorty G then connected with a moonsault and a German Suplex for two near falls. Sheamus escaped the ankle lock submission twice and hit the brogue kick for the pinfall victory.

Raw Announce Team

Tom Phillips seems to be sitting in for Vic Josephs. No mention of why, but Jerry Lawler has his regular spot.

United States Championship Match: Andrade (Champion) defeated Humberto Carillo

Carillo hit two arm drags spring boarding off the ropes, but Andrade pushed him off the top rope down to the floor and into the barricade to secure the advantage. Carillo got a little offense in around the six minute mark and connected with a moonsault on the outside. Andrade would keep things going as he hit two vertical suplexes, but Carillo countered the third to hit one of his own. After slamming Carillo into the turnbuckle, Andrade hit double knees for a near fall.

Andrade and Carillo both stood on the top rope exchanging chops when Humberto jumped up and hit a hurricanrana for a two count. Carillo and Andrade exchanged roll ups with Andrade getting the best of Carillo for the pinfall victory.

R-Truth Segment

R-Truth came out to enter the Royal Rumble, but Renee Young had to convince Truth that the Rumble match hasn’t started yet. They essentially reminded us about the funny Raw segment and that Brock Lesnar took him to Sioux Falls City. . .or was it Suplex City.

Sarah Schreiber Interview with Charlotte Flair

Charlotte says, “Last year, I think I let my emotions get the better of me.” She doesn’t see 29 competitors, she sees numbers. When they look at her, they see the Queen.

Falls Count Anywhere Match: Roman Reigns defeated King Corbin

Roman met Corbin on the entrance way and drove him into the steps to start the match. Corbin received a near fall after evading Roman’s superman punch and hitting Roman with a Deep Six. Back on the outside, King Corbin hit Roman with the steps before the action spilled into the crowd. The two traded blows through the crowd and back to ringside where Corbin hit Reigns with the ring bell and then choke slammed him onto the German announce table. Reigns came back with a superman punch attempt that Corbin again evaded to put Reigns through the Spanish announce table with another chokeslam.

The match continued into the crowd toward the other international tables. Reigns put Corbin through two of the international announce tables with a pair of Samoan Drops. It seems questionable whether anyone outside the United States is getting live commentary anymore. Retreating up a set of stairs to the technical area, Corbin’s allies (Roode and Ziggler) appeared to lend their assistance. Lucky for Reigns, the Usos weren’t too far away. The camera shifted focus to the Usos, Ziggler, and Roode. Jimmy Uso jumped off the technical equipment, Corbin took him out, and then Roman hit Corbin with two superman punches.

Reigns placed Roman inside a port-a-potty and then flipped it over. I think the match may be leading to a crappy finish, but Corbin did make his way out of the port-a-potty. The two men battled onto the dugout where Corbin used a chair as a weapon on Reigns’ back. Despite the chair shots, Reigns hit another superman punch and a spear to get a pinfall victory on top of the dugout.

Backstage with Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe

Owens says he has a lot of accomplishments in Houston, but can’t wait to throw Rollins out and win the whole thing. Joe just reminded him that they’re not on the same side.

Backstage with Mandy Rose and Sonya DeVille

If it comes down to just Mandy and Sonya, Sonya offered to throw herself over and let Mandy win.

Charlotte Flair Wins Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Order of Entry

1. Alexa Bliss – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
2. Bianca Belair – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
3. “Mighty” Molly Holly – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
4. Nikki Cross – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
5. Lana – Eliminated by Liv Morgan
6. Mercedes Martinez – Eliminated by Rose and Deville
7. Liv Morgan – Eliminated by Lana
8. Mandy Rose – Nearly eliminated, but Otis was there to catch her. Eliminated by Bianca Belair.
9. Candice LaRae – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
10. Sonya Deville – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
11. Kairi Sane – Eliminated by Alexa Bliss
12. Mia Yim – Eliminated by Alexa Bliss
13. Dana Brooke – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
14. Tamina – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
15. Dakota Kai – Eliminated by Dakota Kai
16. Chelsea Green – Eliminated by Alexa Bliss
17. Charlotte Flair – WINNER
18. Naomi – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
19. Beth Phoenix – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
20. Toni Storm. – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
21. Kelly Kelly – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
22. Sarah Logan – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
23. Natalya – Eliminated by Beth Phoenix
24. Xia Li – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
25. Zelina Vega  – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
26. Shotzi Blackheart – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
27. Carmella – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
28. Tegan Nox – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
29. Santina Marella – Eliminated by herself
30. Shayna Baszler – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair

Order of Elimination

1. Lana Eliminated by Liv Mogan
2. Liv Morgan – Eliminated by Lana
3. “Mighty” Molly Holly – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
4. Mercedes Martinez – Eliminated by Rose and Deville
5. Nikki Cross – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
6. Mandy Rose – Nearly eliminated, but Otis was there to catch her. Eliminated by Bianca Belair.
7. Sonya Deville – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
8. Candice LaRae – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
9. Kairi Sane – Eliminated by Alexa Bliss
10. Tamina – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
11. Mia Yim – Eliminated by Alexa Bliss
12. Dakota Kai – Eliminated by Dakota Kai
13. Chelsea Green – Eliminated by Alexa Bliss
14. Dana Brooke – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
15. Alexa Bliss – Eliminated by Bianca Belair
16. Bianca Belair – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
17. Sarah Logan – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
18. Kelly Kelly – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
19. Santina Marella – Eliminated by herself
20. Xia Li – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
21. Tegan Nox – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
22. Shotzi Blackheart – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
23. Carmella – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
24. Toni Storm. – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
25. Naomi – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair
26. Natalya – Eliminated by Beth Phoenix
27. Beth Phoenix – Eliminated by Shayna Baszler
28. Shayna Baszler – Eliminated by Charlotte Flair

WINNER – CHARLOTTE FLAIR

Kayla Braxton Interview with King Corbin

He didn’t really say anything. . .just that he wants to eliminate Roman Reigns

Smackdown Championship Match: Bayley (Champion) defeated Lacey Evans

The match started physical with Lacey getting the upper hand. Bayley feigned a knee injury to get a cheap shot on Evans and top rope elbow smash for a near fall. Bayley maintained the upper hand for the first six minutes of the match taunting her the entire time. Missing a cross body gave Evans an opportunity to build some momentum. Bayley rolled out of the ring, required Evans to chase, and Bayley tossed Evans into the barricade in front of Lacey’s daughter. Evans evaded the belly to belly suplex and hit a neck breaker, standing moonsault, and she hit Bayley’s knees on the springboard moonsault. Bayley rolled Lacey up for the pinfall victory. Quite a few missed spots in this one.

Universal Championship Strap Match: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (Champion) vs. Daniel Bryan

Per usual, the Fiend’s has a very good entrance. Daniel Bryan missed a suicide dive and The Fiend through Daniel Bryan into the post. Wyatt has made good use of the strap throughout the first five minutes of the match. Escaping sister Abigail, Bryan got a high kick and a running knee for a two count. Launching himself from the top turnbuckle to the floor, Bryan got a flury of offense in before Wyatt threw him into the stairs. Bryan would next use the strap to pull Wyatt into the post several times. After Bryan hit a high knee from the apron, Wyatt followed up with a clothesline regaining the advantage. Atop the German announce table, Bryan struck the Fiend in the groin several times before hitting a DDT.

No matter how much abuse Bryan commits, The Fiend keeps asking for more. The Fiend grabbed Bryan out of midair and hit sister Abigail for a two count. Eventually The Fiend would wrestle the Bryan to the mat with the mandible claw, but Bryan countered into the Yes Lock using the strap for leverage. Breaking the yes lock, The Fiend whipped Bryan with the strap, went for sister Abigail, and Bryan rolled up the Fiend for a two count.

Bryan attempted to whip the Fiend with the strap, but it had no impact. The Fiend grabbed Bryan, locked in the mandible claw, and pressed Bryan to the mat for a three count.

Raw Championship Match: Becky Lynch (Champion) vs. Asuka

Becky Lynch locked in the dis-arm-her while in the ropes early in the match. The referee broke that up, Becky jumped to the top, and nailed a missile dropkick. Asuka got a neck breaker in the ropes to swing the momentum back. Asuka hit a strong dropkick from the second rope for a two count and followed it up with a shining wizard a few moments later. Becky threw Asuka off the apron face first to the floor and followed it up with a dropkick from the apron to the floor. Lynch used the Bexploder suplex into the barricade, tossed Asuka in the ring, and connected with a guillotine leg drop for a near fall.

Asuka found room for a backslide and a high kick for a near fall of her own. On the apron, Asuka hit a hip attack on Lynch sending her into the post and then sent her face first into the turnbuckle. An avalanche ura nage from the second rope earned Becky a two count. Moments later, Becky had to escape both an arm bar and the Asuka lock.

Asuka hit hard kick in Becky’s face and the referee nearly called for the bell, but Lynch grabbed him in defiance. Following up, Asuka kicked Becky several more times for a near fall. The finish came when Becky evaded the mist and locked in the dis-arm-her for the victory.

Street Profits Interview

They entertained us with beat boxing theme music of various people in the Rumble.

Men’s Royal Rumble

Order of Entry

1. Brock Lesnar – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre 
2. Elias – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
3. Erick Rowan – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
4. Robert Roode – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
5. John Morrison – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar 
6. Kofi Kingston – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
7. Rey Mysterio – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
8. Big E – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
9. Cesaro – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
10. Shelton Benjamin – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
11. Shinsuke Nakamura – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
12. MVP – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
13. Keith Lee – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
14. Braun Strowman – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
15. Ricochet – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre
16. Drew McIntyre – WINNER
17. The Miz – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre
18. AJ Styles – Eliminated by Edge
19. Dolph Ziggler – Eliminated by Roman Reigns
20. Karl Anderson – Eliminated by Randy Orton
21. Edge – Eliminated by Roman Reigns
22. King Corbin – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre
23. Matt Riddle – Eliminated by King Corbin 
24. Luke Gallows – Eliminated by Edge
25. Randy Orton – Eliminated by Edge
26. Roman Reigns – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre
27. Kevin Owens – Eliminated by Seth Rollins
28. Aleister Black – Eliminated by Seth Rollins
29. Samoa Joe – Eliminated by Seth Rollins
30. Seth Rollins – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre

Order of Elimination

1. Elias – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
2. Erick Rowan – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
3. Robert Roode – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
4. John Morrison – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
5. Rey Mysterio – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
6. Big E – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
7. Kofi Kingston – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
8. Cesaro – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
9. Shelton Benjamin – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
10. Shinsuke Nakamura – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
11. MVP – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
12. Keith Lee – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
13. Braun Strowman – Eliminated by Brock Lesnar
14. Brock Lesnar – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre 
15. Ricochet – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre
16. The Miz – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre
17. AJ Styles – Eliminated by Edge
18. Matt Riddle – Eliminated by King Corbin 
19. King Corbin – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre
20. Karl Anderson – Eliminated by Randy Orton
21. Luke Gallows – Eliminated by Edge
22. Dolph Ziggler – Eliminated by Roman Reigns
23. Aleister Black – Eliminated by Seth Rollins
24. Kevin Owens – Eliminated by Seth Rollins
25. Samoa Joe – Eliminated by Seth Rollins
26. Seth Rollins – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre
27. Randy Orton – Eliminated by Edge
28. Edge – Eliminated by Roman Reigns
29. Roman Reigns – Eliminated by Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre wins Royal Rumble.

The second half of the Men’s Rumble was OK, but the match would have been better without the first half.

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