Tag: royal rumble 2021

Braun Strowman returns to WWE TV ahead of Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Braun Strowman has returned to WWE television and looks to be set for Sunday’s men’s Royal Rumble match.

At the end of tonight’s SmackDown, Strowman made his return to WWE TV and laid out AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, and Cesaro. Daniel Bryan, Big E, Shinsuke Nakamura, Otis & Sheamus had defeated Styles, Zayn, Cesaro, The Miz & John Morrison in the main event of tonight’s show.

It was speculated on commentary that this means Strowman has declared for Sunday’s men’s Royal Rumble match. Everyone in tonight’s main event has already been announced for the men’s Rumble.

Strowman had been off WWE TV since the post-Survivor Series episode of Raw in November. In storyline, Strowman was “suspended indefinitely” after attacking WWE authority figure Adam Pearce. Strowman was part of Team Raw  for the men’s five-on-five elimination match at Survivor Series, teaming with Styles, Sheamus, Keith Lee & Riddle as they defeated Team SmackDown in a clean sweep. There was a segment on Raw the next night where Strowman snapped and attacked Pearce as Pearce was deciding which member of Team Raw would challenge for the WWE Championship at December’s TLC pay-per-view.

The storyline indefinite suspension was a cover for a legitimate knee injury that Strowman was dealing with. Strowman had originally been scheduled to challenge for Drew McIntyre’s WWE Championship at December’s TLC pay-per-view, but Styles got the title shot instead due to Strowman’s injury.

WWE Backstage modifies Royal Rumble announcement plans

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Royal Rumble announcement plans for WWE Backstage’s preview special have been modified.

It was announced on tonight’s SmackDown that the preview special will now reveal the wrestlers who will be entering the men’s Royal Rumble match at numbers one and two. There will also be a WWE Backstage exclusive match between Natalya and Tamina airing on the preview special, with the winner entering the women’s Royal Rumble match last at number 30.

The preview special had originally been set to reveal the first and second entrants for the women’s Royal Rumble match and the 30th entrant for the men’s Royal Rumble match.

The WWE Backstage Royal Rumble preview special is airing on FS1 at 8 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday night. It’s being hosted by Renee Paquette, Booker T, and Paige and will also feature “exclusive Fox guests and interviews.”

This will be the first episode of WWE Backstage since weekly production of the show was ended in June of last year. It was noted at the time that the show could return for special episodes surrounding major WWE events.

The WWE Backstage preview special will also re-air on FS1 at midnight Eastern time and at 5 p.m. Eastern this Sunday, which is the day of the Royal Rumble.

Mat Men: Who wins the Royal Rumble on Sunday?

Posted on by Mat Men

The Royal Rumble is this Sunday and a lot of people have questions regarding who could win this year. Could Edge win the Royal Rumble? That’s the question of the day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inChCOBvqIA

Today on Mat Men, the guys break down the possibility of Edge winning the 2021 Royal Rumble. If so, does this lead to a Roman Reigns vs. Edge match at Wrestlemania 37? Also, WWE has brought the WWE Network over to NBC’s streaming platform Peacock. How will this affect current subscribers, and could it lead to an increase in WWE viewership?

Andrew and Rich also break down this week’s AEW and NXT TV, along with all the latest pro wrestling news and rumors, as well as mailbag questions at the end of the show.

Be sure to tune in this Sunday to theF4WOnline YouTubefor the Mat Men Royal Rumble Watch Along!  Also, Check out Mat Men onYouTube. 

Right click save

Edge returning to the ring in WWE men’s Royal Rumble match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

For the second straight year, Edge is returning to the ring in the Royal Rumble.

On Monday’s go-home episode of Raw, Edge made his return to WWE television and announced that he’s entering Sunday’s men’s Royal Rumble match. It will be the first time Edge has wrestled since tearing his triceps while filming his “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” against Randy Orton for Backlash last June.

Edge revealed that he’s entering the Royal Rumble via a pre-taped promo that aired on Monday’s Raw. Edge said his torn triceps was another reminder that everything you hold close can be torn away from you instantly, but you can’t live in that space — you have to fight.

Edge said he knows this year won’t be like 2020’s Royal Rumble. He said the stakes are higher because he knows the window closes for him more and more every day. Edge said he needs to win the Royal Rumble, main event WrestleMania 37, and take back what he never lost when he had to vacate the World Championship when he was forced to retire in 2011.

Edge said when you have a dream there comes a point where you need to fight to make it a reality. Edge said that — even if the dream might be far-fetched — he’ll give everything he has to make it happen. Edge said a world without dreamers and fighters would be a much less magical place. Edge quoted Henry Ford by saying that if you think you can do something or think that you can’t do something, you’ll end up being right. Edge declared that he thinks he can.

Last year’s men’s Royal Rumble match saw Edge make his surprise return to the ring for the first time since retiring in 2011.

After appearing in last year’s Royal Rumble, Edge defeated Orton in a Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania 36. Orton then defeated Edge at Backlash.

The Royal Rumble main card will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern time this Sunday. The pre-show will start at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Here’s the updated list of announced Royal Rumble entrants:

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Daniel Bryan
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley
  • AJ Styles
  • Randy Orton
  • Otis
  • The Miz
  • Jey Uso
  • Cesaro
  • Jeff Hardy
  • Intercontinental Champion Big E
  • Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Sami Zayn
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champion Dolph Ziggler
  • John Morrison
  • Sheamus
  • Mustafa Ali
  • Edge

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Nia Jax
  • Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair
  • Bianca Belair
  • Bayley
  • Mandy Rose
  • Dana Brooke
  • Peyton Royce
  • Alexa Bliss
  • Shayna Baszler
  • Ruby Riott
  • Liv Morgan
  • Tamina

Women’s Tag Team title match added to WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Women’s Tag Team titles will be on the line at Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

WWE has announced that Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair & Asuka will defend their titles against former champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler at the Royal Rumble this coming Sunday. Charlotte & Asuka won the Women’s Tag Team titles from Jax & Baszler at December’s TLC PPV.

Jax, Baszler & Lacey Evans defeated Charlotte, Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke in a six-woman tag match on Raw’s go-home show for the Royal Rumble tonight. Charlotte vs. Baszler first took place on the episode but ended in a disqualification when Jax attacked Charlotte as she was going to put Baszler in the Figure Eight. The six-woman tag match had to be restarted after it initially ended in a countout when Baszler didn’t get back into the ring in time.

Charlotte, Jax, and Baszler have all declared for the women’s Royal Rumble match and will be pulling double duty at the PPV. There’s been dissension between Jax and Baszler over them both being entrants in the Royal Rumble.

Asuka also currently holds the Raw Women’s Championship.

The Royal Rumble main card will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. There will be a pre-show starting at 6 p.m. Eastern.

The Royal Rumble will also feature the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches, Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship, Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match for the Universal Championship, and Sasha Banks vs. Carmella for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Plus, Bad Bunny will perform his hit song “Booker T” live.

WWE to reveal first women’s Royal Rumble entrants, 30th men’s entrant

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Some information about the 2021 men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches will be revealed on WWE Backstage’s preview special for the pay-per-view.

WWE has announced that the two wrestlers who will be kicking off the women’s Royal Rumble match as the first and second entrants will be announced on WWE Backstage’s Royal Rumble preview special. The wrestler who will be entering the men’s Royal Rumble match last at number 30 will also be revealed on the special.

The WWE Backstage special premieres on FS1 at 8 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday, which is the night before the Royal Rumble. The special is being hosted by Renee Paquette (formerly known as Renee Young in WWE), Booker T, and Paige.

The special will also re-air on FS1 at midnight Eastern time the night it premieres and at 5 p.m. Eastern on the day of the Royal Rumble.

This will be the first episode of WWE Backstage since weekly production of the studio show was ended last June. It was noted at the time that the show could return with occasional episodes surrounding major WWE events.

Here’s the updated list of announced entrants for the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches:

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Daniel Bryan
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley
  • AJ Styles
  • Randy Orton
  • Otis
  • The Miz
  • Jey Uso
  • Cesaro
  • Jeff Hardy
  • Intercontinental Champion Big E
  • Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Sami Zayn
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champion Dolph Ziggler
  • John Morrison
  • Sheamus
  • Mustafa Ali

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Nia Jax
  • Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair
  • Bianca Belair
  • Bayley
  • Mandy Rose
  • Dana Brooke
  • Peyton Royce
  • Alexa Bliss
  • Shayna Baszler
  • Ruby Riott
  • Liv Morgan
  • Tamina

John Morrison, Sheamus set for WWE men’s Royal Rumble match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has confirmed a couple of new entrants for the 2021 men’s Royal Rumble match.

Ahead of Monday’s go-home episode of Raw, WWE announced that John Morrison and Sheamus will both be taking part in the men’s Royal Rumble match this coming Sunday. Morrison’s tag team partner The Miz, who also holds the Money in the Bank briefcase, had already been confirmed for the Rumble match.

With 15 entrants announced, half of the men’s Royal Rumble field has now been revealed.

The Royal Rumble main card will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. There will also be a pre-show starting at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Here’s the updated list of entrants for the Royal Rumble matches:

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Daniel Bryan
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley
  • AJ Styles
  • Randy Orton
  • Otis
  • The Miz
  • Jey Uso
  • Cesaro
  • Jeff Hardy
  • Intercontinental Champion Big E (included in a graphic of entrants on SmackDown last Friday but has yet to be added to WWE.com’s list of participants)
  • Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Sami Zayn
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champion Dolph Ziggler
  • John Morrison
  • Sheamus

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Nia Jax
  • Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair
  • Bianca Belair
  • Bayley
  • Mandy Rose
  • Dana Brooke
  • Peyton Royce
  • Alexa Bliss
  • Shayna Baszler
  • Ruby Riott
  • Liv Morgan
  • Tamina

Bad Bunny to perform ‘Booker T’ live at WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view will include a special pro wrestling-inspired musical performance.

WWE has announced that Bad Bunny “will perform his hit single ‘Booker T’ off his new album ‘El Último Tour Del Mundo’ live for the first time” at the Royal Rumble this coming Sunday. The song is named after WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, who appears in its music video. After being released at the beginning of this month, the video currently has more than 39 million views on YouTube.

“Bad Bunny’s most recent and third album of 2020, ‘El Último Tour Del Mundo’ debuted at #1 on the ‘Billboard 200’ chart, the first all-Spanish-language album to reach #1 in the 64-year history of the all-genre chart, as well as #1 on Apple Music’s global ‘Top Albums’ chart for all genres,” WWE.com wrote.

“Performing at the Royal Rumble is a childhood dream come true,” said Bad Bunny. “I have been a lifelong fan of WWE and I am excited to take the stage and entertain fans around the world.”

“Bad Bunny is at the top of the music industry, and a pop culture icon with strong ties to WWE and our fans around the world,” said Neil Lawi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, WWE Music Group. “We are thrilled to provide a global platform for his first-ever live performance of ‘Booker T’ as we kick off the road to WrestleMania.”

The Royal Rumble main card will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. The PPV features the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches, Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship, Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match for the Universal Championship, and Sasha Banks vs. Carmella for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

SmackDown Women’s title match added to WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

Carmella is getting another shot at Sasha Banks’ SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Banks will defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Carmella at the Royal Rumble on Sunday, January 31. The announcement was made on commentary ahead of Banks’ match against Carmella’s sommelier Reginald on Friday’s SmackDown.

On SmackDown last Friday, Banks said she’d give Carmella a title match — as long as she got to face Reginald first. Reginald used his Cirque du Soleil background to evade Banks throughout their match this week, but Banks submitted him with the Banks Statement. Carmella was on commentary during the match and had a glass of champagne knocked out of her hand by Banks. Carmella and Banks also exchanged words after the match.

Banks retained her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Carmella at December’s TLC pay-per-view. Carmella & Bayley defeated Banks & Bianca Belair on SmackDown earlier this month, with Carmella pinning Banks to get the win.

Here’s the updated card for the Royal Rumble:

  • WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends against Goldberg
  • Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match
  • SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defends against Carmella
  • Men’s Royal Rumble match
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match

Seven new entrants announced for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

New entrants have been added to this year’s Royal Rumble matches.

On Friday’s episode of SmackDown, it was announced that Intercontinental Champion Big E, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn, and SmackDown Tag Team Champion Dolph Ziggler will be taking part in this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match. Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Tamina were also added to the list of entrants for the women’s Royal Rumble match.

The men’s Royal Rumble match now has 13 announced entrants. There have been 12 entrants announced for the women’s Royal Rumble match.

The Royal Rumble is taking place on Sunday, January 31. Here’s the updated list of entrants for the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches:

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Daniel Bryan
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley
  • AJ Styles
  • Randy Orton
  • Otis
  • The Miz
  • Jey Uso
  • Cesaro
  • Jeff Hardy
  • Intercontinental Champion Big E
  • Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Sami Zayn
  • SmackDown Tag Team Champion Dolph Ziggler

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Nia Jax
  • Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair
  • Bianca Belair
  • Bayley
  • Mandy Rose
  • Dana Brooke
  • Peyton Royce
  • Alexa Bliss
  • Shayna Baszler
  • Ruby Riott
  • Liv Morgan
  • Tamina

Alexa Bliss set for WWE women’s Royal Rumble match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The 2021 men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches now both have nine confirmed entrants.

On tonight’s episode of Raw, Alexa Bliss declared that she’s entering this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match. Bliss made the announcement during an Alexa’s Playground segment where Raw Women’s Champion Asuka appeared as her guest. Bliss pointed out that she could potentially challenge Asuka at WrestleMania.

Bliss defeated Asuka in a non-title match in tonight’s main event.

It was also officially announced on tonight’s Raw that Shayna Baszler will be in the women’s Royal Rumble match. Baszler had indicated last month that she was declaring for the Royal Rumble.

Peyton Royce and Jeff Hardy also declared for their respective Royal Rumble matches today.

The Royal Rumble is taking place on Sunday, January 31. Here’s the updated list of entrants for the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches:

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Daniel Bryan
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley
  • AJ Styles
  • Randy Orton
  • Otis
  • The Miz
  • Jey Uso
  • Cesaro
  • Jeff Hardy

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Nia Jax
  • Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair
  • Bianca Belair
  • Bayley
  • Mandy Rose
  • Dana Brooke
  • Peyton Royce
  • Alexa Bliss
  • Shayna Baszler

Peyton Royce confirmed for WWE women’s Royal Rumble match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has confirmed another new Royal Rumble entrant.

It was announced ahead of tonight’s Raw that Peyton Royce has declared for the 2021 women’s Royal Rumble match. Jeff Hardy also declared for this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match today.

“BREAKING NEWS: The ‘Superstar to watch in 2021’ Relentless Royce is officially entering the #RoyalRumble,” Royce tweeted.

Royce & Lacey Evans defeated Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka & Charlotte Flair in a non-title match on Raw Legends Night two weeks ago after Ric Flair tripped Charlotte. Evans, who was flirting with Ric Flair, again got help from Ric on Raw last week and defeated Charlotte in a singles match. 

The Royal Rumble is taking place on Sunday, January 31. Here’s the updated list of announced entrants for both Royal Rumble matches:

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Daniel Bryan
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley
  • AJ Styles
  • Randy Orton
  • Otis
  • The Miz
  • Jey Uso
  • Cesaro
  • Jeff Hardy

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Nia Jax
  • Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair
  • Bianca Belair
  • Bayley
  • Mandy Rose
  • Dana Brooke
  • Peyton Royce

Jeff Hardy declares for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Image: WWE

Ahead of tonight’s Raw, WWE announced a new entrant for the 2021 men’s Royal Rumble match.

WWE posted a video on Monday where Jeff Hardy declared that he’s entering this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match. Hardy said he’s done a lot of things in his career, but one thing he hasn’t done that he wants to do is win a Royal Rumble.

Hardy defeated his rival Elias on Raw last week. Elias initially claimed to have a debilitating thumb injury and said Hardy would have to face Jaxson Ryker instead. Ryker quickly defeated Hardy due to a distraction by Elias. Ryker rolled up Hardy while holding onto his pants for extra leverage. Hardy then challenged Elias to face him and said Elias was afraid that people would see that Ryker is better than him.

The Royal Rumble is taking place on Sunday, January 31. Here’s the updated list of announced entrants for the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches:

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Daniel Bryan
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley
  • AJ Styles
  • Randy Orton
  • Otis
  • The Miz
  • Jey Uso
  • Cesaro
  • Jeff Hardy

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Nia Jax
  • Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair
  • Bianca Belair
  • Bayley
  • Mandy Rose
  • Dana Brooke

Two new entrants declare for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Two new entrants have declared for the 2021 men’s Royal Rumble match.

It was announced on tonight’s episode of SmackDown that Jey Uso and Cesaro will both be entrants in this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match. The Royal Rumble is taking place on Sunday, January 31.

Tonight’s SmackDown opened with Uso cutting a promo where he declared for the Royal Rumble. Uso said he’ll win the Royal Rumble, go to Raw, and defeat either Drew McIntyre or Goldberg for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Uso said he and his family are the whole WWE. 

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Uso on tonight’s SmackDown. Cesaro joined the commentary team during the match and announced that he’s declaring for the Royal Rumble as well. Cesaro said that if he wins the Royal Rumble, he’ll challenge for Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship at WrestleMania and get revenge for Reigns and Uso’s attack on Nakamura from last week.

Cesaro later defeated Daniel Bryan on tonight’s SmackDown.

Reigns is defending his Universal Championship against Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match at the Royal Rumble.

Here’s the updated list of entrants for the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches:

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Daniel Bryan
  • United States Champion Bobby Lashley
  • AJ Styles
  • Randy Orton
  • Otis
  • The Miz
  • Jey Uso
  • Cesaro

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Nia Jax
  • Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair
  • Bianca Belair
  • Bayley
  • Mandy Rose
  • Dana Brooke

Owens replacing Pearce in WWE Royal Rumble Universal title match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Adam Pearce isn’t going to be Universal Champion Roman Reigns’ Royal Rumble challenger after all.

Tonight’s episode of SmackDown ended with the announcement that Reigns will defend his Universal Championship against Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match at the Royal Rumble. The pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, January 31.

Tonight’s SmackDown was built around Reigns and Pearce signing the contract for their title match at the Royal Rumble. After the contract was signed, Pearce pointed out that standard WWE contracts say the card is subject to change. Pearce claimed that he had an old knee injury flaring up and said that — as a WWE official — he has the right to find a suitable replacement for the match. He then introduced Owens as Reigns’ new Royal Rumble challenger.

The Last Man Standing stipulation was requested by Reigns when he thought he’d be facing Pearce at the Royal Rumble.

Pearce had been set up as Reigns’ challenger for the Royal Rumble by winning a number one contender’s gauntlet match on SmackDown last week. The storyline was that Reigns forced Pearce into the gauntlet after being upset with Pearce’s recent decision-making. Reigns and Uso attacked Shinsuke Nakamura at the end of the gauntlet match, then Reigns threw Pearce into the ring. Uso superkicked Pearce and put him on top of Nakamura. The referee then counted the pin.

After Owens defeated Uso on the New Year’s Day episode of SmackDown, the show ended with Reigns throwing Owens off a stand and through a table below.

Reigns previously retained the Universal Championship against Owens in tables, ladders, and chairs and steel cage matches. Reigns got help from Uso in both of those matches.

Here’s the updated card for the Royal Rumble:

  • WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends against Goldberg
  • Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match
  • Men’s Royal Rumble match
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match