Tag: Royal Rumble 2023

Gunther reflects on WWE Royal Rumble moment with Brock Lesnar

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Gunther is hoping that a match against Brock Lesnar happens at some point. 

During an appearance on The Rob Brown Show last week, Gunther spoke about the moment he had with Brock Lesnar in this year’s men’s Royal Rumble match. The two went face-to-face in the match before Gunther delivered a chop and strikes to Lesnar.

Gunther responded when asked about sharing the ring with Lesnar in the Royal Rumble:

Of course, I wanted to. I mean, Brock is a one-in-a-million guy or one in 10 million or something like that. I always liked those guys that just stood out from the pack. I stopped watching wrestling for a while when I was a teenager and then I got back into it again when I started training. There was a time when Brock was young but he was wrestling Eddie [Guerrero] and Big Show and Kurt Angle and stuff, and the guy was fantastic. A beast. I always loved his matches and was always very impressed with that. And also with the recent years in WWE, I always thought it would be a thing for a wrestler and my style and stuff, that’s my end boss, if that makes sense. I get portrayed as the end boss in wrestling for a lot of guys, but I think Brock could be my end boss. I really hope that match goes down at some point.

Gunther entered the men’s Rumble at number one and made it all the way to the final two before being eliminated by Cody Rhodes.

Lesnar was eliminated by Bobby Lashley in the Rumble, continuing the feud between the two.

Gunther is the current WWE Intercontinental Champion. On SmackDown this Friday, Rey Mysterio, Karrion Kross, Santos Escobar, and Madcap Moss will face off in a fatal four-way match to determine the number one contender for Gunther’s title.

Wrestling Observer Live: Jay Briscoe celebration of life, Royal Rumble 2023 fallout!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including the Jay Briscoe celebration of life, tons of fallout from the Royal Rumble including thoughts on all the matches and angles, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WWE Royal Rumble sets live gate, viewership records

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Royal Rumble 2023 was a record-breaking success for WWE.

WWE issued a press release today touting that this year’s Royal Rumble set live gate and viewership records for the event. The show, which took place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, generated $7.7 million in ticket sales. That’s up more than 50 percent from the previous record, which was set in 2017 when the Royal Rumble was also held at the Alamodome.

The Royal Rumble was up 52 percent from last year’s previous record Rumble viewership. Both the 2023 and 2022 versions of the event aired on Peacock.

“In addition, the 2023 Royal Rumble broke all-time venue merchandise and sponsorship records. Merchandise sales were up 135 percent versus the record set in 2022. Royal Rumble sponsorship revenue was up nearly 200 percent versus 2022 and featured the first-ever sponsored match (Mtn Dew Pitch Black) and sponsored countdown clock (Applebee’s),” WWE wrote.

“On social, the Roman Reigns-Sami Zayn videos generated 20 million-plus views across all WWE platforms and became the most-viewed WWE clip of 2023. Additional highlights include Logan Paul and Ricochet’s high-flying collision which amassed 26.5 million views across WWE and Paul’s platforms, and the launch of Reigns’ TikTok account which netted 100K followers in the first 24 hours.”

Saturday’s pay-per-view featured Cody Rhodes winning the men’s Royal Rumble match and Rhea Ripley winning the women’s Royal Rumble match. Reigns retained his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Kevin Owens in the main event of the PPV, leading to an angle where Zayn split from The Bloodline.

Rhea Ripley wins women’s WWE Royal Rumble match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Rhea Ripley is going to WrestleMania.

After entering the match at number one, Ripley went the distance to win the women’s Royal Rumble match at Saturday’s pay-per-view. Ripley, Liv Morgan, and the returning Asuka were the final three wrestlers left at the end of the match.

Asuka went to spit mist into Ripley’s face when all three were on the apron, but she accidentally hit Morgan. Ripley then eliminated Asuka. Morgan tried to fight on despite being blinded by the mist, but Ripley eliminated her to get the victory.

Ripley and Morgan both started and ended the match. They each lasted more than an hour, with Ripley setting the record for the longest time anyone has ever spent in a women’s Royal Rumble match.

Ripley had six eliminations during the match and was also involved in eliminating Nia Jax, who returned to WWE for the first time since being released in November 2021. There was a spot during the Rumble where Ripley laid out Jax with Riptide.

Earlier in the night, there was a moment during the men’s Rumble where Beth Phoenix gave Ripley a spear on the stage. Phoenix was getting revenge after being hit with a con-chair-to by Ripley at Extreme Rules last October. Edge returned during the men’s Rumble and continued his feud with Judgment Day.

WWE hasn’t revealed which Women’s title Ripley will be challenging for at WrestleMania 39. Bianca Belair is the current Raw Women’s Champion and Charlotte Flair is the current SmackDown Women’s Champion.

WrestleMania 39 is taking place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2.

Pat McAfee returns to WWE commentary at Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

Pat McAfee tweeted after the Royal Rumble: “That was awesome. Massive thank you to the folks of the WWE Universe that were in that AlamoDome.. I’ll remember that ‘hello’ forever. So grateful to be back tonight..shahtaht @MichaelCole & @WWEGraves. GREAT to see the WWE family backstage again. I’ve missed everyone

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Pat McAfee is back in the WWE broadcast booth.

Saturday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view opened with McAfee making his surprise return to WWE commentary. He joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves to form a three-man commentary team for the PPV.

McAfee had been away from WWE since accepting a position with ESPN’s College GameDay last September. When WWE announced new commentary teams in October, it was stated that McAfee would return to the announce desk following his GameDay commitments.

Wade Barrett was introduced as Cole’s new broadcast partner on SmackDown when the new commentary teams debuted in October. Barrett previously was part of the NXT announce team.

McAfee joined SmackDown as a color commentator in April 2021. In July 2022, McAfee signed a multi-year extension of his WWE contract.

McAfee has wrestled five matches for WWE in the past. He was in action at both WrestleMania and SummerSlam last year. McAfee defeated Austin Theory and lost to Vince McMahon at WrestleMania. At SummerSlam, he defeated Baron Corbin.

Wrestling Observer Live: Jay Briscoe tribute, Dynamite, Royal Rumble potential roster, more

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including the Jay Briscoe tribute Dynamite last night, how many women are actually available for a Royal Rumble that has only 7 announced at the moment, all the news and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss title match added to WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Raw Women’s Championship will be on the line at the Royal Rumble event on Saturday, January 28. 

In a bout announced during Monday’s Raw, Bianca Belair will defend the Raw Women’s title against Alexa Bliss at the Rumble. Belair offered Bliss a title rematch in a promo segment on Raw, and Bliss accepted. 

Belair’s last title defense also came against Bliss at the January 2 Raw in Nashville, where she retained the title via DQ. 

Belair has held the Raw Women’s title since night one of WrestleMania 38 on April 2, 2022.

The updated Royal Rumble lineup: 

WWE Royal Rumble, Saturday, January 28, 8 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock & WWE Network —

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens
  • Raw Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair (c) vs. Alexa Bliss
  • Mountain Dew Pitch Black match: Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight
  • Men’s Royal Rumble match: 
      • Cody Rhodes
      • Omos
      • Rey Mysterio
      • Gunther
      • Seth Rollins
      • Bobby Lashley
      • Baron Corbin
      • Austin Theory
      • Santos Escobar
      • Kofi Kingston
      • Ricochet
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match: 
      • Liv Morgan
      • Rhea Ripley
      • Raquel Rodriguez
      • Candice LeRae

Five new entrants confirmed for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Five wrestlers declared their intention to enter the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches on Monday’s WWE Raw show. 

Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, and Austin Theory declared their entry into the men’s Rumble match during a promo segment on Raw. They join Ricochet and Kofi Kingston as confirmed entrants in the Rumble set for Saturday, January 28. 

For the women’s Rumble match, Rhea Ripley and Candice LeRae confirmed their entry in a backstage promo on Monday’s show. They join Liv Morgan as confirmed entrants for the women’s Rumble. 

The winners of the Royal Rumble matches will earn title matches at WrestleMania 39 set for Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2. 

The updated Royal Rumble lineup: 

WWE Royal Rumble, Saturday, January 28, 8 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock and WWE Network —

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens
  • Mountain Dew Pitch Black match: Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight
  • Men’s Royal Rumble match:
      • Ricochet
      • Kofi Kingston
      • Seth Rollins
      • Bobby Lashley 
      • Austin Theory
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match:
      • Liv Morgan
      • Rhea Ripley
      • Candice LeRae

Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens title match set for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Kevin Owens is getting a shot at Roman Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

During tonight’s episode of SmackDown, it was confirmed that Owens will challenge for Reigns’ Undisputed title at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view on Saturday, January 28. The PPV is being held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Owens teamed with John Cena to defeat Reigns & Sami Zayn in a tag team match on SmackDown last Friday. Owens won the match by pinning Zayn after hitting a stunner. Reigns had been taken out with an Attitude Adjustment from Cena.

When The Bloodline opened SmackDown tonight, Reigns claimed that he didn’t lose last week — Zayn was the one who lost. Reigns was unhappy that Zayn called his shot and failed to come through. He accused Zayn of wanting to be the Tribal Chief.

Owens then made his way out and said Reigns’ problem isn’t with Zayn, it’s with Owens. After Owens issued a challenge for a title match at the Royal Rumble, Reigns accepted. Owens said he’d see Reigns at the Royal Rumble — and he’ll see Zayn whenever Zayn manages to dig his balls out of Reigns’ pocket.

Owens also faced Reigns for the Universal Championship at Royal Rumble 2021. Reigns defeated him at that PPV to retain.

The updated card for this year’s Royal Rumble is listed below:

  • Men’s Royal Rumble match
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match
  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Kevin Owens
  • Mtn. Dew Pitch Black match: Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight

Tag title match, Royal Rumble qualifier set for next WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Ethan Renner

An Undisputed Tag Team Championship bout, plus a Royal Rumble qualifying match have been announced for next week’s WWE SmackDown. 

In a match rescheduled from the December 9 SmackDown, The Usos will defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus. McIntyre returned to WWE television this week after missing a month due to injury. 

Also announced for next week, Ricochet will face Hit Row’s Top Dolla in a Royal Rumble qualifying match. The bout was set up in a backstage segment on this week’s SmackDown in a promo where the babyface roster was mocking Top Dolla for botching a dive on last week’s show. Top Dolla took most of the mocking good naturedly, but took exception to Ricochet joining in and the two were pulled apart. 

The lineup for the January 6 SmackDown: 

  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship: The Usos (c) vs. Drew McIntyre & Sheamus
  • Royal Rumble qualifying match: Ricochet vs. Top Dolla

‘Pitch Black match’ advertised for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

WWE has confirmed that the Mtn Dew Pitch Black match is coming to the Royal Rumble PPV.

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A new match type may be making its debut at the Royal Rumble.

A commercial airing during videos on WWE’s YouTube channel has seemingly indicated that the first-ever “Pitch Black match” will take place at next month’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The advertisement is a tie-in for Mtn Dew’s Pitch Black flavor, which is returning to stores in January.

“When it’s the Pitch Black match, anything can happen,” the advertisement says.

WrestlingNews.co reported last month that a Pitch Black match taking place at the Royal Rumble was a possibility.

“We were told about a pitch that was made for a ‘Pitch Black’ match and it was being seriously considered for the show,” the report said. “The source did not have any more details on the structure/rules of the match but one source in the company believes that the match is for Bray Wyatt.”

Wyatt, who is currently feuding with LA Knight, hasn’t wrestled since making his return to WWE at Extreme Rules.

Royal Rumble 2023 is being held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, January 28.

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 has broken largest gate record in event history

Posted on by Ian Carey

WWE says the 2023 Royal Rumble has already broken records. 

The company sent out a press release on Monday stating that next year’s event has broken the largest gate record in Royal Rumble history. 

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 – slated for Saturday, January 28 – has broken the company’s record for largest gate in the event’s 36-year history.

Over the weekend, Royal Rumble surpassed the $5M mark and previous record holder from 2017 – the last time the event was held at San Antonio’s AlamoDome.

This carries a 2022 trend into 2023 where WWE set gate records for many of its events, including WrestleMania, Extreme Rules and Crown Jewel.

On the WWE Investors call earlier this month, Nick Khan noted that the 2023 Royal Rumble had grossed more than $4.6 million at the time.

As of November 18, WrestleTix is reporting that 30,361 tickets have been distributed to the event. 4,186 of those are available on the secondary market. If WWE has surpassed the $5 million mark for the event, that puts the average ticket cost in the area of $164 depending on how many tickets were sold over the weekend. 

Currently on Ticketmaster, the cheapest ticket available (The get-in price) is under $50. The most expensive tickets available are in the $3300 range. The most expensive ticket currently available through Ticketmaster’s verified resale program is over $5000.