Tag: WWE Royal Rumble

Kofi Kingston confirmed for WWE Royal Rumble match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match is now up to eight confirmed entrants.

WWE has confirmed that Kofi Kingston will be one of the entrants in the men’s Royal Rumble match this Saturday (January 27). Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, Gunther, and Damian Priest are the other participants who have been announced for the match so far.

This will be the 16th Royal Rumble match that Kingston has competed in during his career.

After the Royal Rumble, Kingston is set to challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental title on Raw next Monday (January 29).

The New Day and Imperium are currently feuding with each other. A tag team match between Kingston & Xavier Woods and Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci on Raw last night ended in a double countout. The teams then continued to brawl, leading to a spot where Kingston and Woods speared Kaiser and Vinci off equipment boxes and through a table.

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida is hosting the Royal Rumble on Saturday. The event streams live on Peacock/WWE Network starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

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

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Cody Rhodes
  • CM Punk
  • Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Bobby Lashley
  • Drew McIntyre
  • Gunther
  • Damian Priest
  • Kofi Kingston

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Bayley
  • Nia Jax
  • Becky Lynch
  • Bianca Belair

Gunther declares for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Intercontinental Champion Gunther has declared his entry into the WWE men’s Royal Rumble match. 

Returning to Raw for the first time since December, Gunther cut a promo on Monday’s episode declaring entry for the 2024 Royal Rumble set for Saturday, January 27. 

The longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of all-time, Gunther becomes the sixth wrestler to declare for the men’s Rumble. Four wrestlers have declared for the women’s Rumble. 

In addition to the Rumble matches, two title matches are currently set for the January 27 event. 

Roman Reigns will put his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on the line against LA Knight, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles in a four-way, while Logan Paul defends the United States Championship against Kevin Owens. 

Royal Rumble will take place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The show airs on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network internationally at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

The current lineup: 

  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton
  • United States Champion Logan Paul defends against Kevin Owens

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Cody Rhodes
  • CM Punk
  • Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Bobby Lashley
  • Drew McIntyre
  • Gunther

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Bayley
  • Nia Jax
  • Becky Lynch
  • Bianca Belair

X-Pac says there’s ‘zero chance’ he’ll be in WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Sean “X-Pac” Waltman is claiming that there’s no chance he’ll be in the 2024 Royal Rumble.

Though he’s been rumored as a potential surprise entrant, Waltman posted a tweet on Thursday saying that there’s “zero chance” he’ll be in the Royal Rumble. Waltman said he can still go in the ring at least for a few minutes, but he won’t be able to get in shape in time for the Rumble.

Waltman wrote:

I can still go at the drop of hat, at least for a few minutes. I can do all my kicks, except the one in the corner & I can do that again with a few weeks training. I’m at least month away from taking my shirt off in public, so zero chance I’ll be in the Rumble.

PWInsider reported on January 2 that there was word going around the WWE Performance Center that Waltman would be at the facility that week.

Waltman hasn’t wrestled since facing Joey Janela at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 6 in 2022. He worked that match with a torn biceps.

In 2019, Waltman was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of D-Generation X.

Royal Rumble 2024 is being held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday, January 27. Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, and Drew McIntyre are the first five wreslers who have been confirmed for the men’s Rumble match.

Bayley, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch, and Bianca Belair have been announced for the women’s Rumble.

Rey Mysterio hoping to return for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio is hoping to be back in the ring in time for the Royal Rumble.

Mysterio has been out of action since undergoing knee surgery in November. The surgery was for a torn meniscus, and Mysterio was expected to be out of action for 6-8 weeks.

During an appearance on Monday’s episode of the Bakers Bantering podcast, Mysterio said he’s hoping to return for the Royal Rumble or shortly after that. The Royal Rumble is taking place from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday, January 27.

“I am really working hard on my physical therapy,” Mysterio said. “I just had knee surgery, thanks to Santos Escobar — and his time will come eventually. And I do hope that I can return for the Rumble, if not shortly after that. But I am working very hard to make my return as soon as possible.”

In storyline, Mysterio’s knee injury was blamed on an attack from Escobar. The two were former stablemates in the LWO. Escobar turned against Mysterio on the November 10 episode of SmackDown.

Mysterio had been working hurt for months before having knee surgery.

While appearing on the Christmas Party episode of K100 with Konnan & Disco Inferno last month, Mysterio said he was in week four of his 6-8 week recovery time.

Mysterio was WWE United States Champion before dropping the title to Logan Paul at Crown Jewel in November.

Drew McIntyre declares for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE’s Drew McIntyre has declared his entry into the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match.

Appearing in the opening segment on Monday’s WWE Raw episode, McIntyre engaged in a promo battle with CM Punk, declaring his entry for the men’s Rumble match in the process. 

Punk has already declared entry for the match, and promised to throw McIntyre out last en route to winning the Rumble and going on to the main event of WrestleMania. 

McIntyre, Punk, Cody Rhodes, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Bobby Lashley are the five men who have declared for this year’s Royal Rumble. The winner will go on to challenge for the championship of his choosing at WrestleMania 40. 

Bayley, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch, and Bianca Belair have declared for the women’s Royal Rumble match with the same stipulation for the winner of that contest. 

Royal Rumble is set for Saturday, January 27 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

In addition to the Rumble matches, Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles on the show in a four-way match, plus Logan Paul will defend the United States Championship against Kevin Owens. 

The updated list of Royal Rumble entrants: 

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Bayley
  • Nia Jax
  • Becky Lynch
  • Bianca Belair

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Cody Rhodes
  • CM Punk
  • Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Bobby Lashley
  • Drew McIntyre

Update on why WWE changed plans for Royal Rumble title match

Posted on by Ian Carey

A four-way match for the WWE Universal Championship at Royal Rumble 2024 was not the original plan.

On Friday’s SmackDown, Nick Aldis informed Paul Heyman that Roman Reigns will have to defend his title against LA Knight, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles on the PLE. 

Our own Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that a singles match between Reigns and Orton was the original plan but there was concern over beating Orton.

Meltzer said:

The original idea was Roman and Randy Orton for the Rumble and essentially there were parties involved who did not want to beat Randy Orton this early and just felt that there is money to be made with Roman and Randy Orton in a program at some point but it’s too soon to do it.

He continued

LA Knight just got beat and AJ isn’t strong enough. I think AJ was the guy that they probably would have wanted because Roman can beat him. 

I mean, I presume AJ is going to be the one who is going to lose. Maybe not, it could be LA. 

The basic gist is AJ gives them someone to beat, LA gives them someone to beat. 

Bianca Belair, Bobby Lashley declare for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Two new entrants have declared for this year’s WWE Royal Rumble matches. 

On Friday’s SmackDown show, Bianca Belair declared her entry for the women’s Royal Rumble, while Bobby Lashley announced his entry into the men’s Rumble match. 

Belair won the 2021 women’s Roya Rumble match and headlined night one of WrestleMania 37 against Sasha Banks for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. 

Lashley is the fourth confirmed entrant for the men’s Rumble match along with CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Shinsuke Nakamura. Belair joins Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, and Bayley as confirmed women’s Rumble entrants. 

Belair and Bayley will go one-on-one on next week’s SmackDown episode.

Royal Rumble 2024 will be held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday, January 27. 

In addition to the men’s and women’s Rumble matches, Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a four-way against AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and LA Knight at the show, plus Logan Paul will defend the United States Championship against Kevin Owens. 

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Bayley
  • Nia Jax
  • Becky Lynch
  • Bianca Belair

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Cody Rhodes
  • CM Punk
  • Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Bobby Lashley

Roman Reigns to defend title in fatal four-way match at WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Roman Reigns will have three title challengers at the Royal Rumble.

WWE has announced that Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles in a fatal four-way match at the Royal Rumble. The match was made after Reigns disrupted a number one contender’s bout on SmackDown’s New Year’s Revolution episode.

Orton vs. Knight vs. Styles headlined tonight’s SmackDown. It was supposed to determine Reigns’ Royal Rumble challenger, but Reigns and The Bloodline interfered in the match and attacked all three competitors.

Reigns stood triumphant at the end of the show after The Bloodline laid out Orton, Knight, and Styles, but SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis informed Paul Heyman that Reigns will now have to defend his title in a fatal four-way match at the Rumble.

A power struggle between Reigns and Aldis has been building in recent weeks. Reigns wasn’t happy that Aldis made the Orton vs. Knight vs. Styles number one contender’s match without running the idea past him first.

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida is hosting the Royal Rumble on Saturday, January 27. Here’s the updated card for the event:

  • Men’s Royal Rumble match
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match
  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles in a fatal four-way match
  • United States Champion Logan Paul defends against Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens to challenge Logan Paul for US title at WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Kevin Owens is first in line for a shot at Logan Paul’s United States title.

Paul will defend his United States Championship against Owens at the Royal Rumble on Saturday, January 27. Owens secured the title shot by winning WWE’s US title number one contender’s tournament.

On SmackDown tonight, Owens defeated Santos Escobar in the tournament finals. Owens defeated Austin Theory in the first round of the tournament and Carmelo Hayes in the semifinals.

Paul was on commentary for the Owens vs. Escobar match. When it ended, he cut a promo making fun of Owens. That resulted in Owens laying Paul out with a punch from his right hand that has a cast on it.

In storyline, Owens has a broken hand after it was targeted by Theory and Grayson Waller last month.

The history between Owens and Paul dates back to when Paul first debuted for WWE in 2021. Owens gave Paul a stunner at WrestleMania 37 that year.

Paul won the United States title from Rey Mysterio at Crown Jewel last November. This will be his first title defense.

The Royal Rumble is being held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The following matches have been confirmed for the show so far:

  • Men’s Royal Rumble match
  • Women’s Royal Rumble match
  • Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles in a fatal four-way match
  • United States Champion Logan Paul defends against Kevin Owens

Becky Lynch, Shinsuke Nakamura declare for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has revealed two new entrants for this year’s Royal Rumble matches.

During WWE’s 2024 Preview Special on Peacock, Becky Lynch and Shinsuke Nakamura declared that they’ll be entering the Royal Rumble. Both are former Rumble winners. Lynch won the women’s Royal Rumble in 2019, while Nakamura won the men’s Royal Rumble in 2018.

Lynch is the third entrant to be confirmed for this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match, joining Bayley and Nia Jax.

Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Nakamura are the first three confirmed men’s Royal Rumble entrants.

Lynch and Jax are currently feuding with each other. Their storyline has referenced the moment in 2018 where Jax broke Lynch’s nose and bloodied her face. WWE attempted to recreate that moment when Jax defeated Lynch on the Day 1 edition of Raw this past Monday. Jax punched Lynch in the face before winning with the Annihilator.

Nakamura is feuding with Rhodes. They’re set to face each other on Raw next Monday (January 8).

Royal Rumble 2024 is being held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday, January 27.

Women’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Bayley
  • Nia Jax
  • Becky Lynch

Men’s Royal Rumble entrants —

  • Cody Rhodes
  • CM Punk
  • Shinsuke Nakamura

Nia Jax declares for WWE women’s Royal Rumble match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A second entrant has declared for the 2024 WWE women’s Royal Rumble match.

Nia Jax announced during Monday’s Raw episode that she will enter the women’s Royal Rumble match set for Saturday, January 27, 2024. 

Jax declared her entry during a promo segment with Becky Lynch on Raw that led to a physical angle between the two where Jax left Lynch laying on the entrance ramp. The two are set to go head-to-head for the first time on the Day 1 episode of Raw on January 1, 2024. 

The winner of the Royal Rumble can call their shot as to which title holder they will challenge at WrestleMania 40. The other confirmed women’s entrant, Bayley, has already stated her intention to challenge current Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley in spite of Bayley being on the SmackDown brand. Ripley is on the Raw brand, while IYO SKY holds the WWE Women’s Championship on the SmackDown side.

Ripley’s next title challenger was also announced on Raw, as Ripley will defend against Ivy Nile at Day 1.

Here’s the list of confirmed 2024 Royal Rumble entrants:

Men’s Royal Rumble match —

  • Cody Rhodes
  • CM Punk

Women’s Royal Rumble match —

  • Bayley
  • Nia Jax

Bayley declares for WWE women’s Royal Rumble match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match has its first declared entrant.

On Friday night’s episode of SmackDown, Bayley announced that she’ll be an entrant in the women’s Royal Rumble match. Bayley stated that her being in the Rumble is part of Damage CTRL’s plan to hold all of the women’s gold in WWE. Bayley said she’s going to win the Rumble and then challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40.

Damage CTRL’s IYO SKY is the WWE Women’s Champion. Bayley said The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) are going after the Women’s Tag Team titles.

Bayley said:

Because now is the time for Damage CTRL to hold all the gold. And that starts with the most dangerous tag team in the division, The Kabuki Warriors, winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. And me entering the 2024 Royal Rumble, winning, and taking Rhea Ripley’s championship. And finally my dream will become a reality.

Damage CTRL (Bayley, SKY, Asuka & Sane) are facing Bianca Belair, Zelina Vega, Michin & Shotzi in a Holiday Havoc eight-woman tag match on SmackDown next Friday.

While Bayley has declared for the women’s Royal Rumble, it appears that one of WWE’s other top stars won’t be able to compete in the match. It was announced on SmackDown last night that Charlotte Flair will be out of action for nine months due to a knee injury. Charlotte suffered the injury while facing Asuka on SmackDown last week.

Here’s the updated list of confirmed 2024 Royal Rumble entrants:

Men’s Royal Rumble match —

  • Cody Rhodes
  • CM Punk

Women’s Royal Rumble match —

  • Bayley

Roman Reigns vs. LA Knight not planned for WWE Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Roman Reigns’ next title defense isn’t currently planned to be a rematch against LA Knight.

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Reigns vs. Knight isn’t scheduled to take place at the Royal Rumble. Meltzer noted that there are people who believe Knight should be in that spot, but Paul “Triple H” Levesque has another plan as of now.

Meltzer wrote:

We were told that as of this time Reigns vs. Knight is not the title match at Rumble. That is Reigns’ next match. There are those who feel it should be Knight in that spot but we were told Levesque has another plan right now.

Reigns retained his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship by defeating Knight at Crown Jewel earlier this month. Interference by The Bloodline cost Knight the match.

Knight defeated Jimmy Uso on last week’s SmackDown. After the match, there was an angle where Cody Rhodes saved Knight from a beatdown by Uso and Solo Sikoa.

Neither Reigns nor Knight has a match scheduled for this Saturday’s Survivor Series premium live event.

The Royal Rumble is taking place from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

WWE received $500,000 from local Florida tourism board to host Royal Rumble

Posted on by Josh Nason

The St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida tourism board spent $500,000 to bring this January’s WWE Royal Rumble to Tropicana Field, beating out Orlando’s considerably higher bid.

Speaking to The Catalyst, board PR director Jason Latimer revealed the number, saying the money came from tourism development tax funding which was accrued from hotel stays throughout Pinellas County.

The board is expecting over 40,000 fans for the event. County Commissioner Chris Latvala said last week that the Royal Rumble could break the attendance record at the stadium which is currently 47,150 for a 1990 New Kids on the Block concert.

“This is history-making,” Latvala added. “Not just for Pinellas County, but for the Tampa Bay area.”

The board did not release any economic projections, but has lofty expectations for the short and long-term impact the event could bring, according to board CEO Brian Lowack.

“The exposure and marketing benefits, and the visitation we’re going to get from this, are astronomical,” Lowack said. “We can take those monies that we collect from those visitors in their overnight stays and reinvest them in capital projects here, which will increase visitation.”

The dollar amount is less than the city of Orlando’s $850,000 bid for the same event that would have been held at Camping World Stadium. They projected a potential $28 million economic impact on the city.

The revealed number is the latest in what WWE CEO Nick Khan has promised on previous quarterly shareholder calls: site fees from cities to host WWE pay-per-views/premium live events.

Recent examples include nearly $3 million from the Welsh government for September 2022’s Clash at the Castle and $1.8 million in cash and subsidies from the Puerto Rico government for this past May’s Backlash.

WWE reveals ticket on-sale date for Royal Rumble

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has revealed when Royal Rumble tickets will be going on sale.

Tickets for Royal Rumble 2024 are going on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Eastern time on Friday, October 20. There will be a ticket pre-sale prior to that date.

Royal Rumble 2024 is being held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday, January 27. The venue is a baseball stadium that’s home to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tropicana Field also hosted the Royal Rumble in 2021, but that was during the pandemic era when there were no fans in attendance. Tropicana Field was one of the venues in Florida that hosted the WWE ThunderDome.

Aside from 2021, this is the first time the Royal Rumble has been held in the Tampa area since 1995.

The post-Royal Rumble episode of WWE Raw is taking place at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Monday, January 29.

The Royal Rumble will be headlined by a men’s Royal Rumble match and women’s Royal Rumble match.