WWE Royal Rumble Review – 01.31.26

Tonight, it’s the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble! This is the first time the mainline Rumble event has happened outside of the United States since the inaugural 1988 edition in Canada, though we did have the Greatest Royal Rumble as our first Saudi event back in 2018. This time we’re in Riyadh in an arena that was built in a month. Seems safe!

For those of you who don’t usually read my reviews, shame on you but also I don’t do star ratings. Don’t worry, Dave will toss some out in a week if you need to discuss such things. I’ll tell you how I enjoyed the match and how I recommend it, but giving matches a grade is not my style.

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER.

This is Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Next year it hosts Mania but tonight it gets a Rumble. A month ago this was a vacant lot, now it’s a full facility. Wonder how that happened! This is the Riyadh Season Stadium officially.

Arrivals presented by Wingstop! Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss have arrived; can their friendship withstand the Rumble? The women of the Judgment Day are here and all hope to win. Nia Jax and Lash Legend are in. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley are all smiles. Is this the last night for AJ Styles? He and Gunther have both arrived. A RAM truck pulls up with Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. He’s facing this guy playing soccer, Sami Zayn. WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque is here because of course he is and his arrival to this show is very important. Last year’s Rumble winner WWE World Tag Team Champion Jey Uso has arrived, as has Jacob Fatu and Je’Von Evans. Cody Rhodes is weaning his finest suspenders.

Opening video package. You’ll never guess who narrates it and is the first person we see, walking though highlights of others winning the Rumble. That’s right, our good friend Triple H, the most important person on the show. When Triple H isn’t on the screen, we should all be asking where he is.

Fireworks explode over the rather large entrance stage which does look nice. We’re at a sold-out Riyadh Season Stadium with over 20,000 fans expected tonight. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett greet us from ringside as do our Arabic announce team, Faisal Bin Mughaisib and Jude Aldajani . An early thing to note is that a lot of the seats have lights on them which don’t help show the fans but rather hide them, like that first Netflix Raw. For what it is worth it DOES look like people are in most of those seats. Our ring announcer tonight, for his first Rumble, is Mark Nash.

Women’s Royal Rumble Match

I had to wear a bodysuit just to review this show. We’re doing 90-second intervals this year. #1 is Charlotte Flair, starting us off. We have the same bar of stats at the bottom as last year, showing entrant numbers, home countries and assorted facts. The women’s Rumble is brought to you by Intuit TurboTax. #2 is Alexa Bliss as we have partners colliding. Alexa is giving us smiles while Charlotte looks conflicted. Alexa wants to wait for #3, Charlotte points to the WrestleMania sign and scoops Alexa onto the turnbuckle. Alexa teases Sister Abigail but lets Charlotte out, Charlotte teases the Figure-8 before they just wait for #3. #3 is Kiana James, our first “who is this because Def Rebel music sucks” of the night. Her purse matches her bodysuit. The crowd are pretty hyped for what is happening though and she hits a Codebreaker on Charlotte and springboards onto Bliss. Kiana runs into a Charlotte boot and Alexa hits a top-rope blow. #4 is Nia Jax, the all-time women’s leader of eliminations (29) and eliminations in a single Rumble (9). Bliss and Charlotte charge her and she tosses them around. She splashes Flair and Bliss in the corners. Kiana takes a headbutt and Bliss feels a Samoan Drop as does Flair. Jax offers a crotch chop to the fans that are chanting at her.

#5 is Ivy Nile of American Made. The fans give her the “you suck” chant to her music. Ivy offers up kicks to most of the women and a spinning DDT to Kiana. She spinkicks Nia and tries and fails at a powerslam. Jax squishes her in the corner. #6 is Lola Vice of NXT. She should really be on the main roster at this point. This is her first Rumble. She spins some kicks on each woman in the ring and hits a nice German Suplex on Charlotte. She hits the hip attack on Charlotte and Alexa. Wade says he hopes that he sees Nia dance like Lola and then Nia does, delighting Wade. Kiana lifts up Nia on her shoulders and hits her own Samoan Drop. #7 is Candice LeRae. Her last TV match was a Speed match on NXT in September. Former friends Candice and Nia buddy up again. #8 is Jordynne Grace. If you missed her sparkly bodysuit on SmackDown, you might’ve missed the best one of the weekend. She slams down several, then Jordynne Grace eliminates Candice LeRae and Lola Vice. Jordynne Grace uppercuts Ivy and eliminates her. Nia gives Jordynne a stinkface which I’m sure Jordynne will tweet about later. Nia tries to eliminate both Charlotte and Alexa but they stop it. Nia tries to powerbomb Alexa, Alexa counters onto the apron and Charlotte eliminates both Nia and Alexa.

#9 is WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. She refuses to hand her title to Jessika Carr, giving it to a different referee instead. She faces off with fellow Horsewoman Flair, Flair lighting her up with chops. Flair charges at her and is almost tossed. Flair and Lynch battle outside as #10 is Sol Ruca. The fans are very into Sol. She springboards right onto the others. I think the fans actually watch NXT because they’re more into Sol than anyone else thus far. Sol dropkicks both Nia and Kiana. #11 is Roxanne Perez of Judgment Day. Rox swings her arms all around at Charlotte while screaming, though it is debatable how many actually hit. Rox hits the double knees on Ruca as the fans chant that this is awesome. #12 is Maxxine Dupri of Alpha Academy. Becky is not happy to see her and they go right at each other. Maxxine crossbodies Becky from the top and tries to toss her. Maxxine drops the straps – less effective while over a bodysuit – and kicks away at Becky. Sol dodges a Manhandle Slam and German suplexes Becky. #13 is Nattie, with a new RATM-ish mix of her theme. Nattie has been in all nine women’s Rumbles. This is a good presentation for Nattie. Nattie pounds away at Maxxine as the others are all still around brawling out of the spotlight. Becky Manhandle Slams Maxxine and tosses her out. Becky tries to do the same to Nattie and Nattie tosses her, setting up our next Intercontinental program.

#14 is Liv Morgan of Judgment Day, the only other woman to be in all nine women’s Rumbles. Liv hits the suplexes and walks into an uppercut. Liv and Rox double-team Charlotte. #15 is Lash Legend. Hoping she gets a monster performance here. Lash drops Rox and Points To Sign. Charlotte jumps into Lash’s hands as Nattie and Liv fight in the corner. Lash presses Grace out of the match. #16 is Zelina Vega. Lash spins Zelina into Charlotte. #17 is Raquel Rodriguez of Judgment Day, giving us all three members in the ring. She folds Charlotte with a kick as the fans chant for her. The trio go after Lash and then Kiana, Raquel kicking Kiana off the apron. A good showing ofr Kiana. #18 is Chelsea Green (with Alba Fyre). Alba should be in this too, but hey she got the paycheck to fly to Saudi.

Charlotte walks right into the Judgment Day trio, trying to cut a deal with them. The fans also really love Chelsea (deserved). Alba tries to pull her friend out, she gets pulled in instead and clotheslined by out by Raquel. They toss Chelsea into Raquel as well. #19 is WWE Women’s U.S. Champion Giulia. Chelsea is almost tossed by lands on Alba’s back. #20 is WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Iyo Sky. Iyo offers some upppercuts to anyone she can reach and the fans sing for her. Iyo hits a missile dropkick on Raquel and does the finger pointing. #21 is Asuka of the Kabuki Warriors, the winner of the first women’s Rumble. She offers a hand to Giulia who kicks it away but then works with her to take down Iyo. #22 is WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Rhea Ripley to a monster pop as always and a singalong to her theme and a world of pyro. Rhea goes for Liv and then Raquel as the fans chant for Rhea. Chelsea accidentally bumps into Rhea and Giulia kicks Zelina to the floor for elimination. Chelsea salutes Rhea, Rhea salutes back and then knocks Alba down and tosses Green. Rox tries for a PopRox on Rhea but Rhea powers her up into the Razor’s Edge, doing it over the top rope and onto Chelsea and Alba. We’re down one Judgment Day member.

#23 is Bayley who dodges a kick by her Saturday Night’s Main Event opponent Sol. They then team up to battle Lash. Charlotte has been in 41 minutes and counting as Bayley attacks Asuka and Lash in opposite corners. #24 is NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne of Fatal Influence. She and Sol have a NXT faceoff as we have twelve active women. Rhea and Nattie fight for a bit and have a good little sequence. Oblivion eliminates Nattie. #25 is WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella. Nikki fights Liv then resumes her battle with Raquel. #26 is Lyra Valkyria. The fans sing along with her theme. Lyra goes for Liv and then Lash. Giulia hooks a modified octopus onto Lyra, who then eliminates her. #27 is Kelani Jordan who immediately flips onto Jacy. She double-DDTs the Judgment Day and dodges a Rhea kick.

#28 is Kairi Sane of the Kabuki Warriors, both Warriors now in the match and fourteen women currently active. Kairi leaps onto Iyo and saves her partner from Bayley and Lyra. Kairi Points To Sign and they try to toss Rhea who pulls Asuka over. Iyo shoves Kairi into Asuka. Asuka hangs on and yells for Kairi, Kairi misses a dropkick on Iyo and knocks out Asuka instead. That’s not going to end well for Kairi as we hear “KAIIIIRIIIIII” off screen. Iyo tosses Kairi. #29 is WWE Hall of Famer Brie Bella and friends, the fans are into Brie Mode, showering her with “Yes” chants. Brie gives Yes Kicks to Raquel as Michael says “you know who she’s paying homage to.” #30 is Tiffany Stratton, returning at last. We keep seeing fan shots of younger female fans in the crowd reacting to entrances which is a very good way to do things. Tiffy dives onto the field with a Swanton.

We have fourteen active as the entrants are complete. That’s a lot. WrestleMania opponents Charlotte and Tiffany face off but the fight is stopped by Judgment Day. The Judgment Day are surrounded by the Bellas, Bayley and Lyra as the fans sing and wave their flashlights on their phones. The Bellas face off with Lyra and Bayley. “This is awesome.” The Bellas eliminate Lyra and Bayley to “Yes” chants. Their next face-off with with RhIyo, stopped again by the Judgment Day. Jacy eliminates Kelani, Sol hits a Sol Snatcher on Jacy and tosses her. The Bellas try to suplex Lash, she eliminates them both to “No” chants. Charlotte and Lash battle on the apron, Lash eliminates Charlotte with a kick. Lash is on one tonight, Charlotte going out at 59:49 of action. Iyo leaps into Lash’s arms and tries to dump her, Iyo pulls her out on the apron and Iyo hangs onto Lash’s leg, getting stomped to the ringside floor for elimination. Rhea is not happy with her girlfriend being eliminated and faces off with Lash. Raquel kicks Rhea out and takes her turn with Lash. Rhea clotheslines Lash out. Hell of a showing for Lash. Raquel Tejana Bombs Rhea out of the match. Liv dumps her partner Raquel, laughing.

Our final three are Liv, Sol and Tiffany. Liv dodges a Sol Snatcher. Tiffany moonsaults Liv, Sol dodging. Liv tries for Oblivion, Tiffany catches her. Sol gets a double Sol Snatcher and tries to eliminate both women at the same time, all three hanging from the ropes. They battle on the apron, Tiffany slinging Sol into the ringpost. Sol tries for a Sol Snatcher and is tossed, Tiffany runs into Oblivion and hits the floor. Liv Morgan is going to WrestleMania.

Liv Morgan wins the Women’s Royal Rumble. An average to good Rumble, much better than the last few years. There were still too many moments with too many in at once. I’d give Lash the MVP spot of the match. A good showing for Sol and a shoutout to Kiana for some early shine. Liv deserved this, really. We get a replay and on-screen graphics for some former Women’s Rumble winners including Ronda Rousey.

Oba Femi is stretching. We’ll see him in the Men’s Rumble tonight.

Thanks to Linkin Park for “Heavy is the Crown,” the official theme song of the Royal Rumble.

Je”Von Evans is smiling and he’ll be Rumbling later. Here’s a few former winners. The Royal Rumble is presented by DoorDash. Join us for the Post-Show for numerous guests including the man in the center of the graphic and our universe, Triple H.

Career-Threatening Match: Gunther vs AJ Styles

AJ’s career is on the line. This match is presented by Wingstop. I’m told Gunther eats his wings with no seasoning. Women are required to cover their wings in Saudi Arabia. AJ gets a lot of pyro for his entrance. The fans are solidly behind AJ as the match starts. Gunther works a headlock for a bit as Cole covers some of AJ’s career accomplishments. AJ dropkicks big Gunther and the fans sing for him. Gunther chops and they fight outside a bit and Gunther tosses AJ ribs-first into the barricade. Back in, they trade blows and AJ is run into the turnbuckles, holding his ribs. There’s blood on Gunther’s shoulder as we see that AJ has a big, nasty cut on his left forearm. Gunther hooks AJ into a Boston Crab. AJ fights out and Pele Kicks, unable to recover enough for a pin attempt. AJ drops Gunther on his knee for a two. AJ sets up the Styles Clash, Gunther tries to roll through and then clotheslines AJ to the mat for a two.

AJ attempts a Calf Crusher, Gunther grabs the rope to prevent the roll through and chops away at AJ. AJ tries again and this time gets the roll-through but right at the ropes, Gunther grabbing to break the hold. AJ rolls into another Calf Crusher and this time in the center of the ring. Gunther is able to hook around and turn it into a sleeper. Styles works to a vertical base and a sleeper of his own, Gunther whips AJ into the ropes for his sleeper. AJ slings Gunther to the arena floor to buy some time. AJ nails a Phenomenal Forearm to the floor and rolls Gunther back in. Styles heads to the top rope and Gunther chops. AJ slips under and tries a powerbomb, Gunther reverses, AJ reverses again for a near-fall. AJ springboard 450s onto Gunther and this time hits a Styles Clash, not holding the legs and Gunther kicking out.

Styles sets up the forearm and is caught in Gunther’s sleeper, AJ reversing into his. Gunther pushes into the referee and low-blows AJ, power bombing him for a two count. “That damn dirty Gunther,” yells Cole. The fans sing as Gunther chops AJ in the corner. “Barbarism begins here in Riyadh,” says Wade I assume about the match and not other things in Saudi Arabia. More chops. “Let’s go AJ” chant as Wade delivers more chops and AJ collapses. A big lariat knocks AJ to the mat. AJ is up and fights off a few chops, delivering his own in the corner. AJ forearms Gunther but is caught, Gunther dropping him and hooking the sleeper again. AJ fades to the mat and tries to fight it. AJ gets to his feet, Gunther drops the jabbing elbows and AJ tries again to fight out, Gunther readjusting to AJ’s back. AJ reaches for the ropes; Gunther grabs the arm and elbows AJ in the head. We’re down on the mat again and AJ reaches for the ropes and his hand drops, AJ fading. AJ is out.

Gunther defeats AJ Styles.

The fans look on with shock as Gunther has retired another man from WWE. AJ comes to and questions the referee about what happened. The fans cheer for Styles as he soaks it in. “Thank you, Styles” chants. Styles removes his gloves and motions that he is putting them on the mat, then puts them back on to the crowd’s delight. He leaves the ring and then comes back in to pose.

A very good match that’s worth your time. It was a good showcase for both men as the reign of Gunther continues.

Here’s the gameplay footage premiere of WWE 2K26, a game with four covers and three that have Triple H, the center of our universe and the only person who could sell three different deluxe editions of a game to video game buyers.

Penta is warming up as is Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio. They’re in the Rumble. Here are some legends that have won before including Triple H, Randy Orton, and Cody Rhodes.

Undisputed WWE Championship: Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs Sami Zayn

The “Live and Loud!” meter, presented by RAM, tells us that the fans are very loud. Drew starts with a headlock and a few big chops. This might be the Rumble with the most chops in its history. Drew batters Sami to the mat. Sami leaps onto Sami on the outside but hurts himself as well. Back in, Drew keeps working the back. The crowd are not really into this, and neither am I so far. Drew whips Sami to the corner, Sami does a HBK at SummerSlam against Hogan-level sell for it. Drew chops away against at Sami as the fans sing. Sami runs into a tilt-a-whirl back breaker for a two count.

Drew lines up for a Claymore, Sami intercepts with his own kick and a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two. Sami grabs his back as he covers. Drew and Sami trade blows. Sami heads up to “Sami, Sami Zayn” chants but Drew catches him again, chopping him and dropping him with a White Noise from the second rope for a two count. This is dragging on. Drew hits a Future Shock then two more. McIntyre covers, Sami kicks out before three. Sami tries for the Exploder, Drew elbows out and clotheslines Sami with repeated corner clotheslines. Sami tries for the Helluva Kick and Drew dodges, hitting a Claymore for two with Sami getting his foot on the rope.

Drew argues with referee Charles Robinson and turns around into a Helluva Kick, Sami dragging himself onto a two count. Drew rolls out and powerbombs Sami through the Arabic announce table. “This is awesome” chant. Is it? Drew shakes off the refs checking on Sami and grabs him, tossing him back in the ring. Drew yells at Sami to “stay down” and slaps him, Sami popping up with an Exploder into the corner and setting up the Helluva again. Sami runs right into another Claymore and Drew refuses to pin him. Drew Claymores again, covering Sami for a three. McIntyre retains.

Drew McInytre pins Sami Zayn to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship. This, uh, sucked for me. It was 85% Drew beating up Sami with Sami getting very few hope spots. I love Sami and like Drew but putting this after AJ being retired and beaten by a big heel was certainly a choice. I don’t recommend this one.

Michael and Wade take us back to the Countdown show where Paul Heyman confronted Adam Pearce, mad that Adam made Bron #2 in the Rumble. Adam says it is a random draw, and Paul tells him that he shouldn’t play FAFO with him.

Here are some other men on graphics that have won the Rumble including Seth Rollins, Jey Uso and… Vince McMahon. I’m told Chris Benoit just missed the cut.

Men’s Royal Rumble Match

Entrant #1 is Oba Femi. Oh, we’re starting big. The Saudi fans already know the chants for his entrance, and he gets pyro that explodes around the arena. The Men’s Rumble is presented by Cricket. #2 is Bron Breakker of The Vision (with WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman). A hooded man attacks Breakker and drives him into the steps, stomping him onto the ringside mat. The hooded man tosses Oba in to start the match and Oba clotheslines Bron out, eliminating him. Well then. The hooded man leaves. #3 is WWE Tag Team Champion Solo Sikoa of the MFTs. We get a big beefy men face-off and #4 is WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio. I bet he hasn’t even called poor injured Dom. Rey leaps onto Solo and attacks Oba which doesn’t seem like a smart move. Rey sets up 619 on Solo, Solo catches him and Oba boots them both down. #5 is Rusev, a man who has spent the last two months on Main Event after disappearing from Raw. He dropkicks Oba, Rey drops Rusev and hits 619 and Oba eliminates Rusev. Solo superkicks Oba who dodges the Samoan Spike and eliminates him as well. Rey hits the 619 to Oba’s midsection and then head but Oba shakes it off, grabbing Rey and tossing him. Four eliminations for Oba as Cole feels flashbacks to Brock in 2020.

#6 is Matt Cardona, entering his fifth Rumble and first since 2015. Good for Matt. Get that paycheck. Unfortunately Oba is the only man in the ring and Oba kicks his ass. Cardona tries for the Rough Ryder, Oba counters into a Fall from Grace and tosses him. #7 is Damian Priest. These two could have a fun match. Damian offers a boot, Oba responds with a big clothesline. “Oba’s gonna kill you” chant from the crowd. Damian is caught by Oba but slides out, hitting a spin kick and a clothesline. #8 is Je’Von Evans as Cole recounts his NXT history with Oba. Je’Von bounces over Priest and tries for a Cutter on Oba but is caught. Je’Von almost bounces out of the ring but catches himself. Je’Von springboards over a strike from Femi to hit Priest and then bounces right onto Oba. #9 is Mr. Iguana (with La Yesca). Iguana smacks Je’Von with Yesca and leaps onto him from the top. Wade references Jack Tunney banning reptiles from ringside as Iguana kicks at Oba. Priest grabs Yesca and Iguana and performs a double chokeslam on them.

#10 is Trick Williams to a monster ovation and the “whoop that Trick” chant. This man’s a star already. Williams eliminates Iguana and then Yesca. Je’Von and Oba both eye Trick and trade blows. #11 is Cody Rhodes. He does his full entrance with pyro because hey, why not. Cole reminds us that Cody does not have an opportunity against McIntyre so has to win tonight. The fans sing “Kingdom” for another minute after it cuts off as Cody meets up with Oba again. #12 is El Grande Americano (with Bravo and Rayo Americano). Americano and Evans fight while Trick/Oba and Damian/Cody are going at it. Americano grabs his metal plate and sticks it into his mask as we count down to the next man.

#13 is Original El Grande Americano as the trons display. They do the Spider-Man point as Wade wonders if this is Finn Balor. Original Americano has grown a goatee in his time away and suplexes Modern Americano. Modern Americano tries to unmask Original Americano, who grabs him and pulls him out. Trick knocks out Original Americano and now we have no Americanos left. I’m sure this exciting story will continue on Raw. The trons display “Powerhouse Hobbs” and then change to display that #14 is Royce Keys. Keys and Priest face off, he catches Priest and hits a running powerslam and clotheslines Priest out of the match. De’Von kicks Royce, Royce gives Je’Von a huge spindbuster and Cody confronts Royce, Cole calling out their past.

#15 is Austin Theory of The Vision. Theory chop blocks Cody and tries to eliminate Evans. #16 is Big Bronson Reed of The Vision. Tsunami to Evans. The Vision try to work over Oba, taking him down and then moving onto Keys. Oba has been in for 25 minutes and counting with five eliminations. #17 is Ilja Dragunov. Ilja and Cody get into it and we have seven active. #18 is La Parka. That’s something I didn’t think I’d be typing. La Parka goes for Theory. He spins Ilja into a spinning powerslam and dances. This match has slowed a bit. A lot, really. #19 is Dragon Lee. Lee gets a little shine as we roll to the next man. #20 is Logan Paul of The Vision, giving us the three remaining Vision members together in the match. Logan Paul gutwrench suplexes La Parka. Well, that’s a sentence. Logan and Royce face off. “Who the hell are you,” questions Logan. Royce slams Royce which brings us Big Bronson and an attack from behind by Theory. They toss Keys. An underwhelming way to go out, but he looked good while he was in there. Reed eliminates La Parka and Dragon Lee.

#21 is L.A. Knight. He’s still very, very over with this crowd. The Vision goes right for him and Theory is backdropped out. L.A. hits a neck breaker on Logan and a BFT on Reed, clotheslining him out. I’m afraid I have months of Knight-Vision matches to come on Raw. #22 is Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman). He goes right for Cody then suplexes Cody, Knight, and Evans. Je’Von takes a high-flying F5 and here’s Oba for the big face-off and then the buzzer hits.

#23 is The Miz in his 17th career Rumble, second all-time (Kane is first at 18). Miz sticks to the outside as Brock and Oba face-off again, the rest attacking them. Ilja chops at Brock, Brock no sells and tosses him. Lame. Cody takes an awkward suplex and here’s the face-off again but the clock strikes again to tell us #24 is Ray Fenix. Fenix leaps right into Brock’s arm and is tossed. Brock suplexes Oba and then F5’s Fenix, tossing him out. Oba clotheslines Lesnar and punches Logan off the top. As Oba tries to eliminate Logan, Brock tosses him. #25 is WWE World Tag Team Champion Main Event Jey Uso, coming through the crowd for some yeeting. Cody and Knight clothesline Brock out of the match during the yeeting, which was quite the underwhelming exit for Brock. Underwhelming exits seems to be the plan for this particular Rumble. Jey makes it to the ring and superkicks Miz before calling for the music to be run back. He yeets through the final ten seconds of the countdown clock.

#26 is OTC1 Roman Reigns. After his entrance with pyro, Roman meets up with Jey and motions to run back the music. Jey’s music is indeed run back and then Roman attacks Jey. Okay, that was good. Roman Superman Punches Miz and Logan, then spears and tosses the Miz. #27 is Jacob Fatu, breaking up the possible Reigns-Rhodes showdown. Cody runs into Jacob’s right hand and is pulled out through the ropes, Jacob tossing Cody into the ringpost and barricade. Je’Von goes about four feet in the air when Jacob hits him with a pop-up drop and we have the cousins staredown, Cody stopping it with an attack on Fatu. Roman and Jey hit a 1D on Cody.

#28 is Penta. Knight ducks a Superman Punch and hits BFT, Cody tries for Cross Rhodes and is DDTed. Cody kicks Knight out of the match with a Disaster Kick. #29 is Randy Orton. The fans sing his theme for a good minute after it cuts off as well. International fans love them some Randy. He hits a double draping DDT on Penta and Jey and coils up for the RKO, Logan taking one. Penta kicks at the hamstring and leaps into a RKO. #30 is Gunther, fresh off retiring AJ Styles. He holds the longest time in a Rumble (non-Greatest editions). Logan is chopped, Cody is chopped, Jey is suplexed, and Je’Von hits a running kick as Gunther is favoring his leg. Evans tries for the OG Cutter but lands in a RKO, being tossed by Randy. A good showing for Je’Von. Penta chops at Gunther and is dropped out by Gunther.

RKO to Gunther and he faces off with Cody, the fans chanting “Yes.” Jacob superkicks Cody and tosses him, Cody hanging on the ropes and taking a sudden Claymore from Drew McIntyre, Cody being eliminated. Well now there’s certainly no way Cody could ever face Drew at WrestleMania unless, of course, he OVERCOMES THE ODDS at Elimination Chamber. Roman tosses Jacob, Jey spears Roman but is tossed by the Tribal Chief.

Our final four are Roman, Gunther, Logan and Randy. Roman tosses Logan turns around into a RKO. Gunther pushes Orton out and we’re down to two. Gunther tries the sleeper, Roman fights out, he tries the powerbomb and Roman grabs him and dumps him to the apron. Gunther ducks a Superman Punch and hooks the sleeper. Roman elbows out but is caught again. Roman begins to fade but pulls Gunther into the corner, this time hitting a spear and tossing out big Gunther. Roman is going to WrestleMania.

Roman Reigns wins the Men’s Royal Rumble. The best way to describe this was “fine.” The crowd was into it which is always half the Rumble battle and the action kept going, only having a few slow moments. There were a few surprises but not that one big one that a lot of people were expecting. Je’Von looked good and Oba looked like a rock star. It looks like we’re on the road to Punk-Reigns and Cody having to overcome the odds for his title shot.

We get a big pyro shot as Roman Points At Sign and then a solid five minutes of fireworks exploding over Saudi Arabia as drones flash images of title belts, “Then Now Forever Together” and we segue from our Rumble Linkin Park theme to our WrestleMania Aerosmith theme.

Overall, mostly a good Rumble event. I don’t know how y’all watch long-ass PLEs multiple times a month. I’m too old for this. I think the women’s Rumble was better than the men’s this year but neither was a bad Rumble. Styles-Gunther was very good. Drew-Sami was something that happened and, uh, maybe shouldn’t have in the way it did on the Rumble. Overall it’s a recommendation to watch but with your handy FF button.