Royal Rumble Recap: All Rhodes Lead to Wrestlemania

With the Royal Rumble officially over, all Rhodes lead to Wrestlemania.

Here’s how it all went down Jan. 27 at Tropicana Field.

Women’s Royal Rumble (Winner: Bayley)

Starting off the night with the Women’s Rumble was the best decision the higher-ups could’ve made.

There’s substance with this group of women and so many talents that have earned their fair shot at development and competition.

Natalya was the first entry, which was shocking, but the real surprise hit when the lights went low and Tampa felt the glow.

Naomi made her return, and the WWE Universe loved it.

Bayley was the third entry and was many people’s favorite to win the match, and she stood tall the entire time.

Other entries included TNA Knockout’s Jordynne Grace, Becky Lynch, Chelsea Green, Nia Jax and Bianca Belair.

Jade Cargill made her WWE debut in front of 40,000+ and threw Jax out all by herself, then entered a chilling staredown with Belair.

Liv Morgan entered at No. 30, making her debut back from injury, and she battled Bayley and Tiffany Stratton down to the end. Still, ultimately, Bayley prevailed and pointed at the Wrestlemania sign.

Bayley has been saying she’s going to go after Rhea Ripley’s Women’s World Title, but fans are hoping she goes after her prodigy IYO SKY, who holds the Women’s Title and breaks up Damage CTRL, the most powerful women’s faction in the game.

Surprises: Naomi, Jordynne Grace, Jade Cargill, Liv Morgan

Fatal Four-Way for the Undisputed Titles (Winner: Roman Reigns)

There was little doubt that Reigns wasn’t going to walk away still holding the title.

Randy Orton, LA Knight and AJ Styles all put on a thriller of a match alongside the Tribal Chief, but no one is taking away Reigns’s aura.

Orton gave the fans what they wanted, RKO’ing Styles, Knight and Reigns all within a few seconds of each other, and Styles was close to taking the titles for himself if Solo Sikoa didn’t show up to save the Tribal Chief.

When WWE decides to let one of the most decorated champions of all time win cleanly and all on his own, maybe the match would’ve been a little more exciting.

United States Championship Match (Winner: Logan Paul by DQ)

Oh, how everybody was rooting for Kevin Owens…

Both Owens and Paul did a great job building this feud up the past month and a half, and it all came to a culmination at the Rumble… maybe.

Paul’s ego and Owens’s anger were at odds the entire time, but the duo worked very well together in the ring.

All credit to Paul, who was bleeding multiple times during the fight.

Similarly to Crown Jewel, one of Paul’s “goons” slid brass knuckles to him under the ring, but Owens intercepted them so Paul couldn’t use them. As KO pinned the Maverick for the win, the referee (who has seemingly gained ring awareness all of a sudden) pointed out the weapon and disqualified Owens.

It was an anticlimactic ending, but this won’t be the last time we’ll see these two go up against one another.

Men’s Royal Rumble (Winner: Cody Rhodes)

Starting off with Jey and Jimmy Uso was a perfect choice: two twin brothers who haven’t been face-to-face since Jimmy cost Jey the Tag Team Championship in Oct. 2023.

Then, the Aussie Icon Grayson Waller entered at No. 3, changing the entire vibe of the match.

Fans saw the return of Andrade, who had been speculated to come back to the company, and appearances from Santos Escobar, Bobby Lashley, Gunther and Drew McIntyre amongst many others.

NXT was represented, with Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker taking the forefront. Breakker eliminated four, including Ivar, and was eliminated by Dom Mysterio.

The Judgment Day fought somewhat valiantly, excluding JD McDonagh, who was accidentally eliminated by friend (or foe?) R-Truth.

Pat McAfee, who was on commentary, was thrust into the Rumble, which made for a funny bit with a self-elimination.

It all came down to CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, which fans had been waiting for. Punk has unfinished business with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, and Rhodes needs to finish his story with Reigns, so the last few minutes were exciting.

After exclaiming that he “didn’t wait 10 years to lose to Dusty’s kid,” Punk was sent over the top by Rhodes, who will be heading to Wrestlemania.

Surprises: Andrade, Bron Breakker, Omos, Pat McAfee, Sami Zayn

Adrianna Gallucci is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.