Show
Royal Rumble
Match Results
Date and location
Saturday, Jan 28 | 8 PMET/5 PMPT
Cody Rhodes won the 2023 Men's Royal Rumble Match to earn a World Title opportunity at WrestleMania
Before the match started, the surprises had already begun as Pat McAfee made his return to commentary, delightfully shocking Michael Cole.
Fight Night kicked off the Men’s Rumble as Intercontinental Champion Gunther and his fierce rival Sheamus entered at No. 1 and 2, respectively.
Not long after Sheamus scored the first elimination by Brogue Kicking The Miz (No. 3) into oblivion, he formed a match-long alliance with his good friend Drew McIntyre after The Scottish Warrior entered at No. 9.
McIntyre got payback on Karrion Kross (No. 7) by eliminating him, though Kofi Kingston (No. 4), known for his spectacular saves, took a nasty tumble as Gunther threw him out.
Business picked up when Brock Lesnar (No. 12) rumbled his way to the ring, eliminating Santos Escobar (No. 10), Angelo Dawkins (No. 11) and Chad Gable (No. 8) in quick succession. Bobby Lashley (No. 13) immediately made an impact of his own, attacking Lesnar and Spearing Sheamus before eliminating The Beast and bringing the WWE Universe to a fever pitch.
An infuriated Lesnar destroyed the announce table with steel steps before F5-ing Baron Corbin (No. 14) as Corbin was attempting to enter the match. Moments later, 2019 Royal Rumble winner Seth “Freakin” Rollins (No. 15) immediately made an impact by tossing Corbin in the ring and then out of the Rumble before also eliminating Lashley.
Rey Mysterio (No. 17) was supposed to enter, but he never came out. Dominik Mysterio (No. 18) followed by holding his father’s mask, perhaps revealing what happened to his father. Dominik received backup from Finn Bálor (no. 20), as they threw out Gargano.
At number 21, Booker T shocked the WWE Universe by entering his ninth Rumble, delivering a Bookend and a massive Spinaroonie before being eliminated by Gunther.
With Damian Priest entering at 22, The Judgment Day was at full force and eliminated Montez Ford (No. 23). Their momentum was stopped when Edge (No. 24) made his return, disposing of Bálor and Priest, but The Judgment Day got the last laugh when Priest and Bálor helped Dominik eliminate The Rated-R-Superstar.
Edge continued his assault on The Judgment Day until Rhea Ripley blindsided Edge with a clothesline, but Beth Phoenix returned to obliterate The Nightmare with a massive Spear. The ring soon filled with giants when Omos (No. 26) and Braun Strowman (No. 27) battered each other until Strowman eliminated The Nigerian Giant.
Although they each tried to save each other throughout the night, McIntyre and Sheamus were eventually eliminated by Gunther. Rounding out the field were a pair of Superstars returning from injury: Logan Paul (No. 29) appearing in his first Royal Rumble Match and Cody Rhodes (No. 30), who most recently defeated Seth “Freakin” Rollins in a Hell in a Cell Match while competing through a gruesome pectoral injury.
Rhodes made good on his return, tossing out Dominik and Strowman. In an electrifying moment Paul and Ricochet (No. 28) stood on the apron and trash-talked one another before each launching themselves off the opposite top ropes and crashing into each other full force in mid-air.
With the match down to Rhodes, Paul, Gunther and Rollins, The Ring General broke Rey Mysterio’s record for longest time spent in a traditional Royal Rumble Match, lasting more than 70 minutes.
As Rhodes and Rollins were trading blows, Paul snuck back in to eliminate Rollins. Rhodes, however, ended Paul’s night by getting rid of the brash Superstar.
With the last two competitors having entered at numbers 1 and 30 respectively, Gunther and Rhodes battled for the ultimate glory for almost another 10 minutes. Rhodes paid homage by trapping Gunther in the ropes and hitting him with a kick below the belt, but Gunther fought back with a massive dropkick and a Powerbomb.
After an earth-shattering Cross Rhodes, Rhodes realized his dream by clotheslining Gunther over the top rope to win his first Royal Rumble Match, much to the delight of the WWE Universe.
Full list of Royal Rumble Match participants and eliminations
No. | Superstar | Eliminated | Eliminated By | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gunther | Booker T, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, Sheamus, Xavier Woods | Cody Rhodes | 1:11:40 |
2 | Sheamus | Elias, Otis, The Miz | Drew, McIntyre, Gunther | 0:52:33 |
3 | The Miz | Sheamus | 0:04:23 | |
4 | Kofi Kingston | Gunther | 0:14:51 | |
5 | Johnny Gargano | Dominik Mysterio, Finn Bálor | 0:29:57 | |
6 | Xavier Woods | Gunther | 0:10:29 | |
7 | Karrion Kross | Drew McIntyre | 0:04:11 | |
8 | Chad Gable | Brock Lesnar | 0:08:42 | |
9 | Drew McIntyre | Elias, Karrion Kross, Otis, Sheamus | Gunther | 0:39:10 |
10 | Santos Escobar | Brock Lesnar | 0:04:56 | |
11 | Angelo Dawkins | Brock Lesnar | 0:02:28 | |
12 | Brock Lesnar | Angelo Dawkins, Chad Gable, Santos Escobar | Bobby Lashley | 0:02:28 |
13 | Bobby Lashley | Brock Lesnar | Seth “Freakin” Rollins | 0:07:14 |
14 | Baron Corbin | Seth “Freakin” Rollins | 0:00:07 | |
15 | Seth “Freakin” Rollins | Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley | Logan Paul | 0:37:18 |
16 | Otis | Drew McIntyre, Sheamus | 0:03:08 | |
17 | Rey Mysterio | Did not appear | N/A | |
18 | Dominik Mysterio | Johnny Gargano | Cody Rhodes | 0:25:44 |
19 | Elias | Drew McIntyre, Sheamus | 0:00:39 | |
20 | Finn Bálor | Edge (after elimination), Johnny Gargano | Edge | 0:07:45 |
21 | Booker T | Gunther | 0:00:42 | |
22 | Damian Priest | Montez Ford | Edge | 0:04:03 |
23 | Montez Ford | Damian Priest | 0:00:44 | |
24 | Edge | Damian Priest, Finn Bálor | Finn Bálor (after elimination) | 0:01:04 |
25 | Austin Theory | Ricochet | Cody Rhodes | 0:15:39 |
26 | Omos | Braun Strowman | 0:02:26 | |
27 | Braun Strowman | Omos | Cody Rhodes | 0:11:12 |
28 | Ricochet | Austin Theory | 0:09:14 | |
29 | Logan Paul | Seth “Freakin” Rollins | Cody Rhodes | 0:10:57 |
30 | Cody Rhodes | Austin Theory, Braun Strowman, Dominik Mysterio, Gunther, Logan Paul | WINNER | 0:15:08 |
Featured Superstars
Featured Superstars
Before the match started, the surprises had already begun as Pat McAfee made his return to commentary, delightfully shocking Michael Cole.
Fight Night kicked off the Men’s Rumble as Intercontinental Champion Gunther and his fierce rival Sheamus entered at No. 1 and 2, respectively.
Not long after Sheamus scored the first elimination by Brogue Kicking The Miz (No. 3) into oblivion, he formed a match-long alliance with his good friend Drew McIntyre after The Scottish Warrior entered at No. 9.
McIntyre got payback on Karrion Kross (No. 7) by eliminating him, though Kofi Kingston (No. 4), known for his spectacular saves, took a nasty tumble as Gunther threw him out.
Business picked up when Brock Lesnar (No. 12) rumbled his way to the ring, eliminating Santos Escobar (No. 10), Angelo Dawkins (No. 11) and Chad Gable (No. 8) in quick succession. Bobby Lashley (No. 13) immediately made an impact of his own, attacking Lesnar and Spearing Sheamus before eliminating The Beast and bringing the WWE Universe to a fever pitch.
An infuriated Lesnar destroyed the announce table with steel steps before F5-ing Baron Corbin (No. 14) as Corbin was attempting to enter the match. Moments later, 2019 Royal Rumble winner Seth “Freakin” Rollins (No. 15) immediately made an impact by tossing Corbin in the ring and then out of the Rumble before also eliminating Lashley.
Rey Mysterio (No. 17) was supposed to enter, but he never came out. Dominik Mysterio (No. 18) followed by holding his father’s mask, perhaps revealing what happened to his father. Dominik received backup from Finn Bálor (no. 20), as they threw out Gargano.
At number 21, Booker T shocked the WWE Universe by entering his ninth Rumble, delivering a Bookend and a massive Spinaroonie before being eliminated by Gunther.
With Damian Priest entering at 22, The Judgment Day was at full force and eliminated Montez Ford (No. 23). Their momentum was stopped when Edge (No. 24) made his return, disposing of Bálor and Priest, but The Judgment Day got the last laugh when Priest and Bálor helped Dominik eliminate The Rated-R-Superstar.
Edge continued his assault on The Judgment Day until Rhea Ripley blindsided Edge with a clothesline, but Beth Phoenix returned to obliterate The Nightmare with a massive Spear. The ring soon filled with giants when Omos (No. 26) and Braun Strowman (No. 27) battered each other until Strowman eliminated The Nigerian Giant.
Although they each tried to save each other throughout the night, McIntyre and Sheamus were eventually eliminated by Gunther. Rounding out the field were a pair of Superstars returning from injury: Logan Paul (No. 29) appearing in his first Royal Rumble Match and Cody Rhodes (No. 30), who most recently defeated Seth “Freakin” Rollins in a Hell in a Cell Match while competing through a gruesome pectoral injury.
Rhodes made good on his return, tossing out Dominik and Strowman. In an electrifying moment Paul and Ricochet (No. 28) stood on the apron and trash-talked one another before each launching themselves off the opposite top ropes and crashing into each other full force in mid-air.
With the match down to Rhodes, Paul, Gunther and Rollins, The Ring General broke Rey Mysterio’s record for longest time spent in a traditional Royal Rumble Match, lasting more than 70 minutes.
As Rhodes and Rollins were trading blows, Paul snuck back in to eliminate Rollins. Rhodes, however, ended Paul’s night by getting rid of the brash Superstar.
With the last two competitors having entered at numbers 1 and 30 respectively, Gunther and Rhodes battled for the ultimate glory for almost another 10 minutes. Rhodes paid homage by trapping Gunther in the ropes and hitting him with a kick below the belt, but Gunther fought back with a massive dropkick and a Powerbomb.
After an earth-shattering Cross Rhodes, Rhodes realized his dream by clotheslining Gunther over the top rope to win his first Royal Rumble Match, much to the delight of the WWE Universe.
Full list of Royal Rumble Match participants and eliminations
No. | Superstar | Eliminated | Eliminated By | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gunther | Booker T, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, Sheamus, Xavier Woods | Cody Rhodes | 1:11:40 |
2 | Sheamus | Elias, Otis, The Miz | Drew, McIntyre, Gunther | 0:52:33 |
3 | The Miz | Sheamus | 0:04:23 | |
4 | Kofi Kingston | Gunther | 0:14:51 | |
5 | Johnny Gargano | Dominik Mysterio, Finn Bálor | 0:29:57 | |
6 | Xavier Woods | Gunther | 0:10:29 | |
7 | Karrion Kross | Drew McIntyre | 0:04:11 | |
8 | Chad Gable | Brock Lesnar | 0:08:42 | |
9 | Drew McIntyre | Elias, Karrion Kross, Otis, Sheamus | Gunther | 0:39:10 |
10 | Santos Escobar | Brock Lesnar | 0:04:56 | |
11 | Angelo Dawkins | Brock Lesnar | 0:02:28 | |
12 | Brock Lesnar | Angelo Dawkins, Chad Gable, Santos Escobar | Bobby Lashley | 0:02:28 |
13 | Bobby Lashley | Brock Lesnar | Seth “Freakin” Rollins | 0:07:14 |
14 | Baron Corbin | Seth “Freakin” Rollins | 0:00:07 | |
15 | Seth “Freakin” Rollins | Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley | Logan Paul | 0:37:18 |
16 | Otis | Drew McIntyre, Sheamus | 0:03:08 | |
17 | Rey Mysterio | Did not appear | N/A | |
18 | Dominik Mysterio | Johnny Gargano | Cody Rhodes | 0:25:44 |
19 | Elias | Drew McIntyre, Sheamus | 0:00:39 | |
20 | Finn Bálor | Edge (after elimination), Johnny Gargano | Edge | 0:07:45 |
21 | Booker T | Gunther | 0:00:42 | |
22 | Damian Priest | Montez Ford | Edge | 0:04:03 |
23 | Montez Ford | Damian Priest | 0:00:44 | |
24 | Edge | Damian Priest, Finn Bálor | Finn Bálor (after elimination) | 0:01:04 |
25 | Austin Theory | Ricochet | Cody Rhodes | 0:15:39 |
26 | Omos | Braun Strowman | 0:02:26 | |
27 | Braun Strowman | Omos | Cody Rhodes | 0:11:12 |
28 | Ricochet | Austin Theory | 0:09:14 | |
29 | Logan Paul | Seth “Freakin” Rollins | Cody Rhodes | 0:10:57 |
30 | Cody Rhodes | Austin Theory, Braun Strowman, Dominik Mysterio, Gunther, Logan Paul | WINNER | 0:15:08 |