During a “Big 4” pay-per-view weekend, there’s typically a lot of non-contracted talent in the area because they are usually booked for a signing/appearance elsewhere but it’s rare to hear of a star from a competing promotion hanging out backstage at a WWE event.
A photo circulating online appears to show Ricky Starks arriving with Cody Rhodes last night just prior to the live Royal Rumble broadcast. Starks and Rhodes are good friends and Starks is also friends with other wrestlers in WWE with Bayley being one example.
Starks is currently being pushed as one of the breakout stars of AEW after he beat Chris Jericho on Dynamite a few weeks ago. For those of you wondering, there has been no indication that he has any plans to leave AEW
WWE is slated to premiere a new documentary on Peacock this Friday. A new installment of the WWE 24 Series will air that covers this year’s Royal Rumble event that took place in St. Louis, Missouri. It’s the first new WWE 24 documentary in almost a year as the previous one was a two-part episode focusing on WrestleMania 37.
The documentary will be available in the on-demand section of the streaming service. A trailer for it will likely be released later this week. It will give a backstage look at the show and feature footage of several stars as they prepare for their matches.
Ronda Rousey made her in-ring return at this show to win the Women’s Royal Rumble Match. Brock Lesnar won the Men’s Royal Rumble match after losing the WWE Title earlier in the night to Bobby Lashley.
Rousey will challenge Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Title at WrestleMania Saturday while Lesnar vs. Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a winner take all title unification bout will headline WrestleMania Sunday.
WWE has the 2022 Hall of Fame induction ceremony scheduled to begin at 10pm ET on Peacock so as expected, it will air right after SmackDown
There was a Team Hell No reunion when Kane and Daniel Bryan bugged but it was short because Kane chokeslammed Bryan.
In the final match of the night, 30-men competed in the Men’s WWE Royal Rumble.
The first two entrants (Edge and Randy Orton) were announced last night on WWE Backstage.
Edge decided to walk out first and he attacked Orton during his entrance. They fought around ringside for the first few minutes.
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Edge beat up on Orton until Sami Zayn entered and helped Orton. Mustafa Ali joined in to help Orton and Zayn.
Orton took out everyone in the ring and then he and Edge resumed their fight around ringside.
Edge hit an Edgecution on Orton on the announcer’s table and then referees ran out to stop him from beating Orton with a chair.
Orton was helped to the back because of his bad knee. It was noted by Corey Graves that Orton was never officially eliminated.
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During The Miz’s entrance, he destroyed Bad Bunny’s DJ set up that was used during the musical performance.
Bad Bunny walked out and was held back by referees but the distraction allowed Damian Preist to eliminated Miz and Morrison. Bad Bunny did a dive off the top rope onto Miz and Morrison.
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There was a Team Hell No reunion when Kane and Daniel Bryan bugged but it was short because Kane chokeslammed Bryan.
The final four were Rollins, Strowman, Edge, and Christian. Rollins tried to form an alliance with Strowman but Strowman picked him up and slammed him.
(FILE) Edge
Edge won the match. Randy Orton tried to run in at the end to eliminated Edge but Edge was ready for him and he tossed Orton out.
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Order of entry:
Edge
Randy Orton
Sami Zayn
Mustafa Ali
Jeff Hardy
Dolph Ziggler
Shinsuke Nakamura
Carlito
Xavier Woods
Big E
John Morrison
Ricochet
Elias
Damian Priest
The Miz
Matt Riddle
Daniel Bryan
Kane
King Corbin
Otis
Dominik Mysterio
Bobby Lashley
The Hurricane
Christian
AJ Styles
Rey Mysterio
Sheamus
Cesaro
Seth Rollins
Braun Strowman
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Order of elimination:
Jeff Hardy eliminated by Dolph Ziggler
Sami Zayn by Big E and Xavier Woods
Xavier Woods eliminated by Mustafa Ali
Mustafa Ali eliminated by Big E
Carlito eliminated by Elias
Elias eliminated by Damian Priest
The Miz by Damian Preist
John Morrison eliminated by Damian Priest
Dolph Ziggler eliminated by Kane
Ricochet eliminated by Kane
Kane eliminated by Damian Priest
Shinsuke Nakamura eliminated by King Corbin
Otis eliminated by King Corbin
King Corbin eliminated by Dominik Mysterio
Dominik Mysterio eliminated by Bobby Lashley
Damian Priest eliminated by Bobby Lashley
The Hurricane eliminated by Big E and Bobby Lashley
Bobby Lashley eliminated by Riddle, Bryan, Edge, and Big E
Big E eliminated by Omos, who was not in the match
Rey Mysterio eliminated by Omos, who was not in the match
…battles for the right opponent of bray wyatt at royal rumble.
On the Dec. 27 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, a Triple Threat Match between Daniel Bryan, The Miz and King Corbin will determine who will challenge “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt for the Universal Championship at Royal Rumble 2020. All three Superstars have a unique reason to challenge the monstrous titleholder. For Bryan, a potential showdown would be about retribution after he was dragged to the depths of hell by “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt several weeks ago. For Miz, losing at WWE TLC left The A-Lister with an unresolved thirst to get even after his family was targeted by Wyatt. For King Corbin, it’s a simple case of what he feels he deserves after he defeated Roman Reigns in a TLC Match at the final pay-per-view of 2019.
Now that the match is set, who will emerge victorious for an opportunity at the Universal Championship at Royal Rumble? Find out at 8/7 C on Friday Night SmackDown.
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