Royal Rumble (2018)

Royal Rumble (2018)
Royal Rumble (2018)
Information
Promotion	WWE
Brand (s)	Raw; SmackDown
Date	January 28, 2018
Attendance	17,629
Venue	Wells Fargo Center
City	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pay-per-view chronology
Royal Rumble chronology

Royal Rumble (2018) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) and livestreaming show made by WWE. It took place on January 28, 2018, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the 31st Royal Rumble event held by WWE.

Nine matches were performed at the event. The main match was the first ever women's Royal Rumble match, which was won by Asuka, who recieved a women's championship match at WrestleMania 34. After the match, former UFC mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey appeared and started her pro wrestling career. She confronted both Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss and SmackDown Women's Champion, who were waiting for Asuka's decision of who she wanted to face following her win.^[1] The men's Royal Rumble match saw Shinsuke Nakamura win the match by last eliminating Roman Reigns.

Results

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times^[2]^[3]
1^P	Kalisto, Gran Metalik, and Lince Dorado defeated TJP, Gentleman Jack Gallagher, and Drew Gulak	Six-man tag team match^[4]	13:20
2^P	The Revival (Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson) defeated Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson	Tag team match^[5]	9:15
3^P	Bobby Roode (c) defeated Mojo Rawley	Singles match for the WWE United States Championship^[6]	7:45
4	AJ Styles (c) defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn	Handicap match for the WWE Championship^[7]	15:55
5	The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso) (c) defeated Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin 2–0	Two out of three falls match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship^[8]	13:55
6	Shinsuke Nakamura won by last eliminating Roman Reigns	30-man Royal Rumble match for a Universal or WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 34^[9]	1:05:27^[a]
7	Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan (c)	Tag team match for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship^[10]	12:50
8	Brock Lesnar (c) (with Paul Heyman) defeated Kane and Braun Strowman	Triple Threat match for the WWE Universal Championship^[11]	10:55
9	Asuka won by last eliminating Nikki Bella	30-woman Royal Rumble match for a Raw or SmackDown Women's Championship match at WrestleMania 34^[12]	58:57^[b]
(c) – is the champion(s) going into the match P – This match took place on the pre-show

Men's Royal Rumble match entrances and eliminations

Brand

– Raw

– SmackDown

– NXT

– Free Agent

– Winner

Draw	Entrant	Brand	Order	Eliminated by	Time^[a]	Eliminations
1	Rusev	SmackDown	12	Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy	30:28	0
2	Finn Bálor	Raw	27	John Cena	57:38	4
3	Rhyno	Raw	1	Baron Corbin	02:06	0
4	Baron Corbin	SmackDown	2	Finn Bálor	01:06	1
5	Heath Slater	Raw	4	Bray Wyatt	00:33^[c]	1
6	Elias	Raw	15	John Cena	26:00	0
7	Andrade "Cien" Almas	NXT	18	Randy Orton	29:24	1
8	Bray Wyatt	Raw	13	Matt Hardy	20:38	2
9	Big E	SmackDown	8	Jinder Mahal	14:14	0
10	Sami Zayn^[d]	SmackDown	5	Shinsuke Nakamura	06:57	0
11	Sheamus	Raw	3	Heath Slater	00:02^[e]	0
12	Xavier Woods	SmackDown	7	Jinder Mahal	08:24	0
13	Apollo Crews	Raw	6	Cesaro	05:16	0
14	Shinsuke Nakamura	SmackDown	—	Winner	44:38	3
15	Cesaro	Raw	9	Seth Rollins	05:08	1
16	Kofi Kingston	SmackDown	11	Andrade "Cien" Almas	05:41	1
17	Jinder Mahal	SmackDown	10	Kofi Kingston	03:48	2
18	Seth Rollins	Raw	22	Roman Reigns	19:01	2
19	Matt Hardy	Raw	14	Himself^[f]	01:17	2
20	John Cena	Free Agent	28	Shinsuke Nakamura	29:14	3
21	The Hurricane	Free Agent	16	John Cena	00:45	0
22	Aiden English	SmackDown	17	Finn Bálor	02:16	0
23	Adam Cole	NXT	19	Rey Mysterio	06:52	0
24	Randy Orton	SmackDown	25	Roman Reigns	13:55	1
25	Titus O'Neil	Raw	20	Roman Reigns	06:07	0
26	The Miz	Raw	21	Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins	05:20	0
27	Rey Mysterio	Free Agent	26	Finn Bálor	09:40	1
28	Roman Reigns	Raw	29	Shinsuke Nakamura	21:52	4
29	Goldust	Raw	23	Dolph Ziggler	02:43	0
30	Dolph Ziggler	SmackDown	24	Finn Bálor	02:01	1

Women's Royal Rumble match entrances and eliminations

Brand

– Raw

– SmackDown

– NXT

– Hall of Famer (HOF)

– Free Agent

– Winner

Draw	Entrant	Brand/ Status	Order	Eliminated by	Time^[b]	Eliminations
1	Sasha Banks	Raw	27	Brie & Nikki Bella	54:46	3
2	Becky Lynch	SmackDown	14	Ruby Riott	30:54	2
3	Sarah Logan	SmackDown	7	Molly Holly	16:30	0
4	Mandy Rose	Raw	1	Lita	03:52	0
5	Lita	HOF	3	Becky Lynch	05:51	2
6	Kairi Sane^[g]	NXT	4	Dana Brooke	04:49	0
7	Tamina	SmackDown	2	Lita	01:34	0
8	Dana Brooke	Raw	5	Torrie Wilson	02:59	1
9	Torrie Wilson	Free Agent	6	Sonya Deville	03:04	1
10	Sonya Deville	Raw	8	Michelle McCool	06:41	1
11	Liv Morgan	SmackDown	9	Michelle McCool	05:12	0
12	Molly Holly	Free Agent	10	Michelle McCool	04:04	1
13	Lana	SmackDown	11	Michelle McCool	02:54	0
14	Michelle McCool	Free Agent	13	Natalya	08:38	5
15	Ruby Riott	SmackDown	17	Nia Jax	11:32	2
16	Vickie Guerrero	Free Agent	12	Becky Lynch, Michelle McCool, Ruby Riott, & Sasha Banks	00:57	0
17	Carmella	SmackDown	21	Nikki Bella	18:45	0
18	Natalya	SmackDown	25	Trish Stratus	25:34	3
19	Kelly Kelly	Free Agent	16	Nia Jax	05:02	0
20	Naomi	SmackDown	18	Nia Jax	06:49	0
21	Jacqueline	HOF	15	Nia Jax	01:52	0
22	Nia Jax	Raw	23	Asuka, Bayley, Brie Bella, Natalya, Nikki Bella, & Trish Stratus	17:56	4
23	Ember Moon	NXT	20	Asuka	06:14	0
24	Beth Phoenix	HOF	19	Natalya	02:22	0
25	Asuka	Raw	—	Winner	19:41	3
26	Mickie James	Raw	22	Trish Stratus	08:24	0
27	Nikki Bella	Free Agent	29	Asuka	16:30	4
28	Brie Bella	Free Agent	28	Nikki Bella	11:58	2
29	Bayley	Raw	24	Sasha Banks	05:04	1
30	Trish Stratus	HOF	26	Sasha Banks	05:36	3

Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 WWE lists the men's Royal Rumble match as lasting 1:05:27,^[13] but Pro Wrestling Dot Net lists the match as lasting 1:05:35.^[3]
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 WWE lists the women's Royal Rumble match as lasting 58:57,^[17] but Pro Wrestling Dot Net lists the match as lasting 59:10.^[3]
↑ Slater spent some time outside of the ring before officially entering the Rumble because he was attacked on the ramp by Baron Corbin, Elias, Andrade, Bray Wyatt, Big E, Sami Zayn, and Sheamus.
↑ Tye Dillinger was announced as the #10 entrant, but he was destroyed backstage by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, therefore Zayn took his spot.
↑ WWE.com's official website lists Sheamus' time in the match as 20 seconds,^[13] but they have otherwise said he lasted 2 seconds.^[14]^[15]^[16]
↑ Hardy eliminated himself at the same time he eliminated Bray Wyatt.
↑ Sane was a last minute replacement for Alicia Fox, who got injured shortly before the event.^[18]

References

↑ Fiorvanti, Timothy (January 29, 2018). "Ronda Rousey joining WWE to perform as full-time pro wrestler". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
↑ Powell, Jason (January 28, 2018). "WWE Royal Rumble Kickoff Show live review: Bobby Roode's open challenge match for the U.S. Championship, The Revival vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, Kalisto, Lince Dorado, Gran Metalik vs. TJP, Jack Gallagher, and Drew Gulak". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Powell, Jason (January 28, 2018). "WWE Royal Rumble 2018 live review: Men's and Women's Royal Rumble matches, Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane for the WWE Universal Championship, AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a handicap match for the WWE Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Pappolla, Ryan (January 28, 2018). "Kalisto, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado def. TJP, Drew Gulak & Jack Gallagher". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Benigno, Anthony (January 28, 2018). "The Revival def. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Melok, Bobby (January 28, 2018). "United States Champion Bobby Roode def. Mojo Rawley (United States Championship Kickoff Match)". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Melok, Bobby (January 28, 2018). "WWE Champion AJ Styles def. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Melok, Bobby (January 28, 2018). "SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos def. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Benigno, Anthony (January 28, 2018). "Shinsuke Nakamura won the 2018 Men's Royal Rumble Match". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Wortman, James (January 28, 2018). "Sheamus & Cesaro def. Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Wortman, James (January 28, 2018). "Universal Champion Brock Lesnar def. Braun Strowman and Kane". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Benigno, Anthony (January 28, 2018). "Asuka won the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match; Ronda Rousey arrived". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 WWE.com Staff (January 28, 2018). "Full 2018 30-Man Royal Rumble Match statistics: entrants, eliminations, times and more". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com [@SeanRossSapp] (January 28, 2018). "Sheamus lasted 2.25 seconds" (Tweet). Retrieved February 8, 2018 – via Twitter.
↑ Sheamus [@WWESheamus] (February 2, 2018). "We need an official call on this... stop-clock anyone?" (Tweet). Retrieved February 8, 2018 – via Twitter.
↑ Snodgrass, Jack (January 28, 2018). "The Royal Rumble Just Ruined Sheamus' Birthday". Popculture. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
↑ WWE.com Staff (January 28, 2018). "Full first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match statistics: entrants, eliminations, times and more". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
↑ Thompson, Andrew (February 3, 2018). "Alicia Fox Jokes About Her Broken Tailbone Injury". Fightful. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.

Other websites

Official Website

[Men'sTime-10] 1.0 ^1.1 WWE lists the men's Royal Rumble match as lasting 1:05:27,^[13] but Pro Wrestling Dot Net lists the match as lasting 1:05:35.^[3]

[Women'sTime-14] 2.0 ^2.1 WWE lists the women's Royal Rumble match as lasting 58:57,^[17] but Pro Wrestling Dot Net lists the match as lasting 59:10.^[3]

[16] Slater spent some time outside of the ring before officially entering the Rumble because he was attacked on the ramp by Baron Corbin, Elias, Andrade, Bray Wyatt, Big E, Sami Zayn, and Sheamus.

[17] Tye Dillinger was announced as the #10 entrant, but he was destroyed backstage by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, therefore Zayn took his spot.

[21] WWE.com's official website lists Sheamus' time in the match as 20 seconds,^[13] but they have otherwise said he lasted 2 seconds.^[14]^[15]^[16]

[22] Hardy eliminated himself at the same time he eliminated Bray Wyatt.

[25] Sane was a last minute replacement for Alicia Fox, who got injured shortly before the event.^[18]

[1] Fiorvanti, Timothy (January 29, 2018). "Ronda Rousey joining WWE to perform as full-time pro wrestler". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2018.

[preRR2018-2] Powell, Jason (January 28, 2018). "WWE Royal Rumble Kickoff Show live review: Bobby Roode's open challenge match for the U.S. Championship, The Revival vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, Kalisto, Lince Dorado, Gran Metalik vs. TJP, Jack Gallagher, and Drew Gulak". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[RR2018-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Powell, Jason (January 28, 2018). "WWE Royal Rumble 2018 live review: Men's and Women's Royal Rumble matches, Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane for the WWE Universal Championship, AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a handicap match for the WWE Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[4] Pappolla, Ryan (January 28, 2018). "Kalisto, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado def. TJP, Drew Gulak & Jack Gallagher". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[5] Benigno, Anthony (January 28, 2018). "The Revival def. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[6] Melok, Bobby (January 28, 2018). "United States Champion Bobby Roode def. Mojo Rawley (United States Championship Kickoff Match)". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[7] Melok, Bobby (January 28, 2018). "WWE Champion AJ Styles def. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[8] Melok, Bobby (January 28, 2018). "SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos def. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[9] Benigno, Anthony (January 28, 2018). "Shinsuke Nakamura won the 2018 Men's Royal Rumble Match". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[11] Wortman, James (January 28, 2018). "Sheamus & Cesaro def. Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[12] Wortman, James (January 28, 2018). "Universal Champion Brock Lesnar def. Braun Strowman and Kane". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[13] Benigno, Anthony (January 28, 2018). "Asuka won the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match; Ronda Rousey arrived". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[MensTimes-15] 13.0 ^13.1 WWE.com Staff (January 28, 2018). "Full 2018 30-Man Royal Rumble Match statistics: entrants, eliminations, times and more". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[18] Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com [@SeanRossSapp] (January 28, 2018). "Sheamus lasted 2.25 seconds" (Tweet). Retrieved February 8, 2018 – via Twitter.

[19] Sheamus [@WWESheamus] (February 2, 2018). "We need an official call on this... stop-clock anyone?" (Tweet). Retrieved February 8, 2018 – via Twitter.

[20] Snodgrass, Jack (January 28, 2018). "The Royal Rumble Just Ruined Sheamus' Birthday". Popculture. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.

[WomensTimes-23] WWE.com Staff (January 28, 2018). "Full first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match statistics: entrants, eliminations, times and more". WWE. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[24] Thompson, Andrew (February 3, 2018). "Alicia Fox Jokes About Her Broken Tailbone Injury". Fightful. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.

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WWE pay-per-view and WWE Network events
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