WWE Royal Rumble
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Date: January 29, 2017
Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella, and Naomi defeated Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, and Natalya
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson defeated Cesaro and Sheamus (c)
Nia Jax defeated Sasha Banks
Charlotte Flair (c) defeated Bayley
Kevin Owens (c) defeated Roman Reigns
Neville defeated Rich Swann (c) by submission
John Cena defeated AJ Styles (c)
Randy Orton won the Royal Rumble by eliminating Roman Reigns
Detailed results: Results by: Adam Martin of Wrestleview.com
A video package runs looking back at past Royal Rumble events including the 30 Man Royal Rumble match. The video also focuses on the championship matches tonight.
The Alamodome is packed tonight in San Antonio with over 52,000 in attendance.
Bayley is out first to a big reaction.
WWE RAW Women’s Championship
Charlotte (c) vs. Bayley
We get ring introductions for the challenger Bayley and champion Charlotte.
Bayley with a head scissors takedown early on Charlotte through the ropes. Bayley caught Charlotte with a second rope cross body to the outside as well. Charlotte tossed Bayley head first into the side of the ring. Charlotte keeps Bayley grounded with a headlock back inside. Charlotte with chops to Bayley in the corner followed by a neckbreaker and big boot combo resulting in a two count. Charlotte with a Figure Four locked around the head of Bayley and proceeds to slam her around the ring repeatedly. Bayley and Charlotte exchange chops. Bayley with a springboard cross body from the corner catching Charlotte. Bayley fires up, kicks Charlotte in the face and drives her face first into the ring. Bayley connects with a top rope flying elbow over Charlotte for a two count. Charlotte gets the Figure Four applied. Bayley gets Charlotte turned over. Charlotte counters and uses the ropes to get the Figure Eight applied. The referee catches her and breaks it up. Charlotte goes for a moonsault. Bayley gets her knees up and Charlotte doesn’t catch most of it. Charlotte with a big slap to Bayley from the corner and then dumps her out. As Bayley recovers, Charlotte hits Natural Selection on the ring apron and hooks the leg to get the pinfall to retain.
Winner and still WWE RAW Women’s Champion: Charlotte
Adam’s Thoughts: Not a good night for Bayley in the ring. She seems to have been very shaken by the huge crowd inside the Alamodome tonight, repeatedly miss-timing spots with Charlotte. Decent opener, but definitely not on par with women’s matches we’ve seen in the last year at high profile events like this.
A video package airs hyping Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns tonight.
WWE Universal Championship – No DQ Rules
Chris Jericho is suspended above the ring in a shark cage
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns
Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho are out first. Jericho is not happy.
Loud mixed reaction for Roman Reigns inside the Alamodome.
We get introductions for the challenger Reigns and champion Owens. The shark cage is still in the middle of the ring and the referee displays the WWE Universal Championship. The referee tries to escort Jericho inside the cage, but Jericho and Owens attack Reigns. Reigns fights them off and throws Jericho into the cage repeatedly. Reigns launches Jericho inside the cage, the referee locks the door and it rises above the ring as Reigns smiles.
The bell officially rings and Owens quickly attacks Reigns. Reigns throws big rights to Owens early. They brawl into the crowd with Reigns throwing rights at Owens. Back at ringside, Owens throws the top of an announce table at Reigns. Reigns blocks it and throws it in the face of Owens. Owens sends Reigns shoulder first into the steel steps. Owens pulls out a ton of steel chairs and sets up four facing each other at ringside. Owens with a TV monitor to the ribs of Reigns and then sends him into the ring barricade. Owens connects with a running cannonball into Reigns right into the barricade! Owens sets up a fifth and sixth chair on top of the other four. Owens grabs another chair and hits Reigns in the ribs again. Owens has Reigns on the ring apron. Reigns counters. Owens counters an attempt by Reigns to suplex him over the top rope into the chairs. Owens with a stunner to Reigns over the top rope. Reigns with clotheslines on Owens to cut off any offense by Owens. Reigns grabs a table from under the ring and slides it in. Owens with a backstabber to Reigns. Owens tosses the table out. Reigns cuts off another cannonball attempt with a boot and sitdown powerbomb for a two count. Owens bails when Reigns gets ready for a Superman. Reigns connects with his drive by dropkick to Owens on the outside. Reigns sets up a table at ringside and Owens catches him with a few superkicks. Owens gets Reigns over the table, goes up to the top turnbuckle, jumps and Owens connects on Reigns crashing through the table! Owens tosses Reigns back in and gets a two count. Owens hits Reigns on the side of the head with the edge of a steel chair. Owens then cracks the chair over the back of Reigns. Owens with a superkick and sending Reigns into a chair combo for another two count. Jericho has brass knuckles and drops them down for Owens to catch. Reigns avoids a Superman from Owens. Reigns is trying to take the brass knuckles away. Owens breaks free and connects with a Superman using them. Reigns kicks out during a pinfall attempt. Owens has a chair setup. Reigns with a samoan drop on Owens over the chair! Owens kicks out. Reigns sets a table up in the corner. Reigns catches Owens with a Superman. Owens gets a shoulder up. Owens blocks a spear with a kick and stunner on Reigns for a two count. Owens with stomps and another cannonball to Reigns in the corner. Owens is up on the top turnbuckle trying to pull Reigns up. Reigns breaks free, hits a Superman and Owens falls backwards into the chairs he setup earlier in the match! Reigns starts clearing off the main announce table. Reigns picks up Owens, gets him on his shoulders and powerbombs him through the announce table! Reigns tosses Owens back inside. Owens is up near the table in the corner. Braun Strowman is at ringside and he pulls Reigns out of the ring! Strowman gives Reigns a chokeslam over the other announce table at ringside! The table doesn’t break. Strowman tosses Reigns in and gives him a running powerslam through the table in the corner! Jericho is yelling at Owens to get up. Owens crawls over and gets the pinfall.
Winner and still WWE Universal Champion: Kevin Owens
After the match, the shark cage lowers and Chris Jericho celebrates with Kevin Owens.
Adam’s Thoughts: Really good match between Owens and Reigns tonight. Owens took some nasty bumps that were borderline scary at times with how unpredictable things like that can go. Loved the interference from Braun Strowman to setup more sympathy for Reigns heading into WrestleMania in the coming months.
A video package looking at the history of the Royal Rumble airs.
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon is talking with Mick Foley about how ineffective the shark cage was in the earlier match. Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan walk in. Sami Zayn joins them to find out his number in the Rumble tonight. Zayn grabs a ball when WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose walks in. Ambrose picks a ball. Zayn draws 8. Ambrose doesn’t want to open his right now because it will ruin the surprise.
A video package airs hyping Swann vs. Neville tonight.
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Rich Swann (c) vs. Neville
Austin Aries has joined Mauro Ranallo and Corey Graves on commentary.
Early lock ups between both early. Neville avoids a dropkick, but Swann catches him during a second attempt. Neville bails and Swann launches himself over the top rope over him. Back inside, Neville with stomps to Swann in the corner. Neville with a huge missile dropkick catching Swann off the top turnbuckle for a two count. Swann avoids a crossface armbar submission attempt by Neville. Neville drops elbows to the top of Swann’s head. Neville drops a quick knee over the head of Swann and goes back to modified headlock. Neville bails, Swann follows and Neville tosses him head first into the ring barricade. Neville tosses Swann a second time into another part of the ring barricade at ringside. Neville tosses Swann back in, Neville goes up top and eats a superkick from Swann on the way down! Swann with a kick and huricanrana combo on Neville off the top turnbuckle! Swann then springboards off the corner and connects with a twisting 450 splash to Neville on the outside! Back inside, Swann trips up Neville and gets in some rights. Swann catches Neville with a big kick to the head and Neville kicks out. Swann catches Neville with a quick frog splash off the ropes. Aries says that was only a tadpole splash. Neville crotches Swann up top. Neville flips off the corner landing on his feet. Swann with a kick to the gut. Neville with a kick to Swann. Swann with a roll up for a close two count. Swann catches Neville with a kick to the head and Neville gets his boot on the bottom rope to break up the pinfall. Neville with a superplex to Swann off the top turnbuckle. Swann kicks out. Neville immediately gets his crossface armbar submission applied. Swann taps out.
Winner and new WWE Cruiserweight Champion: Neville
After the match, Neville grabs the WWE Cruiserweight Championship and holds it up high in the corner. We see a replay of the submission finish.
Adam’s Thoughts: Decent match between Neville and Swann tonight. Took some time for the crowd to get into it (much like a majority of the WWE audience with 205 Live). Neville hit some very impressive offense during the match. Maybe a more established talent as champion in the Cruiserweight division will help things.
WrestleMania is 63 days away.
A video package airs hyping AJ Styles vs. John Cena tonight.
WWE Championship
AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena
We get ring introductions for the challenger John Cena and champion AJ Styles. Loud reactions for both guys inside the Alamodome.
Cena with a big clothesline early on Styles. Styles with an elbow to Cena and follows dropping a knee over the head. Styles drops a second knee. Cena goes for an AA early. Styles counters and kicks Cena in the head. Cena with his jumping shoulder tackles, but Styles counters the twisting powerbomb into a huricanrana that he follows up with a forearm to the face. Styles avoids the Five Knuckle Shuffle and plants Cena down in a facebuster. Cena with a big clothesline that levels Styles. Cena connects with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Styles with a torture rack on Cena into a twisting powerbomb for a two count. Cena with an AA on Styles after Styles missed his springboard flying forearm. Styles kicks out. Cena is firing up in the corner. Cena levels Styles again with a clothesline. Styles avoids another attempt by Cena and eats a Pele Kick! Styles connects with his springboard flying forearm and gets a two count. Cena gets Styles up on his shoulders in an electric chair and then drops Styles down face first over the mat. Styles and Cena exchange right hands. Styles counters an AA attempt by Cena into a Calf Crusher submission! Cena powers out and gets the STF applied on Styles. Cena breaks up the STF, pulls Styles out and applies the STF again. Styles counters into a pinfall, gets a two count and then applies an STF on Cena! Cena powers to his feet, gets Styles on his shoulders, Styles counters, Cena drops Styles down and locks on a Figure Four! Styles breaks free and gets an armbar applied on Cena! Cena breaks free lifting Styles up and powerbombing him back on the mat. Cena goes up top, jumps, Styles gets him down, Cena counters and Styles recovers hitting the Styles Clash on Cena. Styles rolls Cena over to his back and Cena kicks out. Cena gets his knees up during a springboard 450 splash attempt by Styles from the ring apron. Cena with his jumping sunset flip pinfall on Styles for another two count. Styles with a modified AA on Cena over his knee! Cena kicks out. Cena catapults Styles to the corner and connects with a cutter for another two count. Cena with an AA on Styles from the second rope! Cena hooks the leg and Styles kicks out. Cena can’t believe it. Huge reaction in the Alamodome to that kick out by Styles. Styles counters another AA attempt by Cena into a Styles Clash. Styles springboards up, Cena grabs him and connects with an AA. Cena rolls through avoiding a pinfall and hits another AA. Cena gets the pinfall.
Winner and new WWE Champion: John Cena
John Cena is now a 16-time World Champion in WWE. After the match, Cena puts the WWE Championship on the shoulder of a Make-A-Wish kid in the crowd.
Adam’s Thoughts: Another solid match between Styles and Cena. These guys have just incredible chemistry in the ring tonight. What absolutely awesome job by WWE to cool things off with Cena in the last few years and build to this 16-time title run as his career begins to wind down. Great call by WWE to give Cena this title run heading into WrestleMania.
A promo for the WWE Elimination Chamber PPV in two weeks airs. John Cena will defend the WWE Championship inside the Chamber.
Footage of Seth Rollins interrupting NXT TakeOver: San Antonio last night on the WWE Network and calling out Triple H is shown. WWE announces that Rollins will go face-to-face with Stephanie McMahon tomorrow night on RAW.
WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler joins Cole and Graves on commentary.
30 Man Royal Rumble Match
1. Big Cass
2. Chris Jericho
Cass splashes Jericho in the corner and connects with a fallaway slam.
3. Kalisto
Kalisto catches Jericho with a kick to the head. Kalisto catches Cass with a kick.
4. Mojo Rawley
Mojo with shoulder tackles to Kalisto and Jericho.
5. Jack Gallagher
Gallagher uses his umbrella during his entrance. Jericho takes him out. Gallagher eventually gave Jericho a low blow using the umbrella followed by a dropkick.
6. Mark Henry
Henry tosses Gallagher out through the ropes so not an official elimination. Gallagher is eventually tossed out holding his umbrella by Henry.
Jack Gallagher is eliminated.
7. Braun Strowman
Strowman takes out Kalisto and Mojo early. Strowman tosses out Mojo.
Mojo Rawley is eliminated.
Cass gets sent out by Strowman as well after missing a big boot.
Big Cass is eliminated.
Strowman grabs Kalisto and launches him over into Mojo and Cass at ringside.
Kalisto is eliminated.
Strowman and Henry have a stare down. Strowman tosses him over.
Mark Henry is eliminated.
8. Sami Zayn
Zayn avoids a charge by Strowman to the corner. Strowman levels Zayn with a body charge. Jericho is still alive, but left the ring and didn’t eliminate himself.
9. Big Show
Big Show and Strowman have a stare down. Strowman levels Big Show with a big clothesline. Big Show connects with a chokeslam to Strowman. Jericho slides in attempting a Codebreaker on Big Show. Big Show blocks it and hits a KO punch to Jericho. Big Show has Strowman up on his shoulder. Strowman fights off. Strowman lifts up Big Show and Big Show counters off. Strowman has Big Show leaning over. Strowman tosses him over.
Big Show is eliminated.
10. Tye Dillinger
Dillinger goes after Strowman right away with big elbows. Zayn with elbows to Strowman as well. Zayn and Dillinger team up trying to take Strowman off his feet with elbows.
11. James Ellsworth
Carmella ran out with Ellsworth and yelled at him to jump in the ring. Strowman was waiting. Zayn and Dillinger are trying to push Strowman over the top rope. Strowman hangs on and levels both Zayn and Dillinger with a double shoulder tackle.
12. Dean Ambrose
Ambrose encourages Ellsworth to jump in with him. Ambrose hangs back and Ellsworth gets leveled by Strowman. Strowman lifts up Ellsworth and drops him down on his lower back. That looked really bad when Ellsworth landed on the floor.
James Ellsworth is eliminated.
Ambrose is in and kicks Strowman in the ear. Dillinger with a dropkick and Zayn runs up with a clotheslines. Ambrose, Dillinger and Zayn all attack Strowman.
13. Baron Corbin
Strowman tosses out Dillinger.
Tye Dillinger is eliminated.
More teaming up against Strowman. Corbin tosses Strowman out after Zayn connected with his Helluva kick in the corner on Strowman.
Braun Strowman is eliminated.
14. Kofi Kingston
Jericho is still on the outside recovering from the KO punch by Big Show. Corbin with a big clothesline on Ambrose after he slides out under the bottom rope and back in.
15. The Miz
Miz with Skull Crushing Finale on Zayn. Miz nearly eliminates Ambrose. Corbin nearly eliminates Kofi when he held on to the ring post.
16. Sheamus
Sheamus cleans house when he enters the ring.
17. Big E
Big E gets the abdominal stretch on Miz early. Kofi leaps off the back of Big E and gets in a shot on Miz in the corner. New Day try to eliminate Miz.
18. Rusev
Rusev is wearing a mask after breaking his nose on RAW. Rusev catches Sheamus with a spin kick and almost eliminates him quickly until Sheamus hangs on.
19. Cesaro
Cesaro with a series of Cesaro Swings after his entrance. Cesaro gets Sheamus down and Sheamus tries to stop him. Rusev with a superkick to Cesaro.
20. Xavier Woods
New Day triple teams Sheamus. Cesaro nearly eliminates Big E.
21. Bray Wyatt
Wyatt cleans house during his entrance. Wyatt levels Woods with a clothesline.
22. Apollo Crews
Sheamus and Cesaro toss all members of the New Day. Jericho then tosses both Sheamus and Cesaro over after Sheamus tried to eliminate Cesaro.
Sheamus, Cesaro, Big E, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston are eliminated.
23. Randy Orton
Orton is tossing out RKO’s after entering the match.
24. Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler with repeated superkicks and nearly eliminates Crews and Miz.
25. Luke Harper
Orton is pointing at Harper on his walk to the ring. Harper with an elbow to Crews that sends Crews from the ring apron to the floor.
Apollo Crews is eliminated.
Wyatt gets between Harper and Orton. Harper levels Wyatt with a clothesline! Harper catches Orton with a big boot. Harper picks up Wyatt and goes for Sister Abigail. Orton runs up and connects with an RKO on Harper to break it up.
26. Brock Lesnar
Lesnar tosses Ambrose and Ziggler out right away.
Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler are eliminated.
Lesnar is tossing out german suplexes. Lesnar with an F5 on Miz. F5 on Orton. Everyone is down. Lesnar is the only one left standing in the ring as he smiles.
27. Enzo Amore
Enzo gets inside the ring. Lesnar is smiling. Lesnar levels Enzo with a clothesline. Lesnar picks up Enzo and tosses him over immediately.
Enzo Amore is eliminated.
28. Goldberg
Huge reaction for Goldberg inside the Alamodome. Lesnar is waiting for Goldberg. Goldberg with a spear on Lesnar! Goldberg clotheslines Lesnar over the top rope!
Brock Lesnar is eliminated.
Orton and Wyatt are going after Goldberg. Goldberg with a double spear on both!
29. The Undertaker
No entrance for Undertaker. He shows up in the ring when the lights come back on. Goldberg tosses Rusev over. Undertaker tosses Corbin over. Goldberg with a spear on Undertaker. Goldberg tosses Harper over. Undertaker tosses Goldberg over.
Rusev, Baron Corbin, Luke Harper and Goldberg are eliminated.
Zayn and Miz are going after Undertaker. Undertaker with chokeslams on Miz and Zayn.
30. Roman Reigns
Reigns and Undertaker are exchanging shots. Superman on Undertaker. Undertaker blocks a second Superman attempt and connects with a chokeslam. Undertaker tosses Miz and Zayn over the top rope.
The Miz and Sami Zayn are eliminated.
Undertaker with a chokeslam on Jericho. Reigns tosses Undertaker out.
The Undertaker is eliminated.
We are down to Roman Reigns, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt. Reigns with a Superman to Jericho that sends him out.
Chris Jericho is eliminated.
Orton and Wyatt start attacking Reigns. Superman on Wyatt. Superman on Orton. Reigns tosses Wyatt over.
Bray Wyatt is eliminated.
We are down to Reigns and Orton. RKO out of no where! Orton eliminates Reigns!
Winner of the 2017 Royal Rumble: Randy Orton
After the match, Randy Orton points the WrestleMania sign as pyro goes off.
Adam’s Overall Thoughts: A very good Rumble match this year from WWE. You could hear the collective gasp from wrestling fans by having Roman Reigns be a surprise final entrant tonight. Really surprised they went with another one-sided domination with Goldberg and Lesnar. Randy Orton winning tonight was definitely a surprise. Great show tonight by WWE.
Thanks for joining us tonight!
Follow me on Twitter: @adamwrestleview
Quick Match Results:
* Charlotte def. Bayley to retain the WWE RAW Women’s Title
* Kevin Owens def. Roman Reigns in a No DQ match to retain the WWE Universal Title
* Neville def. Rich Swann to become the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion
* John Cena def. AJ Styles to become the new WWE Champion
* Randy Orton won the 2017 Royal Rumble match