By First, the elephant in the room. For legal and practical reasons, we're not going to be discussing all that in this live review (you can read our coverage here). Tonight, it's all about Royal Rumble 2024 and the Road to WrestleMania XL.
Despite hardly any names being officially confirmed by the WWE (just eight men and five women) there's as much excitement as ever when it comes to our two Rumble matches.
Related: CM Punk returns to WWE at Survivor Series
That's partly because of hell freezing over with the return of CM Punk a couple of months back, and partly due to the delayed gratification of Cody Rhodes being yet to finish his story.
Beyond those two building on THAT promo battle, we've got a Women's Royal Rumble that's maybe the most open we've had so far.
Related: Is wrestling real or fake? All your WWE questions answered
What to Read Next
And the not-so-small matter of Kevin Owens trying to take WWE United States Champion Logan Paul down a peg or two (and nab his belt), and Roman Reigns making sure he's actually still holding that gold come WrestleMania XL, rather than LA Knight, AJ Styles or Randy Orton.
Before then, you can sit back, relax and watch the one-hour pre-show kick-off for FREE right here.
Our kick-off panel is DSWWE favourite and Manics superfan Wade Barrett, Booker T, Jackie Redmond and Peter Rosenberg.
We're reminded that no one has won back-to-back Rumbles since 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin in 1997 and 1998, so Cody Rhodes has quite the mountain. We're also given teasers for the other matches, including an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match where Roman Reigns has zero champion's advantage.
Lots of speculation that Rhea Ripley may pop in the Rumble and try to control the narrative of who she faces at WMXL. Not unheard of...
Prediction time for the women's Rumble! Wade: Nia Jax. Booker T: Bianca Belair. Peter Rosenberg: Bayley.
WWE's top wrestlers in the kick-off show sharing their favourite Rumble moments as a fan.
Poor Titus O'Neil's viral slide getting a shoutout, as well as Kofi Kingston's saves and R-Truth nominating his own memorable ladder mishap.
Prediction time for the big title match. Wade: Reigns. Booker T: LA Knight. Rosenberg: Reigns. Paul Heyman shuts down any doubters with a powerful spoiler-not-prediction.
Plenty of hate between Kevin Owens and Logan Paul explored in one of those classic WWE videotapes, before country music fella Jelly Roll joins the panel for some reason.
Not long to go, and we get a few words from a calm-as-can-be CM Punk at Tropicana Field in St Petersberg, Florida, who admits to some nerves, but adds: "I'm going to make the butterflies all fly in formation today". Great line. And after some more nattering, we're ready to go.
Women's Royal Rumble Match
Special guest commentator Pat McAfee pops by again, but Michael Cole knew about it this time at least.
We're explicitly told that the winner of the match will main event WrestleMania, and Natalya is number one in the Rumble followed by our first big surprise, it's a returning Naomi!
TNA and Naomi's run as Knockouts champ getting a shoutout, which is nice. The women lock up and get to it after a handshake.
Nattie starts well and Naomi responds, but both women should really aim to conserve some energy and attention as the countdown starts. In next is Bayley.
She soaks up the adoration. Naomi uses some butt-based offence that tickles the commentary, before Bayley and Nattie try to go two-on-one on her. Another countdown and it's Candice LeRae, and she immediately steps to Bayley before Nattie breaks it up.
LeRae takes out Bayley and Nattie in one before looking to Naomi. Next in is Jordynne Grace WITH HER TNA KNOCKOUTS CHAMPIONS BELT. Commentary giving TNA props, more than they did Mickie James we'd say. Amazing stuff.
Jordynne and Naomi embrace for a moment before they go at it.
Next in is Indi Hartwell, still no eliminations! LeRae and Hartwell join forces, for now.
Next in Asuka, looking resplendent. Bayley doesn't look best pleased about this all, but they join forces to take on Nattie and then Indie Hartwell. Asuka gets Indi on the apron, but then misses a hip attack.
INDI HARTWELL ELIMINATED by Bayley moments before Ivy Nile enters, all full of energy.
Next in is Katana Chance, who lost her tag team title belt but will hope to add to her back catalogue of Rumble saves, and maybe a win too while she's here.
Time for a double vertical suplex in the ring while Nattie grapples with Asuka. Then 2021 winner Bianca Belair enters. She makes an impact and ALMOST eliminates both Bayley and Asuka but both survive.
Belair gets up and LeRae tries to take advantage but now LeRae and Chance are double-stacked before Bayley breaks it up and gets a vertical suplex for her troubles. Now Kairi Sane is in and it's all Damage CTRL.
Sane rescues Bayley from Belair. Pandemonium in there but no one looks close to being eliminated.
Bayley goes over the top but survives and CANDICE LeRAE IS ELIMINATED by the trio. Next in is Tegan Nox who makes a strong start before Grace gets involved. Nattie saves Nox and then hits a clothesline on the TNA champ. NATALYA IS ELIMINATED after foolishly hugging Nox, then TEGAN NOX IS ELIMINATED by Bayley in quick succession.
Kayden Carter is in next and saves Katana Chance immediately, who looks like she wants revenge.
Kairi Sane is SOMEHOW saved by her heels and the side of the ring and Asuka but it's a brief reprieve and KAIRI SANE IS ELIMINATED and then ASUKA IS ELIMINATED. Only Bayley is left of Damag CTRL and despite seeming miffed that they were there, she seems MORE miffed that they're gone.
Now Chelsea Green enters. She survives two elimination attempts from Bianca before eating a spinebuster from Grace. Grace and Belair go at it. First inside then on the apron.
JORDYNNE GRACE IS ELIMINATED after a KOD from Belair on the apron. In at 15 is Chelea Green's pal Piper Niven.
Niven catches Chelsea Green on the outside and teases dropping her, before a sensible chuckle and depositing her on the steps. Niven gets to work inside.
After Naomi ducks out of the way, Niven batters Green, who crumples, before a bunch of ladies all take on Piper. At 16/30 is Xia Li, who comes out with some swords but leaves them near the entrance before legging it to the ring.
Next in is Zelina Vega who gets on in there and reverses a grip from Piper Niven into a Tornado DDT. Now it's Alpha Academy's Maxxine Dupri.
Belair and Vega join forces to go after Piper Niven. Niven ELIMINATES KAYDEN CARTER and next in is Nia Jax. Piper Niven immediately gives a glare. She catches Vega straight away and then goes at Xia Lee and XIA LEE IS ELIMINATED. Then IVY NILE IS ELIMINATED via the ring post on the outside. Piper goes for Nia but she ducks and Chelsea gets squished.
Piper and Nia go at it, and Chelsea again and again takes the brunt of it. Poor Chelsea. Naomi kicks Jax, who falls. Again on Chelsea
Shotzi is in on her mini-tank! She makes contact with Nia who'd already taken some damage from Naomi. Dupri gets in on the action after some dance moves, and now everyone in the ring is teaming up on Nia who repels them all!
MAXXINE DUPRI IS ELIMINATED by Bayley. CHELSEA GREEN IS NOT ELIMINATED as she went out the outside and PIPER NIVEN IS ELIMINATED by Nia Jax.
Then KATANA CHANCE IS ELIMINATED by Nia. She didn't quite get saved by Chelsea and Piper's bodies.
Now it's time for Big Time Bex. Becky Lynch enters! She goes straight for Nia Jax, obviously. Becky takes on Zelina, Shotzi and then Bayley with a series of moves. Now CHELSEA GREEN IS ELIMINATED after a friendly pat from Becky.
In comes Alba Fyre, waved on by Isla Dawn. Fyre doubles up on Zelina and Shotzi. Becky just saves herself after some offence from Nia. Fyre just saves herself too. Now in at 23, it's Shayna Baszler.
Bazler does some damage, including a knee to Shotzi's face, and floors Jax, too. Bayley gets Bianca over the top and hanging on to the rope, but Belair survives. And in next is Valhalla, antlers and all!! Followed immediately by R-Truth?!
Valhall hasn't entered the ring yet, but Truth is in and face to face with Nia, and if he was in... R-TRUTH IS ELIMINATED. And then VALHALLA IS ELIMINATED while Truth has it out with Adam Pearce.
Michin is in at 25. She does better than Valhalla with her own burst of energy taking down a bunch of women. Naomi gets Fyre over the top, Fyre temporarily saves herself, but not for long. ALBA FYRE IS ELIMINATED.
In comes Zoe Stark immediately making an impact on Michin, Becky, Naomi and Shotzi. Zelina and Shayna are on the apron, Zoey Stark and Shayna join forces (Shayna holding, Zoey kickin') and ZELINA VEGA IS ELIMINATED despite Alba Fyre breaking her fall.
In next is NXT's Roxanne Perez. She looks good for bit before Bayley gets her over the top, briefly. We get a glimpse of Belair saving herself for the umpteenth time.
SHAYNA BASZLER IS ELIMINATED and then MICHIN IS ELIMINATED, both by Nia Jax, who's having a great Rumble. And then SHOTZI IS ELIMINATED too!
Next in is our tip for the winner, the long-awaited debut of Jade Cargill! And Nia Jax stares DAGGERS at first, before a big grin.
Nia implores the crowd to give a cheer, and that they do. The women have a chat and then exchange blows. Nia gets Jade up but she wriggles up.
She gets Jax up and then slams her down and then up and over the top! NIA JAX IS ELIMINATED. What a display of pure strength!
Bayley and then Becky step to Cargill. Cargill goes for it headfirst but Bex dodges it and goes headfirst into the post. Tiffany Stratton joins. She flies over the top and takes out a load of women with a Swanton, before going at it with Becky and then NXT colleague Perez.
Last woman in is the returning Liv Morgan back after MONTHS on the shelf! She dishes out some damage to a few women, including Bayley, before Zoey Stark responds, but ZOEY STARK IS ELIMINATED by Liv.
ROXANNE PEREZ IS ELIMINATED by Tiffany Stratton, despite doing her best to hang on by her fingertips.
Belair and Cargill toss some women aside before they eye each other up, face to face, but then Bayley and Stratton break things up.
Naomi has been in for an hour, and Bayley almost as long. Jade puts Naomi down. Jade counters a Manhandle slam from Bex and gets Bex up top and over the apron. Somehow she saves herself, but it's only temporary.
Cargill ELIMINATED BECKY LYNCH with an assist from Naomi's boot and then ELIMINATES NAOMI. Five women left!
Stratton is on the outside and tries to pull Belair down by her hair. TIFFANY STRATTON IS ELIMINATED and BIANCA BELAIR IS ELIMINATED courtesy of Bayley.
Now it's just Bayley, Liv Morgan and Jade Cargill.
Bayley breaks first but Liv gets her over. Bayley saves herself. Liv and Jade are going at it now. Bayley tries to get involved but almost comes a cropper.
Now Bayley and Liv join forces with Jade on the apron! Jade saves herself once, saves herself twice.
Liv hits Cargill with an Oblivion. JADE CARGILL IS ELIMINATED! But Liv is still on the apron and Bayley takes advantage and LIV MORGAN IS ELIMINATED.
WINNER: BAYLEY
SNAP REVIEW: Well, that was pretty great, wasn't it? Sure, there were a fair few periods where the crowds seemed to be sitting on their hands a bit, and we didn't have any super saves (looked like a few maybes), but other than that, it was an incredibly decent Royal Rumble match.
We had not only the early return of Naomi who had a storming match, and the debut of Jade Cargill who made quite the impact, but we had the TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace, belt and all, with the commentary team giving that wrestler, company and title all the props.
We had some great sequences. Becky's elimination, Tiffany and Belair's elimination. Jade tossing out Nia. R-Truth's mistaken entrance. And the squishing of Chelsea Green.
There were lots of nice little story threads picked up, some good representation of the women of NXT, and no need for a slew of old-timers to fill out the numbers.
And in terms of the match and the story, the right woman won, too. B+
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs Randy Orton vs AJ Styles vs LA Knight
Randy Orton is out first, then AJ Styles, then LA Knight and then, with no little pomp, Roman Reigns.
Fingers are raised in their thousands to mark 1,245 days as champ.
And after a grin from Roman Reigns, the three other men go straight for him and his expression changes sharpish.
They get him in the corner and take turns, before Styles and Knight break it off for their own punch-up.
Orton and Reigns are on the outside while AJ and LA go at it on the inside. Knight teases flying off the apron. But he's too smart for that. He walks down and repeatedly slams Styles into the announce table.
Reigns looks like he's getting involved but Orton stops it and slams him into the table. Then the same treatment for Styles from The Viper. Now Knight repeatedly slams Orton face-first into that announce table cover. Orton survives and drops Knight onto the table, before getting Reigns onto the steps head-first.
Orton gets Reigns over the top, and now Styles and Orton are at it too inside. Orton gets the edge with a power slam, but then eats a kick from Knight who then hits a side Russian leg sweep on Reigns.
So far, we'd say LA Knight has been the best man of the match, but he eats a big fist from Reigns, who gets the first cover of the match for two. A stomp on Orton's hand to keep him out of it and now he takes control and slows things down.
Knight eats a lot of damage from Reigns, who's still taking his time. He takes a little too much time and AJ Styles goes for the back of the knee, but RR counters into a back body drop.
He calls for the ones and then goes for a Superman Punch but LA Knight dodges it and returns with a flurry of blows. Then a DDT. Then a bodyslam from Knight for two!
Knight defends himself from Orton with a boot, then zips over the ring to superplex Styles. After some time out, Reigns crawls back in but Knight hits a BFT and has it won, but AJ Styles breaks it up, just!
Styles sets up a Styles Clash on Reigns and CONNECTS. One, two and LA Knight breaks it up! Reigns has eaten back-to-back finishers.
Reigns gets Knight on the ropes now. DDT! Orton gears up but AJ Styles goes for the forearm. Orton stops it and then RKOs to Styles and Knight, and then as Reigns goes for the Superman Punch, he hits one out of nowhere on him.
ONE. TWO. TH...WHA?!?!?
Reigns is still down, but the ref is too, dragged out the way before he can complete the count by Solo Sikoa. Orton is LIVID and drags Solo to the ring.
But Solo relishes it. No DQ, and Solo dishes out some punishment, stacking Knight and Orton before going for Styles on the outside. Styles dodges it and Sikoa is outta there.
Reigns is back up. As is the official! Phenomenal Forearm from Styles! He stacks everyone! One. Two, th... Orton and everyone kicks out!
Styles gets a chair from out from under the ring. No DQ, remember! Styles hits Reigns with a chair to the chest and then to the back a few times, and then the knee for good measure.
Then it's LA Knight's turn. He tells Orton to stay down and then tries to make sure, but Orton gets a finger up to his eye and hits back with an uppercut. Then a Spear from LA Knight.
Now Knight on Reigns! Goes for the BFT but can't get it. Reigns hits a Superman punch, then hits a Spear on AJ Styles. ONE, TWO, THREE.
WINNER and STILL UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION: ROMAN REIGNS
SNAP REVIEW: That was fine... good even. A bit of a tough slot. A rare Roman Reigns match for the biggest title in the business, and it wasn't closing the night. And Fatal Four-Ways are always a bit of a mess.
With all that in mind, the match delivered. All four men got their stuff in, especially LA Knight. And while there were shenanigans, it was a no DQ so they were sort of acceptable. With that said, there's an eye gouge and chair, but dragging the ref off is on a different level.
So Roman Reigns wins with what we'll just call it what it is. Cheating. But win he does, and while miracles could happen, he doesn't even have a title defence set before WrestleMania, so he's likely to be there against tonight's Rumble winner.
We think that out of the defeated men, Randy Orton has the biggest shout for a rematch. He had this one won before Sikoa got involved. It does look as though Reigns is running out of puff, and surely he can't last through WrestleMania itself? B-
WWE United States Championship: Logal Paul (c) vs Kevin Owens
No smiles from Kev. Logan Paul looks antsy. Logan offers a handshake, but Kevin isn't having any of it. Logan Paul takes his time on the outside, and KO joins him and flings him into one barricade, then the other.
"THIS IS MY SHOW" he yells. The count gets to eight before KO drags him back in. A chop, followed by a German from Owens to Paul, who's been dominating. Logan again makes himself scarce and goes to the outside, and sneaks a hit on KO's injured hand.
Owens shrugs it off and hits a senton on the outside, then a couple of chops that have Paul wailing. Logan Paul stomps the hand and then leaps over the ring to floor Owens.
Now Paul slams Owens's hand into the ring post and then his head into the steel steps. Now a crossbody off the top, flips onto him and gets a cover for two, then puts a Kimura on that injured hand.
Now an Octopus. KO gets out, and then rips the tape back on Owens's wrist and hand and stomps and punches his injured appendage, before Owens manages, briefly, to get to his feet.
Leg drop and cocky cover from Paul. KO hits out and gives a slap for the disrespect, but then Paul has Owens's hand on the rope with his boot.
LP goes for a 619 but Owens dodges it. In turn, Paul gets the knees up and blocks the senton attempt. He hits a riot of uppercuts, but KO gets Paul up for a backbreaker. Both men are down and the ref is going for the 10 count. KO is up, then Paul.
A headbutt from Owens, who's working with one arm now. CANNONBALL after a crotch chop. Another. Then he goes to the top. Frog Splash, but it's only good for two! Up again. Swanton is blocked by the knees. Now Paul going up!
KO dodges this one! Paul bounces himself off the rope for a MASSIVE slingshot clothesline, Splash off the top for two of his own!
Logan Paul tells Corey that he's gonna do the impossible and superplex KO. Maybe he can't. KO counters into a brainbuster! And two and a half!
Owens goes for the stunner but Paul wriggles out, and then again goes for the hand. KO goes for the punch but KO blocks it. Another failed stunner! A big right from the titanium enforced first but KO kicks out after two.
Logan Paul is getting some help from his goofball pal, Jeff, but the officials stop it from happening. Now Grayson Waller and Austin Theory get involved. Oh no! Logan Paul has been passed the brass knuckles.
KO goes for a rollup. Paul kicks out. KO grabs the brass knuckles and hits Paul with them! He gets the three, but somehow the ref grows eyes and sees the knuckles! He calls it a DQ
WINNER (by DQ) and STILL WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION: Logan Paul
Kevin Owens is NOT happy. He utterly lays waste to Paul. Finishing things up by throwing him THROUGH the announce table. KO gets back into the ring and stares ruefully at the title.
KO gets back out and goes to Paul, but just grabs a cough drop and leaves.
SNAP REVIEW: Another really solid match. We've somehow got incredibly used to just how good Logan Paul is at this very quickly. In a one-on-one match with Kevin Owens, he held his own and then some.
KO came into this one with a big injury and Paul tried to take every chance to take advantage of it with no little viciousness, but Owens survived it all, and even the attempted brass knuckling.
Unfortunately, he let temptation get the better of him, and even more unfortunately, he got caught. On the plus side, this one looks far from over, and given the show these men put on, that's no bad thing. B
Men's Royal Rumble Match
First out is Jey Uso with a big entrance.
Ooooooooh, in next in Jimmy Uso.
We're already loving this. SummerSlam is still fresh in both these guys' minds, when Jimmy stopped Jey Uso from beating Roman Reigns for the big one.
The bell goes and the brothers go face to face. And here we go! Exchanging big fists. Yeet vs No Yeet. Jey nearly eliminates Jimmy early doors, but he survives long enough to eat a superkick back inside.
A Uso Splash but Jimmy gets his knees up. Next in is Grayson Waller, mic in hand. The crowd are not loving it.
Neither is Jey Uso who hits a superkick. Jey nearly eliminates Jimmy again, but he survives.
And then Grayson acknowledges Roman, gives a "no Yeet", and Jimmy and Waller team up on Jey. And next in a major return, it's Andrade! Back after three and a half years, having been at AEW for most of that time.
Andrade is flooring everyone with his elbows. And then knees into Jimmy, then Waller. He goes for the Three Amigos, but Waller stops it at two. Now it's Carmelo Hayes. He goes after Waller and, like the sign says, Melo don't miss.
A standoff, a breakdown, and Waller comes back in but GRAYSON WALLER IS ELIMINATED by Carmelo Hayes. Next in is Shinsuke Nakamura. His music is cut short by his entrance, but the crowd pick it up as he dishes out the blows and kicks.
Santos Escobar is in next. And it's his turn to serve kicks to all, and a knee to Carmelo. He goes face to face with Andrade and they shake hands and have a hug, Escobar teases a partnership, Andrade demurs and then Escobar tries to turn it into something else, and Andrade nearly eliminates him.
Next, we're in black and white for Karrion Kross. Back to colour for some big hits. He joins up with Jimmy Uso to take turns stomping Jey.
Next in is "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio. He bides his time. No need to get inside just yet, despite Carmelo Hayes beckoning him. Then he enters and goes after Kross. Kross responds in kind. In at number 10 is Carlito, and we're sure he's gonna go straight for Santos Escobar.
Santos sneaks out under the bottom rope. Carlito takes out an apple and goes for a few bites. Escobar re-enters but fails to eliminate him. An apple to the face and SANTOS ESCOBAR IS ELIMINATED.
Next in is Bobby Lashley. He hits Nak with a Spear, then goes through Jimmy Uso and Andrade. Bodies everywhere. Dom ducks out but still eats a Spear. He goes for a Spear. Carlito is knocked off the apron, and he must have gone over the top as CARLITO IS ELIMINATED by Lashley, but he didn't go over the top. KARRION KROSS IS ELIMINATED by Bobby Lashley.
The AOP cause a distraction, and the already-eliminated Karrion Kross ELIMINATES BOBBY LASHLEY. Then out come the Street Profits who have it out with Akam and Rezar on the outside, and they go fighting down the aisle, bemusing Ludgwig Kaiser as he enters the ring.
Next in is Austin Theory. Melo goes at him, but Austin counters beautifully. Melo goes over the top but hangs on the bottom rope. Now it's Finn Balor, taking his time, despite Dom Mysterio looking in trouble.
Finn manages to save Dom by flipping over Melo and CARMELO HAYES IS ELIMINATED. At the halfway point, it's time for many people's favourite, and last year's winner, Cody Rhodes, who's all smiles down the aisle.
He comes in and looks to clean house, finishing up with a Cody Cutter and AUSTIN THEORY IS ELIMINATED, but as he celebrates, Dom and Finn get to him. Bronson Reed is in now.
He goes for Nakaura, who's been quiet for a while. Again, there's some double-teaming from the two Judgment Day men, but Reed double-clotheslines them.
Reed stacks and double-Samoan drops Dom and Balor, and then ANDRADE IS ELIMINATED by Bronson Reed.
Nakamura and Cody Rhodes are now in the middle, and next in, it's Kofi Kingston for Rumble 17 (one behind Kane's 18). Cody Rhodes is just about surviving inside, and then he turns things around and SHINSUKE NAKAMURA IS ELIMINATED with a Cross Rhodes on the ropes.
LUDWIG KAISER IS ELIMINATED at the second time of asking by Kofi Kingston seconds before his pal Gunther enters, giving a mouthful to Kaiser on his way to the ring.
Kofi goes for Gunther but eats a chop for his trouble. Finn gets the same. Dom tries one of his own. That was an error. Gunther knocks down Jey Uso, and then as Jimmy celebrates, does the same to him. He then bodyslams Bronson Reed. And now, it's Gunther and Cody Rhodes, the last two men in last year's Rumble!
Kofi gets Gunther on the top and over, but Gunther recovers and KOFI KINGSTON IS ELIMINATED without even the slightest hint of a save. Then it's Ivar, who lays waste to both of the Judgment Day men.
He knocks down Rhodes too, while Gunther tries to put on a sleeper and fails. Reed and Ivar bounce off each other in the middle.
At the two-thirds point, we get Bron Breakker. He powers in with a spear to Jimmy Uso, and then runs through Finn, hits a clothesline on Ivar. And then JIMMY USO IS ELIMINATED and FINN BALOR IS ELIMINATED, one, two by Beaker.
Gunther and Breakker go at it. Breakker hits a spear and gets the straps down. Now it's Omos and, whatever his limitations, he's not gonna go up and out over the top all that easily, is he?
He gets Dom Mysterio up and down, but Bronson Reed isn't fazed. Maybe he should be. After a big boot, BRONSON REED IS ELIMINATED. Then Reed goes flying and IVAR IS ELIMINATED.
Then er... it's Pat McAfee's music. He's in his announce clothes! He undoes his top button and gets into the ring but immediately looks like he regrets it. He climbs over the top rope and onto the apron, but then gets back in. Then gets back out and PAT MCAFEE ELIMINATES HIMSELF.
And then as JD McDonagh comes to the ring, OMOS IS ELIMINATED by Breaker seconds before BRON BREAKKER IS ELIMINATED by Dom Mysterio.
Cody Rhodes almost dumps Gunther but he pulls himself back in. R-Truth gets his proper entrance. He throws JD McDONAGH back in and JD McDONAGH IS ELIMINATED.
R-Truth gets himself er.... tagged in, by Dom Mysterio (Truth is still a bit confused). He then goes for a Five Knuckle Shuffle on Gunther, but Gunther's not having it. He brushes off the attentions of Cody, too.
Now it's The Miz, tied third with 15 Royal Rumble appearances with Dolph Ziggler. An Awesome Truth reunion! They take down Jey Uso. The Miz tries to take out Dom, but R-Truth saves him! Oh, Truth. A 619 from Dom on Miz.
In at 26, it's Damian Priest. Damien Priest ELIMINATES R-TRUTH. And now it's what we've all been waiting for. CM Punk is in at 27!
He gets to it! Fists, kicks and moves being sprayed liberally! He loses the T-shirt and then there's a grin. Dom Mysterio goes for him and then immediately regrets it. DOMINIK MYSTERIO IS ELIMINATED.
A quick Go To Sleep motion but Damian Priest ruins things for Punk. Next in is Ricochet who's almost immediately eliminated by Priest, but he survives. Jey Uso is still in there and dishing it out.
Then THE MIZ IS ELIMINATED by Gunther and others. Then Drew McIntyre enters with real focus. He and Drew exchange blows in the middle. Then Priest goes for Drew. A MASSIVE Superkick from Jey on Drew. Then a Spear and Superkick on Gunther, who ends up on the top... He goes for it but Gunther counters and JEY USO IS ELIMINATED.
Last in is Sami Zayn. Zayn goes for McIntyre and Gunther. A bold policy. Then Priest. Gunther returns. Zayn nearly eliminates McIntyre! Ricochet bouncing around the ring. Whoah, Drew grabs Riochet's foot and flips him clean out of the ring and RICOCHET IS ELIMINATED.
Rhodes and then Punk hit Gunther, before McIntyre hits a Future Shock on Punk, and Sami hits a Helluva Kick on Mac.
Priest goes for a razor's edge but Zayn wriggles out and counters and DAMIAN PRIEST IS ELIMINATED. A narked-looking McIntyre rouses and SAMI ZAYN IS ELIMINATED. A shot of a happy Seth Rollins and even happier Roman Reigns in the stands.
Cody Rhodes hits a Cody Cutter on Gunther, who responds with a clothesline, while McIntyre beats up CM Punk, who is floored with a massive chop.
Now Cody and Rhodes look to get a bit of joy, but McIntyre hits a neckbreaker on Punk. Punk just about dodges a Claymore, and goes for a Go to Sleep, but Drew wriggles out and hits a Glasgow Kiss.
Claymore to Gunther! Claymore to Rhodes. Claymore to Punk. He glances at that WrestleMania sign. Some verbals from Mac to Punk but it's a mistake. Punk reverses the lift and gets Drew up and out! DREW MCINTYRE IS ELIMINATED. And then there were three.
Gunther gets Cody up and out, but like last year, Cody is too smart and too strong! GUNTHER IS ELIMINATED
Now it's CM Punk vs Cody Rhodes and AWAY THEY GO!!!
Fists back and forth. They bounce off the rope and knock each other down. They're literally fighting on their knees now. Back to their feet and Punk gets a bit of an edge, but Rhodes hits back with a power slam.
CM Punk blocks a Cody Cutter and hits three German Suplexes. Punk hits a running bulldog. Calls for the Go To Sleep. Gets Cody up, but he wriggles out, hits some fists and a bionic elbow.
Punk dodges a Cross Rhodes and gets Cody over the top rope! But Cody powers back in under the rope. CM Punk points to the sign and makes a throat-slitting motion. Nope! Cody hits that Cross Rhodes he's been teasing for an age, but he doesn't have the energy to capitalise.
He tries to get him up but Punk now hits his own Go To Sleep! But he's too drained to build on it too! He looks up at the sign and now gets Cody to his feet and back up again. Cody hangs on, lands on the apron and rolls back in.
CM Punk hits a pedigree on Cody Rhodes, and now calls for another Go To Sleep. "I didn't wait for 10 years to lose to Dusty's Kid."
Famous last words! HE goes for another Go To Sleep but Cody catches it! And with sheer force of will, he ELIMINATES CM PUNK!
WINNER: CODY RHODES
SNAP REVIEW: That was quite the finish. We really couldn't tell you who was going to win that till Punk's feet hit the floor, and in many ways, that's the most important thing.
There was plenty of entertainment along the way, too, with lots of lovely little match-ups keeping things ticking on nicely.
After a strong start, we'd have liked Jimmy and Jey to have had a bit more one-on-one involvement, and maybe set up a Mania match-up, but they certainly pushed the ball on a bit nicely.
Truth, McAfee and a few others were short but sweet. No major surprises beyond perhaps Andrade, but it didn't really need many.
Bronson Reed was impressive, as was Gunther, though we were disappointed by the likes of Finn Balor and especially Kofi Kingston, who never really got going.
In the end though, and after plenty of fun action, we got to CM Punk vs Cody Rhodes, and were on the edge of our seats for the whole finish. It'll be Cody vs Reigns II at WMXL, surely, which leaves the immediate future of CM Punk tantalisingly open... B+
Royal Rumble 2024 Review
Overall, an incredibly solid Royal Rumble. None of the matches screamed "This is an all-time classic", but all were good, and the results of all four lead us incredibly nicely poised for WrestleMania itself.
We can't wait to see an even MORE angry Kevin Owens seek revenge on Logan Paul, and, while Randy Orton surely won't agree, Roman Reigns vs CM Punk II at WrestleMania 40 feels like the right place for this all to end up.
Bayley will be expected to pick Rhea Ripley as her WrestleMania opponent to keep the gold with Damage CTRL, but expect a spanner in the works and a possible challenge to Iyo Sky.
And while we'd like a smidge more quality and finesse when it comes to Mania, the Royal Rumble has laid down a pretty good marker.
B+
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