It’s a wrap! The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble in St. Petersburg, FL, was an event filled with high-action, surprises, and significant moments setting a path leading to WrestleMania XL. No matter if you are a hardcore, casual, or lapsed fan, there’s no denying that it's an exciting time for its superstars and the brand itself. Here's what went down at the Tropicana Field this past weekend.
Women's Royal Rumble Match
The event kicked off with the Women's Royal Rumble Match, featuring notable entrants like Naomi’s long-anticipated return, surprise entrants including TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace and former AEW TBS Women’s Champion Jade Cargill, who made her WWE in-ring debut. Bayley emerged victorious, eliminating a returning Liv Morgan to win the match, setting a new Women's Rumble longevity record at over an hour. She now has the opportunity to challenge for a WWE Women's title of her choice at WrestleMania 40.
Women's Rumble Match (Image via WWE)
Universal Championship Fatal 4-Way Match
Roman Reigns defended his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight. The match saw a generation of wrestlers who have impressive careers, to say the least. Orton’s return may be the second coming to his illustrious career, and begs for the Tribal Chief vs. The Viper, immediately. *It’s the match I deserve.* Reigns ultimately retained his title after a tumultuous battle, extending his reign *as if, ha!* as champion.
Fatal four-way (Image via WWE)
United States Championship Match
Logan Paul, as the United States Champion, faced Kevin Owens for the title. The match showcased both competitors' determination. Paul retained the title, but not without a grueling fight and an incredibly creative disqualification.
Men's Royal Rumble Match
The main event featured the traditional 30-man Royal Rumble. It’s safe to say The Usos were the “ones” and the “twos” coming in at #1 and #2 in an emotional face-off to kick off the battle. The return of Andrade was significant in a time of reinvention for a series of WWE superstars. Taking the No. 4 spot is Andrade, who is known for his recent time in AEW and his earlier stint in WWE, where he held titles like the NXT Championship and WWE United States Championship.
The 1 and the 2 (Image via WWE)
Former NXT North American and NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes entered the Rumble at the No. 5 spot as one of the NXT representatives. During his 17-minute performance, he managed to score one elimination before being eliminated by Finn Bálor. Hayes presents a broader view of NXT talent by highlighting the brand's evolving stars and their potential as WWE superstars. Hayes' ascent to WWE's main roster is a testament to his undeniable talent, which he showcased extensively during his time in NXT. Hayes has made a significant impact in NXT, capturing titles such as the North American Championship and showcasing his skills against top-tier talent. His performances were not only technically impressive, but also highlighted his ability to connect with the audience, making him a standout competitor. The 2024 Royal Rumble spot was a pivotal moment for his career, signaling a readiness for the bigger stage. As he held his own against established superstars, Hayes proved that he's more than just a rising star, he is truly HIM.
Carmelo Hayes (Image via WWE)
Cody Rhodes secured the victory after eliminating CM Punk *rolls eyes*. The American Nightmare that is Rhodes entered at the No. 15 spot, becoming the fourth wrestler to win the Royal Rumble in back-to-back years. This victory sets Rhodes on a path to challenge for a world championship at WrestleMania XL, potentially aiming to conclude his ongoing “finish the story” with the Tribal Chief. Will he this time?
Notable Rumble Moments
After nearly a two-year absence, Naomi's return to the WWE at this year's Royal Rumble was nothing short of AMAZING. Entering the Rumble at #2, Naomi quickly reminded everyone I’m back and ready, and the reception was as if she'd never left. For fans like myself, who had been eagerly awaiting her return to WWE, her comeback brought energy into the match. Naomi's performance demonstrated her resilience and enduring popularity in the wrestling community. A standout moment of this year's Royal Rumble was her return. As a result of her comeback, the Women's Division has a promising future, offering opportunities for established and emerging WWE superstars to engage in feuds and collaborate.
Naomi returns (Image via WWE)
With her dominance in TNA, Jordynne Grace made a surprising entrance at the Women's Royal Rumble, exhibiting the cross-promotional maneuvers WWE loves to pull. Grace’s involvement added an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability to the event. Grace performed at the WWE level, and it wouldn't be surprising to see her completely crossover in the near future.
It was the moment we've all been waiting for. It was she who came and conquered. She came in and declared herself unplayable. Jade Cargill delivered an impressive performance in her WWE debut during the 2024 Royal Rumble. The dynamic presence and athletic skill of her surprise immediately captured the audience's attention, particularly her stand-off with Bianca Belair! I know we all wanted it; I’m just not sure if we were truly ready for this magnificence. During the match, Cargill showed off her strength and power moves by eliminating Nia Jax and Naomi, who had lasted an impressive length of time. It's encouraging to see Cargill's presence as a precursor to formidable storylines and rivalries in WWE after her showing in the Royal Rumble.
A powerful moment (Image via WWE)
In true comedic fashion, R-Truth mistakenly enters the Women's Royal Rumble, plus tags himself into the Men’s Royal Rumble match, while emulating John Cena. He’s just fantastic, that's it.
Image via Mimi #TheWrestlingChic
The 2024 Royal Rumble set the stage for WrestleMania XL, creating memorable moments and establishing narratives that will unfold on the "Grandest Stage of Them All." The 2024 Royal Rumble showcased WWE's ability to blend athletic spectacle with storytelling, keeping fans on the edge of their seats and eagerly anticipating what's next on the Road to WrestleMania. What will we see along the way? What feuds will spark due to the weekend? Will the story eventually finish?
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Mimi, aka #TheWrestlingChic is a co-host of #TheBuckle aka #TurnbuckleTalk every Tuesday at 6:35PM ET and every Thursday at 8:35PM ET on The Black Rasslin' Podcast.
1 comments :
The women's Royal Rumble was all kinds of amazing. The future of the women's division looks incredibly packed with amazing wrestlers.
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