The Royal Rumble PLE 2023 concluded at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas on January 28th.
The Men’s Royal Rumble match was the first match of the night and we had a first time winner for it. Here are the highlights:
Intercontinental champion GUNTHER and Sheamus entered at numbers 1 and 2, respectively.
El chop que le ha dado GUNTHER a Sheamus y cómo ha sonado. Madre mía. #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/HzYJoiBs2U
Advertisement— Luigi (@LuigiWrestling) January 29, 2023
The old time rivals were battling each other when The Miz entered at #3. Royal Rumble spot specialist Kofi Kingston entered next at #4. Then it was Johnny Gargano at #5. There were no eliminations at this point. Gargano and Sheamus then joined forces to eliminate Miz which made him the first elimination of the night. Xavier Woods entered next at #6 giving The New Day a team advantage over others. His partner Kingston was still there. They were dominating their competition and even teased fighting each other. At a point, GUNTHER knocked over Kingston over the ropes and like always it seemed Kofi will save himself miraculously. But he hit the commentator’s chair too hard and fell on the floor. This has happened for a second year in a row where Kofi’s spot has failed.
The Kofi Kingston "save botch" from Royal Rumble 2023 pic.twitter.com/rDodTeDEu6
Advertisement— WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) January 29, 2023
After others had entered 2-time Rumble winner Brock Lesnar entered at #12 and was cleaning house. He tossed out Santos Escobar, Angelo Dawkins and Chad Gable when his long time adversary Bobby Lashley entered at #13. Lashley had made clear beforehand that he was coming after Lesnar. The Almighty immediately started fighting The Beast Incarnate and eventually eliminated him.
El momento de la eliminación de Brock Lesnar a manos de Bobby Lashley. Tenemos rivalidad para WrestleMania. #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/68rjvWorQq
Advertisement— Luigi (@LuigiWrestling) January 29, 2023
A frustrated Lesnar destroyed the announcer’s table and even delivered an F-5 to Baron Corbin #14 ringside. He then tossed a referee ringside before making an exit.
Seth Rollins then entered halfway through the match at #15 and immediately eliminated Corbin. He then eliminated Lashley next. At #17 Rey Mysterio’s music played but he never came. At #18 Rey’s estranged son Dominik Mysterio entered wearing his father’s mask implying he did something to Rey backstage. He even tore off Mysterio’s mask on the way to the ring.
Lo de Dominik entrando con la máscara de Rey Mysterio tras haberle atacado en backstage. Puede ser que sea un meme, pero están consiguiendo que le odie TODO el mundo. #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/3nl3e78iZv
— Luigi (@LuigiWrestling) January 29, 2023
Advertisement
Then there was a surprise entrant at #21 which was WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T. He even delivered his trademark Spinaroonie in the middle of the ring but GUNTHER eliminated him soon after.
At #22 Damian Priest joined the match, which gave Judgment Day a major advantage. All 3 male members of the faction (Dominik, Balor and Priest) were in the match now. They were dominating all the remaining participants. Then Edge entered at #24 and he had a score to settle with Judgment Day as they had attacked him at Exteme Rules. He went after them with vengeance and eliminated Priest and Balor. Edge would’ve eliminated Dominik too but was pulled over the ropes by Balor & Priest, while Dominik pushed him over. The Rated R Superstar was brawling with them on the ramp when Rhea Ripley blindsided him. Edge’s wife Beth Phoenix, who has a score to settle with Ripley, speared her.
Logan Paul arrived at #29 after having recovered from his injuries from Crown Jewel. He was soon jumped upon by all competitors. He did an impressive spot with Ricochet where they collided mid-air while doing flying clotheslines.
Qué cojones acaban de hacer Logan Paul y Ricochet. Wow. #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/HJ1BV3k4j7
— Luigi (@LuigiWrestling) January 29, 2023
Advertisement
Next was the final entrant of the Men’s Royal Rumble match and it was Cody Rhodes at #30. This was his first appearance in 8 months since his torn pectoral injury. He and his old rival Rollins faced off until Logan eliminated the Visionary by surprise. Rhodes then delivered a Cross Rhodes to Paul and tossed him out of the ring.
Finally only 2 of the 30 competitors were remaining. It was Rhodes and GUNTHER. The Last and the First entrant. They fought each other with all they had until GUNTHER ate Cody’s Cross Rhodes and got eliminated.
GUNTHER HAS BEEN ELIMINATED CODY RHODES WON THE ROYAL RUMBLE!#WWE #RoyalRumble #RoyalRumble2023 #WWERoyalRumble #WWERoyalRumble2023 pic.twitter.com/fGFofL2ctf
Advertisement— Wresumo (@wresumo) January 29, 2023
However, GUNTHER set the record for lasting the longest time in a Royal Rumble match.
Therefore, your Men’s ROYAL RUMBLE winner for 2023 is CODY RHODES.
El momento de la coronación de Cody Rhodes. Con más pirotecnia que nunca. Uno de los momentos épicos para la historia del #RoyalRumble. pic.twitter.com/1cbj723gTi
— Luigi (@LuigiWrestling) January 29, 2023
Advertisement
He should now face Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 39.
ORDER ENTRANT ELIMINATION
1 | GUNTHER | Miz (Sheamus) |
2 | Sheamus | Kross (McIntyre) |
3 | The Miz | Woods (GUNTHER) |
4 | Kofi Kingston | Kingston (GUNTHER 2) |
5 | Johnny Gargano | Escobar (Lesnar) |
6 | Xavier Woods | Dawkins (Lesnar 2) |
7 | Karrion Kross | Gable (Lesnar 3) |
8 | Chad Gable | Lesnar (Lashley) |
9 | Drew McIntyre | Corbin (Rollins) |
10 | Santos Escobar | Lashley (Rollins 2) |
11 | Angelo Dawkins | Otis (Sheamus 2) |
12 | Brock Lesnar | Elias (McIntyre 2) |
13 | Bobby Lashley | Gargano (Balor 1) |
14 | Baron Corbin | Booker T (GUNTHER 3) |
15 | Seth Rollins | Ford (Priest) |
16 | Otis | Priest (Edge) |
17 | Rey Mysterio* | Balor (Edge 2) |
18 | Dominik Mysterio | Edge (Dominik) |
19 | Elias | Omos (Strowman) |
20 | Finn Balor | Sheamus (GUNTHER 4) |
21 | Booker T | McIntyre (GUNTHER 5) |
22 | Damian Priest | Dominik (Rhodes) |
23 | Montez Ford | Strowman (Rhodes 2) |
24 | Edge | Ricochet (Theory) |
25 | Austin Theory | Theory (Rhodes 3) |
26 | Omos | Rollins (Paul) |
27 | Braun Strowman | Paul (Rhodes 4) |
28 | Ricochet | GUNTHER (Rhodes 5) |
29 | Logan Paul | Winner: Cody Rhodes |
30 | Cody Rhodes | *Never entered: Rey Mysterio |