WWE color commentator Pat McAfee made his return last night during the 2023 Royal Rumble. He joined the commentary team which featured Corey Graves and Michael Cole.
30-MAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH:
Entry Order:
- Gunther
- Sheamus
- The Miz
- Kofi Kingston
- Johnny Gargano
- Xavier Woods
- Karrion Kross
- Chad Gable
- Drew McIntyre
- Santos Escobar
- Angelo Dawkins
- Brock Lesnar
- Bobby Lashley
- Baron Corbin
- Seth Rollins
- Otis
- Rey Mysterio – Nevered entered the Rumble, he was apparently taken out in the back by his son Dominik
- Dominik Mysterio
- Elias
- Finn Balor
- Booker T
- Damian Priest
- Montez Ford
- Edge – After he was eliminated, Edge chases Priest and Balor back up the ramp and they begin brawling until Rhea Ripley comes out and helps. However, as she turns around Beth Phoenix appears and hits Rhea with a spear and the brawling continues until officials break it up.
- Austin Theory
- Omos
- Braun Strowman
- Ricochet
- Logan Paul
- Cody Rhodes
Winner: Cody Rhodes
MOUNTAIN DEW PITCH BLACK MATCH:
Bray Wyatt def. LA Knight
After the match, Wyatt then ends up with some form of mask on his face with a completely different look than before, and he stalks Knight. He uses the kendo stick to hit Wyatt on the head but he just walks through it as the blows don’t register. Wyatt eats a trio of shots to the head but he doesn’t flinch as hey head through the fans, and Wyatt grabs Knight and locks in the Mandible Claw.
Uncle Howdy is then shown above Wyatt on a platform, and he launches himself off the top of the platform, crashing through Knight underneath as the area explodes. Above him are the puppet characters who look down and watch everything.
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP:
Bianca Belair (c) def. Alexa Bliss
After the match the lights flicker and a playground is shown with various Wyatt related logos. Uncle Howdy asks her if she feels in charge, and Bliss is then shown looking scared inside the ring.
30-WOMAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH:
Entry Order:
- Rhea Ripley
- Liv Morgan
- Dana Brooke
- Emma
- Shayna Baszler
- Bayley
- B-Fab
- Roxane Perez
- Dakota Kai
- Iyo Sky
- Natalya
- Candice LeRae
- Zoey Stark
- Xia Li
- Becky Lynch
- Tegan Nox
- Asuka
- Piper Niven
- Tamina
- Chelsea Green
- Zelina Vega
- Raquel Rodriguez
- “Michin” Mia Yim
- Lacey Evans
- Michelle McCool – She was sitting in the crowd
- Indi Hartwell
- Sonya Deville
- Shotzi
- Nikki Cross
- Nia Jax
Winner: Rhea Ripley
UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
Roman Reigns (c) w/Paul Heyman and Sami Zayn def. Kevin Owens
After the match, all of The Bloodline appear. Jey Uso wants to honor him but Reigns says no and he wants them to attack Owens more which The Usos do as they beat down on Owens, hitting the 1D. They then trap Owens’ head into a chair as Solo Sikoa charges into the corner with a hip attack. The Usos then handcuff Owens to the top rope, leaving him helpless as they continue the attack with superkicks.
Reigns then gets set to hit Owens with a chair but Zayn gets in the way and he tells Roman it is beneath him as it is enough. Instead, Reigns hands Zayn the chair himself, and he then steps infront of him and Zayn teases hitting Roman but he doesn’t. Reigns then pushes Zayn several times as he screams in his face, but Zayn then uses the chair…on Reigns! He apologizes to Jey, and then Jimmy Uso nails him with a superkick and begins a beatdown himself. Sikoa then hits the Samoan Spike to him as Reigns instructs them to keep attacking him and they beat him down as Jey watches on. They hen want more Jey to get involved, but he simply leaves the ring as he cries and walks away from The Bloodline. Reigns then takes out his frustration with a chair on Zayn himself.
