All articles tagged with #royal rumble
The first WWE Raw of 2026 featured a high-stakes main event where CM Punk successfully defended his World Heavyweight Championship against Bron Breakker, amidst a night of title changes and women's division storylines, setting the tone for the year's wrestling calendar.
The New Day's 10-year anniversary celebration on WWE Raw could mark the group's breakup, as tensions between Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have escalated following recent losses. Speculation is rife that Big E might intervene to prevent the split. The episode also features CM Punk's appearance, the start of the Women's Intercontinental championship tournament, and various other matches and storylines building towards the Royal Rumble 2025.
WWE star Cody Rhodes trended on social media after seemingly giving up his WrestleMania opportunity against Roman Reigns for a match with The Rock, sparking fan support with the hashtag #WeWantCody. Wrestlers Logan Paul and Ricochet also expressed their support, though there are speculations that their posts may be part of a storyline. Meanwhile, Reigns and The Rock are set to meet at a WrestleMania press event, and Rhodes is rumored to challenge Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship.
WWE SmackDown featured Roman Reigns addressing his title defense, Bayley challenging Iyo Sky for WrestleMania, and Cody Rhodes announcing he won't face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania but was interrupted by The Rock, setting up a potential clash with Roman Reigns. The show also saw Logan Paul's feud with Kevin Owens, a tag team contender's match, and Tiffany Stratton's successful debut.
Bayley overhears Iyo Sky talking negatively about her, leading to Bayley deciding to challenge Sky for the women's championship at WrestleMania 40, making it the only official match for the event so far.
CM Punk reflects on his injury and praises the WWE locker room as "everything the business is supposed to be," emphasizing the support he has received from his colleagues. His positive remarks come amidst increased focus on WWE's culture due to the ongoing Vince McMahon scandal and concerns about potential issues following his return from AEW.
WWE star Bayley, who recently won the women's Royal Rumble match, is campaigning for rock band Paramore to perform her entrance theme at WrestleMania 40. She has previously requested to use Paramore's songs as her theme music and is using the hashtag #ParamoreForMania to advocate for the band. Bayley will reveal the world champion she wants to face at WrestleMania 40 on "WWE SmackDown," after being confronted by Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley on "WWE Raw."
Cody Rhodes was originally planned to win the Men's Royal Rumble match, but plans changed following CM Punk's injury. Former WWE writer Vince Russo criticized the generic entrance music at the Royal Rumble, claiming it resulted in a lack of crowd reaction for many superstars. Seth Rollins pitched for Cody Rhodes to challenge him at WrestleMania, with his decision to be revealed on WWE SmackDown.
WWE champion Seth Rollins continues to pitch to Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes, using examples of Ultimate Warrior and Ric Flair to persuade him to challenge for the title. This social media angle is part of WWE's attempt to create suspense around Rhodes' decision, with Rhodes teasing a response on SmackDown's Rumble fallout episode.
Triple H praised Bayley as a unique and giving performer, emphasizing her often overlooked role in WWE. He commended her for winning the women's Royal Rumble match and earning her spot at WrestleMania, highlighting her talent and importance in the industry.
Pat McAfee claimed on ESPN's "First Take" that his surprise entry into the WWE Men's Royal Rumble match was unexpected even to himself, and he quickly eliminated himself to avoid taking a main event spot at WrestleMania. Following his brief appearance, McAfee was announced as Michael Cole's new commentary partner for "WWE Raw," replacing Wade Barrett, leaving uncertainty about Barrett's future on "SmackDown."
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T and wrestling veteran Matt Morgan have both urged WWE to sign TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace after her impressive performance at the Royal Rumble last Saturday, where she lasted over 19 minutes in the Women's Royal Rumble match. Grace's talent and potential as a superstar were highlighted, with hopes that WWE would make efforts to sign her despite her current contract with TNA.
WWE Raw's first episode after the Royal Rumble drew its largest audience since last summer, with an average of 1,909,000 viewers per hour and a .61 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The show featured a commercial-free first hour and a highly anticipated CM Punk appearance, amidst headlines about Vince McMahon's sexual misconduct allegations. The episode's performance was not as strong as last year's Rumble fallout show, but it marked the best rating since November's Survivor Series fallout show. The upcoming weeks will reveal if WWE can maintain this audience as it heads towards WrestleMania 40.
Pat McAfee reflects positively on his return to WWE for Royal Rumble 2024, discussing his interactions with fellow announcer Corey Graves and praising both Graves and Michael Cole for helping him re-acclimate to WWE after his hiatus. McAfee's return was kept a secret until his entrance at the Royal Rumble, where he playfully shoved Graves into his announce chair. Now back full-time as part of "Raw," McAfee looks forward to continuing his role on the commentary team.
Cody Rhodes wins back-to-back Royal Rumble matches, earning a shot at the WWE Universal Championship, potentially against Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins. CM Punk suffers a torn triceps at the Royal Rumble, ruling him out of WrestleMania XL. The Rock's potential return to face Reigns at WrestleMania XL is hinted at, while new additions to the WWE roster include Andrade and Bron Breakker.