The 2023 WWE Royal Rumble Kickoff pre-show opens live from The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas as Kayla Braxton welcomes us. Huge crowd is behind her, chanting “Kayla!” now. Braxton is joined by WWE Hall of Famers Booker T and Jerry Lawler, along with Kevin Patrick and Peter Rosenberg. The crowd chants for each man. The panel goes over tonight’s matches and a “Cody!” chant breaks out when the Men’s Royal Rumble graphic is shown. They also chant for LA Knight over Bray Wyatt. We get the By The Numbers video for the Royal Rumble.
– We see footage of Zelina Vega and Lacey Evans picking their numbers off the lottery wall earlier. Lawler predicts a surprise entrant will win, while Rosenberg goes with Rhea Ripley, Patrick goes with Raquel Rodriguez. Matt Camp is now in the Cricket Fan Zone outside of the arena, where WWE memorabilia and trivia is on display.
– We see footage of Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon last night. We also see what happened with Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn’s involvement. The Bloodline is backstage now, and everyone is in deep thought, looking a little worried. Reigns is upset over what happened at SmackDown as he previously ordered Zayn to stay gone until tonight. Reigns yells at Zayn and says he can’t wrap his brain around this… he gives an order, they follow it. It’s simple and the recipe works, it’s why they are where they are.
Reigns says Sami couldn’t even follow instructions, and this is why he treats him like a child. Sami is looking for words to say but Jey Uso speaks up and says it was him. Uso says Adam Pearce kicked he and Jimmy Uso out, Sikoa had a match, and Reigns was on his private jet for The Tonight Show, so Jey called an audible and called Sami back to the building. Jey says Sami answered the call, he was there for The Family. This calms Reigns down.
Roman Reigns says why are we talking about last night, it’s all about tonight, this is fight night. Reigns says the gameplan is simple – The Usos stay in the back as he wants no trouble because this is a big night. Reigns says Sami will be with him the whole night, attached to his hip. Reigns says tonight is Sami’s night. He asks if Sami is ready. Sami is fired up and ready to go. We get a video package to hype up tonight’s Pitch Black match.
– The panel discusses the Pitch Black match now and everyone predicts Wyatt to win, and Lawler believes Uncle Howdy will help. Greg Miller is backstage now. He thanks everyone for the success of WWE’s “This Is Awesome” show on Peacock and the WWE Network. Miller is joined by WWE Hall of Famer JBL now. JBL goes on about how he’s changed from the bad guy he was, so he brought a gift for Miller. He ends up hitting Miller with a pie in the face, then walking off. Back from a break and we get a promo for tonight’s RAW Women’s Title match.
Lawler predicts Alexa Bliss will win with Howdy’s help. Booker and Patrick go with Bliss to win as well, while Rosenberg predicts Bianca Belair to retain. We go back outside to Camp, who is with a loud group of fans. One kid predicts Cody Rhodes to win the Men’s Royal Rumble, while another kid predicts Rhea Ripley will win the Women’s Rumble. The panel sends to a video package on Cody’s comeback. We go back to the panel and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias has joined Braxton and crew.
Fluffy wants to see Rey Mysterio win the Men’s Rumble tonight. He jokes about Dominik Mysterio. He teases that we may see him in the Men’s Rumble but he’s just joking around. We see footage of WWE NXT Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston, Santos Escobar and Drew McIntyre picking their Rumble numbers earlier in the day. Kingston and Escobar were happy, but McIntyre was not. Iglesias still wants to see Rey tonight, but he predicts Cody will win. Rosenberg also goes with Rhodes, while Patrick picks Brock Lesnar to win, Booker also goes with Cody. Lawler agrees that Lesnar will win.
– We get a promo for tonight’s Undisputed WWE Universal Title match. We also saw Kevin Owens arriving to the arena earlier today. The panel all go with Roman Reigns to retain in the match, believed to be the main event. Kayla signs off and that’s it for the Kickoff.
– The 2023 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event opens up with a video package to hype tonight’s big event. The video features country music singer Hardy, and his “Sold Out” single. We’re now live from The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas as the packed crowd cheers. Michael Cole welcomes us an says there’s more than 50,000 fans in attendance. Cole says this is his favorite match of the year, and we are here to officially kick off The Road to WrestleMania 39. We see the WrestleMania Goes Hollywood sign hanging high. Cole is joined at ringside with Corey Graves.
They hype tonight’s show but the music interrupts and out comes Pat McAfee to make his big return. The crowd pops big for McAfee, while Cole and Graves act surprised. Mike Rome introduces McAfee as he heads to the ring. McAfee poses in the corners, then stands on the apron to throw a crotch chop to Cole and Graves. McAfee hugs Cole, then offers a handshake to Graves. Graves hesitates and McAfee pulls his hand back. Graves says there’s no way he can sit next to McAfee the whole night. Fans chant “welcome back!” as McAfee sits on the other side of Cole.
Here The WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Full Results
• Cody Rhodes win 30-Man Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Gunther for World Championship match at WrestleMania
– Gunther entered at #1 and eliminated at 29 by Cody Rhodes
– Sheamus entered at #2 and eliminated at 21 by Gunther
– The Miz entered at #3 and eliminated at 1 by Sheamus
– Kofi Kingston entered at #4 and eliminated at 4 by Gunther
– Johnny Gargano entered at #5 and eliminated at 14 by Dominik Mysterio and Finn Balor
– Xavier Woods entered at #6 and eliminated at 3 by Gunther
– Karrion Kross entered at #7 and eliminated at 2 by Drew McIntyre
– Chad Gable entered at #8 and eliminated at 7 by Brock Lesnar
– Drew McIntyre entered at #9 and eliminated at 22 by Gunther
– Santos Escobar entered at #10 and eliminated at 5 by Brock Lesnar
– Angelo Dawkins entered at #11 and eliminated at 6 by Brock Lesnar
– Brock Lesnar entered at #12 and eliminated at 8 by Bobby Lashley
– Bobby Lashley entered at #13 and eliminated at 11 by Seth “Freakin” Rollins
– Baron Corbin entered at #14 and eliminated at 9 by Seth “Freakin” Rollins
– Seth “Freakin” Rollins entered at #15 and eliminated at 27 by Logan Paul
– Otis entered at #16 and eliminated at 12 by Drew McIntyre and Sheamus
– Rey Mysterio no #17 but didn’t enter the match
– Dominik Mysterio entered at #18 and eliminated at 23 by Cody Rhodes
– Elias entered at #19 and eliminated at 13 by Drew McIntyre and Sheamus
– Finn Balor entered at #20 and eliminated at 18 by Edge
– Booker T entered at #21 and eliminated at 15 by Gunther
– Damian Priest entered at #22 and eliminated at 17 by Edge
– Montez Ford entered at #23 and eliminated at 16 by Damian Priest
– Edge entered at #24 and eliminated at 19 by Finn Balor
– Austin Theory entered at #25 and eliminated at 26 by Cody Rhodes
– Omos entered at #26 and eliminated at 20 by Braun Strowman
– Braun Strowman entered at #27 and eliminated at 24 by Cody Rhodes
– Ricochet entered at #28 and eliminated at 25 by Austin Theory
– Logan Paul entered at #29 and eliminated at 28 by Cody Rhodes
– Cody Rhodes entered at #30 and last eliminated Gunther to win the Royal Rumble match.
After the match, Cody Rhodes begins his celebrations, drops to his knees and kisses the mat, then looks up at the WrestleMania 39 sign. Cody hits the corner to pose as the pyro goes off. He points up at the WrestleMania sign. It looks like Kingston and Rey were never officially eliminated.
• Bray Wyatt defeated LA Knight via pinfall in Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match. After the match, Bray Wyatt sits up and looks around as his eyes glow. Wyatt comes back up with some sort of gas mask on. He stalks LA and chases him out of the ring. LA beats on Wyatt with a kendo stick but the blows do nothing. Wyatt continues to stalk LA, now to the stage, while eating kendo stick shots. Wyatt applies the Mandible Claw and brings LA down to his back.
Wyatt looks up and we see Uncle Howdy looking down from a platform. Howdy smiles and leaps off the platform, crashing down below to put LA through the stage. Flames shoot up and there’s an explosion as Wyatt stares at them while standing up on the stage. Wyatt looks on as a fire burns where LA and Howdy are. The Firefly Funhouse puppets also appeared on a platform up high as Wyatt posed.
• Mike Rome announces 51,338 fans in attendance at The Alamodome tonight. Pyro shoots off as fans cheer.
• Bianca Belair defeated Alexa Bliss via pinfall and successfully retained her Raw Women’s Championship. After the match, Belair stands tall and making her exit now, raising the title in the air. Bliss is down and trying to recover in the ring when a video suddenly interrupts, with flashes of Bliss and a playground. We see some of her previous looks, including the black liquid and time with Bray Wyatt. Bliss watches from her knees in the ring. We hear Uncle Howdy ask, “Do you feel in charge?” Bliss looks on from the ring to end the segment.
• Rhea Ripley won the 30-woman Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Liv Morgan for the World Championship match at WrestleMania
– Rhea Ripley entered at #1 and won the Women’s Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Liv Morgan.
– Liv Morgan entered at #2 and eliminated at 29 by Rhea Ripley
– Dana Brooke entered at#3 and eliminated at #2 but Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky
– Emma entered at #4 and eliminated at 3 by Dakota Kai
– Shayna Baszler entered at #5 and eliminated at 6 by Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky
– Bayley entered at #6 and eliminated at 13 by Liv Morgan
– B-Fab entered at #7 and eliminated at 1 by Rhea Ripley
– Roxanne Perez entered at #8 and eliminated at 4 by Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky
– Dakota Kai entered at #9 and eliminated at 10 by Becky Lynch
– Iyo Sky entered at #10 and eliminated at 11 by Becky Lynch
– Natalya entered at #11 and eliminated at 5 by Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky
– Candice LeRae entered at #12 and eliminated at 7 by Iyo Sky
– Zoey Stark entered at #13 and eliminated at 16 by Sonya Deville
– Xia Li entered at #14 and eliminated at 14 by Zelina Vega
– Becky Lynch entered at #15 and eliminated at 12 by Bayley
– Tegan Nox entered at #16 and eliminated at 8 by Asuka
– Asuka entered at #17 and eliminated at 28 by Rhea Ripley
– Piper Niven entered at #18 and eliminated at 25 by Raquel Rodriguez
– Tamina entered at #19 and eliminated at 15 by Michelle McCool
– Chelsea Green entered at #20 and eliminated at 9 by Rhea Ripley
– Zelina Vega entered at #21 and eliminated at 17 Lacey Evans
– Raquel Rodriguez entered at #22 and eliminated at 26 by Rhea Ripley
– Mia Yim entered at #23 and eliminated at 24 by Piper Niven
– Lacey Evans entered at #24 and eliminated at 20 by Raquel Rodriguez
– Michelle McCool entered at #25 and eliminated at 22 by Rhea Ripley
– Indi Hartwell entered at #26 and eliminated at 18 by Sonya Deville
– Sonya Deville entered at #27 and eliminated at 21 by Asuka
– Shotzi entered at #28 and eliminated at 23 by Mia Yim
– Nikki Cross entered at #29 and eliminated at 27 by Liv Morgan
– Nia Jax entered at #30 and eliminated at 19 by Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Asuka, Piper Niven, Raquel Rodiguez, Mia Yim, Lacey Evans, Michelle McCool, Sonya Deville, Shotzi, and Nikki Cross
After the match, Ripley sits up and bites the ropes. She is all smiles as Asuka and Liv look on from the floor. Ripley hits the corner to pose, and she points up at the WrestleMania 39 sign s the pyro goes off. We see more pyro going off outside of The Alamodome. Ripley continues her celebration while sitting on the top turnbuckle.
• The announcers show us what happened with Brock Lesnar during tonight’s opener.
• Country rock singer Hardy performs his “Sold Out” single on the stage.
• Roman Reigns defeated Kevin Owens via pinfall and successfully retained his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. After the match, Roman Reigns sits up on his knees in the middle of the ring. Sami looks relived that the match is over as he begins clapping. Sami and Heyman enter the ring to stand with Reigns as Reigns raises both titles in the air. Solo Sikoa and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos are in the ring now. They all have red leis on, but Jey Uso holds the one for Sami.
Roman Reigns stops Jey from placing the lei around Sami’s neck because he has something planned for Owens, and wants Sami to watch. Jimmy Uso mounts Owens with right hands at Reigns’ direction. Jey joins in. Reigns smiles as he watches. The Usos lay Owens out with the 1D. Reigns has his arm around Sami while they watch, but Sami isn’t enjoying this. Jimmy beats Owens down in the corner. Jey grabs a chair and The Usos wrap it around Owens’ neck. Some fans chant for Sami. Sikoa delivers the Umaga Splash to Owens with the chair wrapped around his neck.
Paul Heyman hands two pair of handcuffs to Owens. The Usos cuff both of Owens’ arms to the top rope, holding him up there. The Usos take turns delivering eight superkicks to Owens, then one double superkick, and another double superkick, all while Owens is cuffed to the top rope by each arm. Fans chant “Sami!” now. Reigns has the chair in-hand as he talks trash to Owens about how Sami is his family. Reigns goes to swing the chair but Sami gets in the way, telling him to stop. Sami says this is done, it’s over, this is beneath Reigns and he’s better than this. Sami says this doesn’t need to go any further because Owens is done.
Roman Reigns then hands the chair to Sami. Sami doesn’t want it. Reigns stares at Sami while holding the chair up but Sami pleads. Reigns says there’s no going back now, we’ve come too far, Sami is ours, and they are Sami’s. Reigns says Owens has dragged him down from day one, while Reigns loves him and has let him be a part of something big when before he was doing Jackass shit. Sami is behind Reigns now, with the chair. Reigns barks at Owens and turns to Sami, telling him to pull the trigger. Sami is crying now. Reigns mushes him in the face a few times. Reigns is yelling in Sami’s face now. Fans chant for Sami as he prepares to deliver the chair shot. Sami smacks Reigns in the back with the chair, bringing Reigns down. Everyone is shocked.
Sami drops the chair and turns to The Usos, telling him he’s sorry. Jey yells back and asks Sami why he did this. Jimmy superkicks Sami down. Jimmy yells at Jey, asking if this is his brother. No, I’m your brother. Jimmy mounts Sami with right hands as Jey watches. Sikoa grabs Sami and nails the Samoan Spike. Sikoa holds Sami down while Jimmy beats on him and Reigns yells in his face. Sikoa with headbutts. Jey is almost balled up in the corner. Reigns yells at him about how Sami isn’t his family, we are. Jimmy pounds on Sami some more. Jey drops down and rolls out of the ring as the crowd erupts. Jey walks to the back but it looks like he’s a bit emotional. Reigns smacks Sami with chair shots over the back in the middle of the ring, numerous chair shots. Fans boo.
Reigns mounts Sami with punches now. Owens is still cuffed to the top rope. Fans chant “fuck you Roman!” now. Jimmy hands the red lei meant for Sami to Reigns now. Reigns rips the red flowers off and tosses them on Sami and around the ring. The boos get louder. Jimmy has Sami’s Bloodline t-shirt that was ripped off him. Reigns exits the ring, and he’s followed by Sikoa, Jimmy and Heyman. The Bloodline, minus Jey, stops and looks back at the ring. We see Sami and Owens both laid out. We cut to a video package of highlights from tonight’s show. The 2023 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event goes off the air.
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