Normally, it’s hard to predict who will win the Royal Rumble match. That might not be the case with the 2023 Men’s Royal Rumble match, as two major names have announced their entry into the match. The 2022 winner Brock Lesnar would declare his entry in the match last night during Smackdown Live, making him an instant favourite. However, the return of Cody Rhodes from his 2022 torn pec has him as another major favourite – with months to stew and plan his return here tonight. However, there are 28 more men in the mix, and with Wrestlemania looming – everyone wants the win.
Pat McAfee Is Back, Sheamus & GUNTHER Start The Match Hot!
Before the match would begin, Pat McAfee would hit the announce desk – making his return to WWE to the glee of Michael Cole. Drawing the number 1 spot would be the reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER – someone with the cardio to go all night long. At number 2 – we have one of his biggest rivals in recent memory and former rumble winner, Sheamus!
They would take the moment in as the match began, before doing what they did best – trading heavy strikes in the middle of the ring. GUNTHER would shake off the shoulder tackle, and so would Sheamus. A chop to the throat would land on Sheamus, and GUNTHER took the Irish Curse in response. Entering at number 3 would be The Miz – his 14th time in a Rumble match… and he was in no hurry to join GUNTHER & Sheamus in the ring.
Miz would be chased around ringside by Sheamus, and into the ring where he was chopped by GUNTHER. He’d be caught in the crossfire as GUNTHER & Sheamus threw more hard strikes. Entering at number 4 was Kofi Kingston – marking his 15th rumble. He hit the ring with a diving crossbody before a double BOOM Drop on Miz & GUNTHER.
Number 5 would be returning Johnny Gargano, coming back from a minor shoulder injury. He started with a slingshot spear on Kofi before One Final Beat on Miz before setting him up for Sheamus to batter on the apron. Ten Beats of the Bodhran would follow, before the superkick and Brogue Kick marked the first elimination.
The Ring Starts To Fill As Wrestlers Enter The Royal Rumble
Number 6 would be Xavier Woods, giving back up for Kofi in this match. The New Day would work on GUNTHER before some high speed offence on Gargano. Kofi & Woods would have some fun in the middle of the ring – but got back to fighting. Karrion Kross would turn things Black & White with his debut entrance to the Royal Rumble as number 7.
Kross would toss bodies around with suplexes, before a spinning forearm to the jaw of Woods. GUNTHER showed him how to actually strike with a crushing lariat before taking an Exploder Suplex. Chad Gable was in at number 8, and Woods & Gable would sprawl in the middle of the ring before Drew McIntyre entered at 9.
The winner of the 2020 Rumble would march to the ring – ready to bring the fight. He’d suplex Kofi & Woods with ease before a Glasgow Kiss to Gable. Revenge Alabama Slam would land on Gargano, right onto Gable, before Kross was eliminated with the Claymore. He’d match up with GUNTHER for some big chops.
Future Shock DDT would land, as Santos Escobar would enter at number 10. He’d take down Woods with a frankensteiner, before being thrown to the apron. Gamiguri would land on Sheamus before a crossbody on Gable. Gargano would get him on the top rope, as Sheamus & McIntyre would beat down Gable.
Escobar would hit an Avalanche Phantom Driver as Angelo Dawkins came in as number 11. He’d show his speed as Woods would narrowly avoid elimination by Sheamus & McIntyre. GUNTHER would get Woods out with a big boot, before Kofi would hit a Mushroom Stomp on Escobar.
Brock Lesnar Only Lasts Three Minutes
Kofi would be sent to the floor and landed on a chair, with one foot staying off the ground – as Brock Lesnar made it out at number 12. The 2022 Rumble winner was ready to get into the fight, as McIntyre & Sheamus awaited him. Lesnar would be double teamed, but welcomed both men to Suplex City… and Dawkins, and Escobar was just chucked out of the ring before taking down Dawkins.
Gable was out next, before some more suplexes. He would lock eyes with GUNTHER, who would throw some heavy chops at The Beast Incarnate as Bobby Lashley was number 13 – an unlucky number for Lesnar, who would be run down with a spear. McIntyre took the next spear, before Sheamus and GUNTHER. Lesnar looked for the F5 – being driven from the ring by Lashley.
Just three minutes for Lesnar tonight, and he’s not happy. One man who is happy is Baron Corbin at number 14 – because he doesn’t have to wrestle Lesnar… but he would take an F5 from a pissed off Lesnar all the same. Lesnar would attack a referee, and if Kofi was still in the match – he got the hell out of dodge.
Number 15 would be Seth Rollins – the winner of the 2019 match. He’d help Corbin into the ring and send him right out. At number 16 would be the second half of Alpha Academy – Otis. He’d wipe out Gargano with a back elbow before slams on Sheamus & McIntyre. Rey Mysterio was at number 17, who previously lasted over an hour in a Royal Rumble and won the 2006 match.
Edge Wages War With Judgement Day
He wouldn’t show up, and in the ring – Rollins would take out Lashley. Otis hit the caterpillar on GUNTHER, as number 18 was Dominik Mysterio – wearing his dads mask before ripping it half. Back in the ring, Otis was dumped out of the ring. Rollins hit the Buckle Bomb on Gargano, as Dom would stall outside of the ring. He’d slip in and get threatened by Sheamus, with number 19 being Elias.
He’d smash a guitar over the back of GUNTHER before taking the Claymore & Brogue Kick combo and was thrown out. No encore for him tonight. Finn Balor would be in at number 20, going after McIntyre & Sheamus. Gargano would hit a superkick and tried to send him out with Dom making the save.
Ex-Con Dom would avoid a spear, before Balor helped to throw Gargano out of the match. Number 21 would be two time Hall of Famer Booker T – finally getting his invite to the match. He’d go after Balor before the hook kick on Dom, and Book End would follow. Spinaroonie would follow, before GUNTHER threw him out.
Damien Priest was out at number 22, putting The Judgement Day all in the ring. GUNTHER would show damage from the guitar shot, as Montez Ford would be in at number 23. Ford would take on Judgement Day, taking a chokeslam to the floor – he stuck the landing but that was him out.
Number 24 would hit the ring, and Edge was back and ready to bring the wrath of Hades to Judgement Day. He’d nail spear after spear after spear, before sending out Priest, & Balor – before Balor & Priest pulled Edge out.
Cody Rhodes Makes His Long Awaited Return To The Ring
Austin Theory would be number 25, as Edge chased Balor up the aisle. Theory would avoid this brawl the best he could, before Ripley attacked Edge from behind. Beth Phoenix was there to make the save, hitting the spear on Ripley. Finally in the ring, the United States Champion Theory would go after Sheamus & GUNTHER, who have been in since the start.
Omos was number 26, with Sheamus & McIntyre attacking but being run down with a double lariat. He’d strike down everyone until GUNTHER would chop away at Omos but took a chokeslam. Number 27 would be Braun Strowman – someone who can match the size and power of even Omos.
They’d trade punches, which just made Omos angry – but a lariat took him from the ring. Theory was thrown across the ring, and Ricochet was number 28 – who was used as a weapon by Strowman. McIntyre & Sheamus would attack on the apron, before GUNTHER would make the save.
He’d take out both Sheamus & McIntyre, as number 29 would be Logan Paul. Ricochet took a Buckshot Lariat, before Paul would match up with Strowman. Running powerslam would land , before a running shooting star press from Ricochet. At number 30 of course, was The American Nightmare – Cody Rhodes. Rhodes would waste no time getting into it, taking out Theory with a CodyCutter.
Dom would be thrown out, and GUNTHER hit the Last Symphony on Strowman. Ricochet & Paul would crash in the air with duelling springboards, a highlight reel moment for years to come. Rhodes thought quick, and took out Strowman and Ricochet was out by the hand of GUNTHER.
Coming Down To #1 & #30
Theory would be taken out by Rollins & Rhodes, and we were down to three in the ring. GUNTHER was still standing, and would let Rhodes & Rollins have their moment. They’d work together to try to take out the iron man of this match, with Rollins hitting a pedigree and Rhodes hit one of his own.
Rhodes would hit Cross Rhodes, before Logan Paul threw Rollins out of the match. Paul took a Cross Rhodes and was thrown out. It comes down to the first man of the match and the final entrant. GUNTHER would prove that his gas tank is not empty as he threw chops and clubbing blows – testing the pec area of Rhodes.
Rhodes would nearly slip to the floor when put in the corner, before being launched with a superplex. GUNTHER officially broke the time record set by Rey Mysterio in 2006, before taking the CodyCutter. He’d have his leg attacked, before being set up for Shattered Dreams.
GUNTHER would hit the shotgun dropkick and powerbomb, and again Rhodes barely saved himself. Rhodes would be taken into a sleeper hold, but lowered himself to try and pull GUNTHER out. Cross Rhodes would land, before Rhodes finally send GUNTHER out for the win! Cody Rhodes wins the Royal Rumble!
Can Rhodes become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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