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How Jordynne Grace’s 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Appearance Came Together

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans were a bit shocked to see Jordynne Grace in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. This surprising appearance made way for a couple amazing spots with Naomi and Ivy Nile, and there is a lot more behind that cameo in Tropicana Field.

Behind The Scenes Info

Sean Ross Sapp reported a bit more information on Fightful Select about TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace showing up at the Royal Rumble. It was noted that WWE had contacted external companies regarding potential surprise entrants for the Royal Rumble.

According to the report, WWE reached out to TNA over the weekend, and the arrangements were made for Jordynne Grace, who is still under contract with TNA, to appear during the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match.

It’s reported that Grace underwent a physical and blood work on Monday before flying to Florida on Thursday to participate in the Royal Rumble rehearsals.
Some within TNA had heard about this possibility earlier in the month, coinciding with broader WWE and TNA rumors.

Sources within WWE reportedly mentioned that both TNA and Jordynne Grace were cooperative and easy to work with throughout the process. This was obviously great exposure for their brand.

WWE Has Royal Rumble History With Knockouts Champion

In 2022, Mickie James appeared in the Women’s Royal Rumble match as Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion. She was still under contract with them at the time of her appearance with WWE. That was also a big moment for Impact, because the Knockouts Championship got exposure in the big WWE match. 

Pat McAfee Claims WWE Didn’t Give Him Heads-Up About Royal Rumble Match Entry

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans saw several surprises during the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Pat McAfee returned to commentary, and he got a spot in the Rumble match. It appears that WWE sprung that match spot on him.

Pat McAfee Speaks on his Royal Rumble Return

Pat McAfee’s entrance music was the first that fans heard during the Royal Rumble. Michael Cole was also incredibly happy to call the event alongside his real-life friend. McAfee’s night was only getting started as he added another big event to his WWE resume. 

While speaking about his experience in a digital exclusive, McAfee said he couldn’t pass up on the chance to return by the side of Cole and Graves when he was offered the commentary role for the evening.

“Yeah, coming back to get a chance to be in front of the WWE Universe is an absolute honor. I was told, ‘Hey, Pat, you wanna come back and commentate?’ I said, hell yes. The Royal Rumble, what an event. Stories can be written, where dreams can come true. ‘You want to commentate?’ I said, ‘Hell yeah,’ work with Michael Cole, the greatest of all time, alongside Corey Graves with a fresh baby, fresh mindset, fresh haircut. I said, ‘I would love to do that.'”

Pat McAfee Wasn’t Given A Heads Up

When it comes to his Royal Rumble match appearance, McAfee said that he had no idea that he was going to be in the match. Although Pat wasn’t dressed for the occasion, he went with the flow of things, and that included a very brief appearance in the match.

“All of a sudden, what, 22, I’m in the Royal Rumble? Nobody gave me a heads-up about that. Got my cowboy boots on. Michael Cole let me go in there. That was rude of him. I thought we were friends. Then there was a thing in there. Seven foot three, okay? You’re just looking up at a statue of a being.” 

“I see little Bron Breakker go like barking at me. I’m like, I’m not supposed to be in here. Why would I be in here right now? I’m not prepared for this. Also, who would I be to take a main event at WrestleMania spot away from somebody? So I got my ass out of there. Now I went back in because I thought to myself, wait a minute, am I just gonna be a coward? “I realized quickly, ‘Yeah, I think tonight I am.’ I went right back to the booth. And it was great. It was a great show,”

Pat McAfee may be busy with his ESPN gig, but he wouldn’t miss the Royal Rumble event. He was able to call the entire show, and he even returned to the commentary table after his short stint in the 2024 Royal Rumble match.

Bron Breakker’s WWE Main Roster Status After Royal Rumble Surprise

Aaron Varble
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The 2024 Royal Rumble event went down in Tropicana Field on Saturday, and the WWE Universe was treated to quite a show. The Rock may not have showed up, but Bron Breakker made his way to the ring in the #20 spot in the Men’s Rumble match. That was a very big moment for his WWE career.

Bron Breakker’s WWE Main Roster Call-Up (Exclusive)

Bron Breakker did not win the 2024 Royal Rumble match, but he had a great showing. The second-generation Superstar, who is son of WWE Hall of Famer Rick Steiner, also had a chance to eliminate some talent from the match.

In the end, Breakker threw out Jimmy Uso, Finn Balor, Ivar, and Omos. Then Dominik Mysterio eliminated the former NXT Champion. As he made his exit, Breakker also nailed JD McDonagh with a spear.

I asked around about Breakker’s status after the 2024 Royal Rumble, and I was told that match marked his official main roster call-up. Bron’s brand has not been determined yet, but the thought is that he will end up on RAW.

I was told that his, “brand is not determined because it happened so fast.” Breakker was a fill-in for Brock Lesnar in the match, because the Beast Incarnate was pulled from the event after his association with Vince McMahon’s lawsuit.

We will have to see how WWE uses Breakker in the weeks to come, because he is now on the main roster, but he was a replacement for Lesnar in the match.

What’s Next For Bron Breakker

Breakker will finish out his time in NXT, because he is still in the 2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with Baron Corbin as his partner. In the past, WWE has allowed talent to appear on the main roster and NXT to wrap things up with the company’s third brand.

The barking in Breakker’s direction during the Royal Rumble match was not lost on anyone backstage. He is coming from NXT after establishing himself and doing practically everything there is to do in the brand. Now, it is his time to take on the main roster.

Wrestling World Reacts To The 2024 Royal Rumble

Anutosh Bajpai
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There was a lot of buzz among fans heading into the 2024 Royal Rumble and the event didn’t disappointing. From surprising debuts to big returns, it gave people a lot to talk about. Even the talent from different companies took on their social to react to the events of last night.

Jade Cargill, who made her official WWE in ring debut by entering the women’s Rumble thanked the fans for their support. She noted that it’s only the beginning of her journey and there is a lot more to come:

The TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace was very active overnight after making a surprise appearance in the Rumble. She made multiple tweets about her experience at the show while also indicating that we haven’t seen the last of her on WWE programming:

Cody Rhodes’ historic back-to-back Rumble wins elicited a response from many of his wrestling peers. Both his wife Brandi Rhodes and fellow AEW alumni Shawn Spears commented on his big moment:

There were multiple WWE stars who took on social media to react to their own performance on the show. This included people such as Zelina Vega, Pat McAfee, and Bronson Reed among others. These stars didn’t manage to win their respective matches but gave fans some memorable moments:

The event had a lot more going on in terms of storylines and real-life emotions. You can check out takeaways from the 2024 Royal Rumble here.

Bron Breakker Teases Main Roster Call Up After Royal Rumble Appearance: ‘This Is My Home Now’

Anutosh Bajpai
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Bron Breakker made his presence felt at the Royal Rumble event last night and it appears that he has no intention of going back to NXT after this.

The former NXT Champion was interviewed backstage after his impressive performance in the Men’s Rumble. When asked how he’s feeling, Breakker mentioned that he feels very grateful for the opportunity to make a statement:

“I feel very grateful right now. I feel what an opportunity tonight was for me to make a statement, and I thought I did that tonight 100%. Things didn’t go my way but I’m not done with the Judgement Day by any means.”

Bron Breakker Belongs To The Main Roster

Talking about his future in the company, Bron Breakker made his claim on a main roster spot saying that this is his home now:

“I think tonight I proved that I belong in the main roster, this is my home now. I’m ready for the work, I’m ready to prove to my peers and to the people, everyone out there who believes in me that this is where I belong and this is what I was born to do. I’m here. I’m ready to go.”

Bron Breakker entered the Royal Rumble at #20 in a spot that many believe was meant for Brock Lesnar. The Beast Incarnate was removed from the show due to his alleged connection with the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon.

The NXT star ended up eliminating a number of talents including names such as Finn Balor, Ivar and even Omos. Breakker himself was eliminated by Dominik Mysterio and Bron’s remarks suggest that Dirty Dom has not seen the last of the heavyweight star.

Update On Where Things Stand With Roman Reigns & The Rock After WWE Royal Rumble

Aaron Varble
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The 2024 Royal Rumble event brought fans to their feet in Tropicana Field, and it was an exciting night for those watching at home as well. The night, as expected, was full of shocking moments, but few could guess everything Triple H had in store. 

While some fans were expecting The Rock, that didn’t come to pass. That being said, a confrontation against Roman Reigns is still in the cards.

Roman Reigns vs The Rock

The American Nightmare secured his second consecutive Rumble match victory and immediately directed attention towards Roman Reigns, hinting at a strong possibility for the WrestleMania main event. Reigns raised his title high in response to Cody Rhodes, so it appears that the match is on for Mania.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the anticipated showdown between The Rock and Roman Reigns is still in the works, but there is no precise confirmation regarding its timeline.

“The Roman and Dwayne match is still happening. I just don’t know where and Bryan you probably know where because you probably know discussions I may know too and I can’t talk about them but anyways the point is, it’s still happening.”

Roman Reigns is confirmed for WrestleMania, and the main event match has remained unchanged since the decision was made in early September. Notably, Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 40 match was determined well before that, and The Rock was not involved in the creative discussions this time.

I can exclusively confirm that a triple threat match for Roman’s title at WrestleMania is not under consideration. The creative team received this information last week.

Following Cody Rhodes’ victory at the 2024 Royal Rumble, it appears WWE is moving forward with their original plans. The absence of The Rock at Tropicana Field for the Royal Rumble is noteworthy, as Cody vs Roman is the match now as we hit the road to WrestleMania.

What’s Next

Cody Rhodes will get a chance to finish his story at WrestleMania, but it’s anyone’s guess how the booking will turn out when everything is said and done. Cody has been the decided Royal Rumble winner for a while, and January 27th’s big event in Tropicana Field saw him take a big step in that direction.

As I previously noted here on SE Scoops, WWE has options when it comes to The Rock vs Roman Reigns. We will have constant updates as more information is made available. 

Andrade Reacts To WWE Return At Royal Rumble: ‘Nobody’s Stopping Me Now’

Anutosh Bajpai
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Andrade has returned to WWE after almost 3 years. He claims that he needed to step away to remember who he was and now he is ready to show the world the same.

The former AEW star entered the Royal Rumble at #4 tonight and traded blows with names such as Carmelo Hayes, Finn Balor, Bobby Lashley and Santos Escobar.

Andrade unfortunately was eliminated from the bout by Bronson Reed. He was interviewed backstage after the show and the former champion claimed that now, nobody’s stopping him:

Andrade’s Time Away From WWE

Andrade El Idolo left WWE back in March 2021 after requesting his release from the promotion. He joined AEW not long after and the Mexican star made his debut for the promotion in June that year.

The former NXT champion, however, failed to carve a permanent spot for himself in the AEW roster and he was on and off AEW programming throughout his stint there.

He made his final appearance for Tony Khan’s promotion at the World Ends PPV at the end of December 2023 where he put over Miro in a match.

In the post-show press conference, Tony Khan confirmed that they had failed to reach a new agreement with Andrade. The wrestling star had been expected to return to WWE ever since.

Bayley Comments On Her Face Turn After Royal Rumble Win

Anutosh Bajpai
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Bayley has been one of the top heels of WWE roster since 2019 and consequently has been booed by fans. The last few months have seen a change in this emotion however. In the ongoing storyline with her Damage CTRL teammates, the former Women’s Champion has gained the sympathy of people and she has actually been getting cheered by fans more and more.

This change of attitude was in full display at the Royal Rumble. Bayley got a huge applause from the audience as she won the Women’s Battle Royal to earn a title shot at WrestleMania 40.

The Damage CTRL star was asked about this change during the post-show press conference. The WWE star explained that her character has always reflected her feelings in real life and fans are welcome to celebrate her success together:

“I mean, I don’t tell you guys what to do. You guys just cheer when you want to cheer. So, to me honestly, this is the truth. I have been myself throughout this whole time. I said it in an interview my whole career and my whole character change and everything has been real.

When I first started, I was excited to be here. I was [like] ‘This is the coolest thing ever. It’s my dream.’ And as things weren’t going my way throughout the years and no one was latching on, I had to do something to save my career. So everything I’ve been doing has been real and genuine and natural.

This is who I am now so if you guys are liking it, and you guys want to see me win then hell yeah. I’ve been telling you guys that I’m supposed to be winning these matches. Let’s celebrate together. So to me it’s all been part of what I’ve been knowing all along.”

Bayley Is Thankful To Dusty Rhodes

bayley royal rumble scrum 1

Bayley also talked about the Men’s Rumble winner Cody Rhodes and his father Dusty Rhodes. She mentioned how she wanted to quit the company only a month after joining it and it was the American Dream that saved her:

“I’ve said it for years, but Dusty he just had his projects in everybody. He just saw the one thing in everybody that we couldn’t see in ourselves. Byron’s done this. He helped me in promo classes all the time.

The fact that I had my own TV show, Ding Dong Hello just blows my mind. I wish Dusty can see that because they had to pull me in for extra promo classes and make me do interviews and all this stuff. Because I was so shy but Dusty, just seeing something in me. 

Whatever I was shy to share he wanted me to embrace, because he knew that was what was going to connect me with people. That’s what saved me. I would have given up in my first month, I wanted to be done.”

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Triple H Hasn’t Read Vince McMahon Lawsuit, Wants to Focus On WWE’s Positives

Thomas Lowson
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Triple H is hoping to focus on the positives of the week, which doesn’t include the shocking allegations against Vince McMahon. 

The past seven days have certainly been a mixed time for WWE. The promotion locked in a $5 billion deal with Netflix to bring Raw to the streaming service, and have seen Dwayne Johnson join TKO’s Board of Directors. On the other hand, McMahon and WWE were hit with a lawsuit alleging that he sexually abused Janel Grant and trafficked her to other men in the company. McMahon has denied the allegations but has since stepped down from WWE and TKO. 

Triple H on Vince McMahon

During the post-Royal Rumble press conference, Triple H was asked about the allegations against McMahon and the lawsuit. WWE’s Chief Content Officer made clear he’s looking to focus on the positives that this past week has brought. 

“I’m going to do exactly what you’d expect me to do here. We just had an amazing week and I just said it, 10 year, $5 billion dollar Netflix deal, The Rock joining our board, we just sold out the Royal Rumble with 48,000 people in Tropicana Field. I choose to focus on the positive. Yes, there is a negative but I want to focus on that and just keep it to that.”

When asked if he had read the suit against McMahon, Triple H said he had not. 

“I did not. I think Cody mentioned it, that we all found out real time when you were, and that’s the truth. I’ll go back to what I said before, this is an amazing week for us and I just, at this point, I don’t even want to get bogged down in the negatives of it, I just want to focus on the positives of where we’re going and we’re in the most exciting time of the year for us, the most exciting point to me business-wise that we’ve ever had.”

Triple H wasn’t the only person to speak about McMahon after the Royal Rumble… 

Cody Rhodes Comments On Never Sharing Ring With CM Punk In AEW

Anutosh Bajpai
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The booking of tonight’s Royal Rumble event was poetic in many ways. One such moment was when Cody Rhodes and CM Punk battled as the final two contestants of the Men’s Rumble. Both the stars once left the company over creative frustrations and they were both looking to win the match so they can finish their own stories.

One aspect of this showdown that wasn’t highlighted as much however was their respective stints in AEW. It’s ironic that both the stars were part of the AEW roster at one point but never got to lock horns in the company.

The winner of this contest Cody Rhodes was asked about this during the post Royal Rumble media scrum. He admitted that he was surprised at never getting to face Punk in AEW:

“It’s funny that we meet back here. When we were at AEW, I thought we would encounter one another there and it didn’t happen. For whatever reason it didn’t happen. but I think both him and I had different personal experiences.

Don’t believe anything that Wade Keller put out about why I left or anything like that. The truth is, nobody knows. [It was a] personal thing. And probably a personal thing for Punk and that happens. People come, people go. It’s not a huge thing.”

Cody Rhodes Wanted To Earn CM Punk’s Respect

cody rhodes cm punk 1

The American Nightmare then dived into his encounter with CM Punk tonight and the history between the two. Cody Rhodes claimed that he is looking forward to seeing what’s next for the Straight Edge Star in WWE:

“But to see him tonight, and to see Miz, and to see Kofi – Those were my guys. The first OVW show I walked into; Brent Albright vs. CM Punk was the main event. Punk was also like running the whole show. He made me set up the ring.

To see that, sometimes you want another person who you admire and respect to stop looking at you as the kid and look at you and see who you are now. I think tonight he got to see who I am now. And that means a lot to me. He’s amazing. [It] could have gone either way. I look forward to what he does in WWE.”

If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Naomi: After the Journey I’ve Been On, Nothing Can Break Me

Thomas Lowson
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There’s nothing that can hold Naomi back, according to the GLOW herself, following her impressive return to WWE this week. 

The former TNA Knockouts Champion was the #2 entrant in the Women’s Royal Rumble match, her first match for WWE since May of 2022. Naomi, alongside Mercedes Mone (then Sasha Banks) walked out of the promotion that same month, citing frustration with the creative team’s plans for the then-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. WWE would strip the pair of the gold and Naomi (as Trinity) debuted for TNA last year. 

Naomi On Her WWE Return

Naomi didn’t win a title match at WrestleMania 40, but she was the sentimental favorite of many fans in Tropicana Field. Speaking after the match, Naomishared what it felt like to be back. 

“Ah man, it was hard to hold back all the emotions. I couldn’t — oh man, it felt really good. After this little journey I’ve been on, finally being back, and that’s the scary part. You never know what that reaction or response is. So to feel that, man. It’s so much more rewarding. I’m so grateful to be back.”

Naomi added that she’s optimistic for the future and gave some props to the woman who eliminated her: the debuting Jade Cargill. 

“After this ride I’ve been on, I feel like nothing can break me. I didn’t win, but I hung in there but that Jade [Cargill] is something else though.”

Naomi wasn’t the only name associated with TNA Wrestling to appear in the Women’s Royal Rumble match… 

Brock Lesnar Omitted From WWE Royal Rumble Stats Amid Vince McMahon Lawsuit

Thomas Lowson
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Brock Lesnar had no role at this year’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, and WWE wanted to make sure nobody was thinking about the Beast Incarnate. 

Lesnar was reportedly originally slated for the Men’s Royal Rumble match that was won by Cody Rhodes. Lesnar was ‘withdrawn’ from the match due to the allegations by Janel Grant in her lawsuit filed at WWE and Vince McMahon. The suit claims that McMahon sexually abused and trafficked Grant to men in WWE during her tenure under contract. Lesnar isn’t mentioned by name in the suit, but it is claimed that Grant was trafficked to a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. 

Brock Lesnar Omitted

Ahead of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match, WWE aired a video sharing some of the statistics associated with the popular 30-Superstar bout. The video pointed out that five men have won the match from the #30 spot, and named The Undertaker (2007), John Cena (2008), Triple H (2016), and Cody Rhodes (2023). The video did not mention or show Brock Lesnar, who won after entering from the coveted #30 spot in 2022. 

This isn’t the first time WWE has made selective choices with Royal Rumble statistics. In years past, WWE has mentioned that four people have won from the dreaded #1 spot. While WWE will mention Shawn Michaels (1995), Edge (2021), or Rhea Ripley’s victory last year, they avoid mentioning Chris Benoit. The disgraced wrestler went pillar-to-post in the 2004 Royal Rumble match, last eliminating the Big Show. 

The show didn’t end when the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble PLE stopped filming… 

Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After Royal Rumble Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Cody Rhodes is ready to finish the story.

The American Nightmare became the first man in 26 years to win back-to-back Royal Rumbles after Stone Cold Steve Austin at tonight’s show from the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida by eliminating CM Punk.

The show ended with Rhodes pointing towards Roman Reigns in the stands with the WrestleMania 40 logo in the background, leaving no doubt as to Cody’s intention.

The former AEW star celebrated some more and then addressed the crowd after the show went off air. He apologized to the fans for not finishing the job at WrestleMania 39, but mentioned that he’s heading to the Lincoln Financial Field to finish the story:

Cody Rhodes Is Ready After Royal Rumble

“Tampa, St. Pete, Did you have a great time tonight? Guys I owe you an apology. I am sorry about what happened at WrestleMania 39. But we’re going to WrestleMania 40. It’s been a long night I won’t keep you here, an amazing show, an amazing crew, an amazing production.

Sometimes when I come to Tampa, when I come to St Pete, sometimes I try and stay and keep to myself, the reason is – this is Dusty territory. So I thank you very much, for making it a Cody territory. I love you guys all so much. Have a great night and I’ll see you next time.”.

There is no doubt after tonight that Cody Rhodes will be seeing Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania once again

The Question of The Rock’s involvement in the whole affair after his Day 1 promo remains unanswered however and it’s possible we’ll get some answers at the upcoming SmackDown.

Cody Rhodes promo after Royal Rumble 2024

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Cody Rhodes: Vince McMahon Situation Is A Dark Cloud, TKO Has Taken Things Seriously

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes hoped to give the WWE Universe something to feel positive about this week following the “dark cloud” that has been the Vince McMahon situation. 

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE this week, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including John Lauriniaits and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. 

Cody Rhodes Comments on Vince McMahon

On the post-Royal Rumble press conference, Cody Rhodes was asked for his comments on the situation and from an EVP perspective, what he hopes to see changed in wrestling to avoid similar situations. 

“I know as far as the news is concerned, we were finding it out and reading the same things that you guys were reading. And you said a dark cloud, certainly. As far as TKO, Nick Khan and the board, [they] clearly took it very seriously. Acted immediately. Looking at the future, I don’t know the answer to that and I think somewhere is a really basic tenet of just– this crew, more than ever, from a roster standpoint, is very family. I’ve never seen anything like this. Most of the time wrestling locker rooms are fighting, talking trash about each other, making fun of each other, sandbagging each other in the ring, all that nonsense. This crew is very team-based, and perhaps that’s the ingredient. Everyone looking out for everyone. Being accountable.

“I know for me as a performer, as a competitor, I’ve been through dark periods of our industry before. And it might sound cheesy but it’s very re-inforcing if you’re in my position that it’s a time [when you say] ‘Hey, we’ve got 50,000 people out here. I want to give them something else, that isn’t a terrible situation, terrible news. And I think we were able to do that. Obviously, as more news comes out we’ll be seeing it just as you do.”

Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match at the show, becoming the first person since 1998 to win back-to-back Rumble matches. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

WWE Royal Rumble Takeaways: Bayley & Cody Rhodes are headed to WrestleMania

Zack Heydorn
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The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble PLE is in the books and the road to WrestleMania is officially started. 

This year’s event in front of over 40,000 fans inside Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida was as hot as we thought it would be thanks to special returns, major moments, and key directions taken on the way to WrestleMania 40 in April. 

What are the highs? Lows? Most memorable moments? Forgettable moments? We’re here for you.

Royal Rumble Pre-Show

The event began with a Hulk Hogan voiced promo vignette that hyped the show and the entire time I asked myself “why?” It’s shameful for WWE to continue trotting Hogan out in a way that highlights him and positions him front and center as a spokesperson for the company. What sort of needle move does he provide the company at this point? It’s bad any week, but especially this one, in which WWE was playing damage control thanks to Vince McMahon and the horrific allegations against him. 

Hogan aside, the open to the show was excellent. The vignette did the hype job, but WWE also showed various stars like Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, CM Punk, and Rhea Ripley arriving at the building. It felt like something the UFC would produce and worked to position those competing tonight as the cream of the crop.

Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Naomi, Grace, weird Nattie elimination. Dupri. Cargill over Jax.

The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble took a while to get going, but once it did, it worked very well. 

The root story throughout was two-fold — Bayley lasting for a long time as the iron man of the bout and Nia Jax rolling through other entrants to build up for the showdown with the debuting Jade Cargill. The latter story was executed perfectly. Cargill taking Jax would popped the audience and made her look as impressive as WWE hyped her to be since she first signed with the company. Cargill didn’t win, but had a memorable debut that will play with fans as she continues to appear on television.

Other notable takeaways? Jordynne Grace made her Rumble debut, but of course as a member of the TNA roster as the company’s Knockouts Champion. Grace showed a lot out there and was given a bunch even though she isn’t a part of WWE. She also was gifted a prominent elimination by Bianca Belair in a memorable KOD onto the ring apron spot.

Speaking of TNA stars, Naomi made her return to WWE during the match as the number two entrant in the match. I could do without the GLOW gimmick and comes across as a bigger star without it, but it stands out with WWE’s top tier production.

The real loser of the match was Maxine Dupri. Yikes. Michael Cole touted her as “heavily improved” as she walked to the ring, but then botched multiple spots and looked entirely out of her element. 

Bayley was the winner of the match after a fun final elimination of Cargill and the returning Liv Morgan. Bayley has already had a WrestleMania championship match in the works against fellow Damage CNTRL member, Iyo Sky, and her winning here is a smart way to continue that program and officially get to the match.

The match didn’t have any signature returns in the form of a Sasha Banks or an AJ Lee, but it was entertaining for what it was and left enough on the table for the men’s match later in the night.

Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles – WWE Universal Championship

There just isn’t much to say about this one. Roman Reigns is still the champion and the world knew he would be. It’s the problem with nearly every single Royal Rumble championship match. 

There were some cool moments in this with Reigns piling up his opponents and trying to pin them. The Solo Sikoa interference got boos, but not the right kind. Reigns’ continued reliance on interference in matches has run thin and that was the response more than true heel heat.

It was what it was, but nobody will remember this one next year at this time.

Logan Paul vs. Kevin Owens – WWE United States Championship

A pretty good match with a lousy finish. Logan Paul getting handed brass knuckles only for Kevin Owens to use them and get caught with them was backwards from a psychological perspective and left the audience confused on how to react. Happy because Owens used the knuckles? I guess. Frustrated that he lost? That too. 

The idea here and the takeaway is that WWE wanted to make sure both Paul and Owens were protected. They did that, but by the end it seemed unnecessary given that Owens is someone on the roster that can reliably lose, but still be just as over. Plus, Paul will certainly be lined up for a WrestleMania match, so why not just have him win and win clean.

The whole thing is ripe for a rematch.

Men’s Royal Rumble Match 

Given the strong build to the match, star power included, and different directions to go in terms of a winner, “they got where they needed to go,” isn’t high praise. It’s reality, though. 

The 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, didn’t grip the audience like the women’s match did this year and was full of odd focuses around talent that didn’t deserve them. Karrion Kross and Bobby Lashley got a huge moment in the match and the Tropicana Field audience couldn’t have cared less. Add into that some ill-timed production botches for key moments and the result was a bit of a mess when it came to in-match stories and moments. 

CM Punk received a strong reaction. Cody did too, so it was fitting that those two were the final two standing. Neither got the hyped up reaction you’d want for their moment because the already timid crowd was split thanks to the stories of both Punk and Cody going into the match. The crowd seemed to side more with Cody and popped when he won.

Other notable angles coming out surround Bron Breakker, who was featured prominently with multiple eliminations, but the victim of the production botch that saw his key elimination of Omos essentially forgotten and not featured with a timed out camera shot. It happened, but nobody saw it thanks to JD McDonagh’s entrance occurring at the same exact time. Carmelo Hayes also was featured due to how long he lasted in the match, but didn’t have the same type of dominant focus as Breakker did. 

So, it was fine. Cody heads to the main event of WrestleMania against Roman Reigns and the Raw side of the WrestleMania main event will get sorted out soon. It needed more big spots, more “moments,” more action, and much less focus on undercard stories. But, they got where they needed to go in the end. 

Overall

Kind of a bizarre night at the office for WWE. The Royal Rumble intrigue is firmly rooted in the element of surprise and neither the men’s or women’s Rumble match had a major one. Little ones in each, but nothing earth shattering. 

The filler matches between both Rumbles were incredibly disappointing with finishes that came across as weak and passive. Those helped slow the audience momentum ahead of the main event, which couldn’t fully pull a reaction of any kind out of the crowd.

It’s a C grade show and definitively so.

Cody Rhodes Wins 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Match To Punch His Ticket To WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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WWE presented the Royal Rumble to Tropicana Field attendees, and the night was packed with noteworthy moments. Triple H’s influence on WWE’s creative direction is clearly apparent as the Road to WrestleMania begins to gain momentum.

The Royal Rumble match finish

The final competitors in the 2024 Royal Rumble match were Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER, and Sami Zayn, with Zayn getting the #30 spot. They battled hard in Tropicana Field, none of them wanting to give an inch in the match.

Then Zayn eliminated Damian Priest, only to have Drew throw Zayn over the top right after that. Rhodes, Punk, McIntyre, and GUNTHER were the final four in the match. They then showed Seth Rollins watching the match from a skybox in Tropicana Field, while Roman Reigns sat backstage viewing on a monitor in the back.

Drew McIntyre punished Punk with chops as GUNTHER did the same to Cody. It was almost a competition of chops for a while as they punished their opponents.

Then McIntyre nailed a Claymore Kick on GUNTHER and Cody before counting down from 3 and doing the same to Punk. Despite selling the finisher, Punk was able to get McIntyre on his shoulders and throw him out of the match.

Cody got GUNTHER over the top rope and caused him to smash to the floor. The final two in the match were CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. After the two fought for a bit, and teased finishers on each other, Rhodes hit a Bionic Elbow and Punk got out of another Crossroads attempt.

Punk got the upper hand and pointed to the WrestleMania sign. Then The American Nightmare nailed a Crossroads, but he couldn’t get the energy to even try to throw Punk over the top rope. Punk hit a GTS on Cody next, but he also didn’t have enough left in the tank to try for an elimination.

CM Punk nailed a Pedigree next as Corey Graves said, “If you know, you know” on commentary. Punk then tried for another GTS, but Cody caught his knee, and he threw the Second City Savior over the top rope.

What’s Next

Cody Rhodes will go on to WrestleMania. It absolutely looks like he will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Universal Title at this point, which would give him a chance to finish his story. 

Andrade Makes WWE Return During 2024 Royal Rumble Match

Aaron Varble
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WWE brought the Royal Rumble for fans in Tropicana Field, and the night was full of memorable moments. Triple H’s vision for WWE’s creative direction is more than evident at this point, as the Road to WrestleMania is only starting to heat up. Fans saw an exciting return early on in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.

Andrade’s WWE Return

Andrade El Idolo left WWE three years ago, when the company granted his release. He had a stint in AEW, but that time is now over. The former NXT Champion is now back in WWE.

Andrade shocked fans in Tropicana Field as the #4 entry in the 2024 Royal Rumble match. He came out with a mask and a new entrance robe. He also had new music. 

The former AEW star’s return brought a big pop from the Tropicana Field crowd as well. Now, he is back in WWE, and it’s anyone’s guess what he will do next.

Andrade’s AEW Departure.

Andrade, although there was a short period of time when he almost inked a new AEW deal, decided to leave Tony Khan’s company. He was quite vocal on his way out that he was wrapping up his time with AEW after losing to Miro at Worlds End.

Andrade’s return to WWE has a lot to do with Charlotte Flair. She pulled for him to come back, and WWE obviously listened. Sadly, Charlotte Flair is currently out of action with an injury. Andrade will be firmly back in WWE’s landscape by the time The Queen returns.

Keep an eye on SE Scoops for more updates, because the road to WrestleMania is just starting. 

Kairi Sane’s Creative Royal Rumble Save Reminds People Of Classic Spider-Man Moment

Anutosh Bajpai
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Kairi Sane did a wild move to save herself from elimination from the Women’s Royal Rumble match and reminded everyone of a classic Spider-Man moment in the process.

The female pirate entered the battle royal at #11 and she started wreaking havoc with the help of her other Damage CTRL teammates immediately.

This momentum was halted however after Kayden Carter entered the match at #13. She and Katana Chance immediately started working as a tag team. At one point Carter almost eliminated Sane but she avoided elimination by a miracle.

The Damage CTRL member tucked her legs against the LED Board and hung on for a while, reminding people of the Spider-Man 2 scene with Tobey Maguire where the Friendly Neighbourhood hero stops a train using his webs:

Bayley Wins The Women’s Royal Rumble

Though Kairi Sane didn’t last for much longer after this and she was eliminated. Her Kabuki Warrior partner Asuka followed Sane and was eliminated by Chance right after.

At the end, the match was won by one of their teammates as Bayley last eliminated a returning Liv Morgan to win the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match.

This wasn’t the only newsworthy moment from the Women’s Rumble as a big debut during the bout got people talking. You can check out all about it here.

Bayley Wins WWE 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match, Breaks Women’s Rumble Record

Thomas Lowson
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Damage CTRL’s Bayley is going to WrestleMania 40 after winning the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. 

The Role Model entered the match from the #3 position, following Natalya and the returning Naomi. With the help of her Damage CTRL allies Asuka and Kairi Sane, 

Bayley scored several eliminations on her way to victory, including Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, and Maxxine Dupri. Bayley eliminated Liv Morgan to win. The Rumble marked Morgan’s return to the  ring following a lengthy injury. 

Not only did Bayley win the match, but she also made history for the longest run in a singles Women’s Royal Rumble match. The Role Model lasted over one hour and three minutes before eliminating Morgan to win the match. 

What’s Next? 

With her win, Bayley has guaranteed herself a championship match at WrestleMania 40. Bayley, the self-described ‘Mami-Slayer’ has claimed that she will challenge Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania for the Women’s World Championship. 

That being said, many suspect that a Bayley-Rhea match isn’t in the works. Given the teased tensions within Damage CTRL, some have speculated that the Role Model will challenge WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY at the two-night megashow this April. 

Jade Cargill Makes WWE In-Ring Debut in 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Thomas Lowson
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Jade Cargill has made her WWE in-ring debut as part of the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. 

Cargill signed with WWE in September of last yearr, shortly after exiting All Elite Wrestling. After signing a multi-year deal with WWE, Cargill would appear at WWE Fastlane as well as at Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Cargill has said that while she knows which brand she’ll be competing on moving forward, she’s keeping that information to herself for the time being.

Cargill in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match

The former TBS Champion would enter the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble from the #28 position. Cargill immediately set her sights on Nia Jax, who entered the match from the #19 position. The debut of Cargill immediately earned ‘Holy S***’ chants from the fans in St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field. While it took 11 women to eliminate Jax from last year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match, Cargill accomplished the feat on her own. 

TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace Competes In WWE 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Thomas Lowson
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The 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble had a TNA flavor to it, thanks in part to the WWE debut of reigning Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace. 

Grace was the #5 entrant in the Women’s Rumble, which started off the 2024 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. Grace entered to the sound of sirens, likely a nod to her time in her career teaming with WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner. Grace entered the match with the Knockouts Championship and the WWE commentary trio of Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, and Corey Graves all made reference to TNA Wrestling. 

TNA in the Women’s Royal Rumble

Grace wasn’t the only TNA name who competed in the match. Naomi made her return to WWE as part of the Women’s Rumble, entering the match at #2. This marked Naomi’s first match for WWE since she and Mercedes Mone controversially walked out of the promotion in May of 2022. On commentary, the trio of Cole, McAfee, and Graves made reference to her run in TNA Wrestling. She lost the Knockouts Championship to Jordynne Grace at Hard to Kill earlier this month. 

Bruce Prichard Takes Fire As Vince McMahon’s ‘Avatar’ After Earth Shattering Allegations

Aaron Varble
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Vince McMahon resigned from WWE in response to earth-shattering allegations that were laid down in a lawsuit from former WWE employee Janel Grant. Although McMahon is gone, Ronda Rousey believes that his influence will not go away without some deeper cleaning.

Bruce Prichard Takes Fire

Vince McMahon had many people help him build his empire through the years. Bruce Prichard has been a player in many historic WWE moments, and he has also acted as one of McMahon’s right-hand men for years. Vince is gone, but Bruce is still around.

Ronda Rousey logged onto Twitter/X, and she had a lot to say on the day of the Royal Rumble event. The former Women’s Champion posted to say that as long as Bruce Prichard is still with WWE, Vince McMahon’s presence will always be felt.

Bruce Prichard is basically Vince’s avatar, if he’s still around Vince still has a hand in the business. Vince was still running things through Bruce when he was “gone” before.

Others Who Were Involved

Bruce Prichard’s name was not brought up in Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis. Brock Although he was not mentioned explicitly, Brock Lesnar’s name was heavily alluded to.

Lesnar was pulled from the Royal Rumble event after his name was attached to Grant’s lawsuit. It was noted that Vince McMahon allegedly used her as a bargaining chip to secure a contract renewal. The Superstar in question was not named, but they were referred to as a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

There May Be More To Uncover

This latest set of allegations against Vince McMahon cause shockwaves throughout the pro wrestling world that may not be settled yet. The lawsuit explicitly stated that the accuser was stepping forward for those unable to do so but expressing the desire to speak.

‘Ms. Grant is filing this lawsuit not just to address her own suffering, but also to act for those who are afraid to speak out. Plaintiff Janel Grant is a former employee of WWE who was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE.’

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of Vince McMahon’s ongoing drama, and all necessary updates. 

Naomi Makes WWE Return In 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match, TNA Run Referenced

Thomas Lowson
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Florida’s own Naomi has made her return to WWE as part of the Women’s Royal Rumble match, close to two years after her controversial exit from the promotion. 

Naomi was the #2 entrant in the 2024 Women’s Rumble match and started the match with the #1 entrant Natalya. This match marked her first bout for WWE since May of 2022. 

Not only is Naomi back, but WWE also mentioned her run with TNA Wrestling. On commentary, Michael Cole recalled Naomi’s time as a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion and mentioned that she is a former TNA Knockouts Champion. 

Naomi and Mercedes Mone (then Sasha Banks) would infamously walk out of WWE in May of 2022. The pair would have creative differences with WWE’s plans for them at the time. The reported plan was for the then-Women’s Tag Team Champions to enter singles feuds for the Raw & SmackDown Women’s Championships, which the pair were expected to lose. 

WWE’s Current Mindset About The Rock’s Future Booking

Aaron Varble
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The Rock stirred the pot in a big way when he returned to the WWE fold during the Day 1 episode of RAW. Now, with WrestleMania on the horizon, there is some big talk of a dream match that may finally happen.

WWE’s Plan for The Rock

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer had a lot to say about WrestleMania 40, and the card that is currently taking shape in front of our eyes.

Regarding the delay to WrestleMania next year, Dave Meltzer did not see it as wise to let Dwayne Johnson age further for this match. The Rock appeared to be interested in having the match this year, and now may be the time. Although nothing had been officially signed yet, more details are expected after the Royal Rumble and on WWE’s television product.

As for holding the match in Australia, Meltzer expressed skepticism, finding it unlikely that The Rock would want to have a match that will air at 4 am in North America. On that note, I have personally asked around about this, and was told that The Rock is not booked for Australia.

Considering Saudi Arabia as a location, it seemed to be a stronger possibility than Australia. The potential for higher financial offers from the Saudis and The Rock’s role on the Board of Directors might have encouraged negotiations. However, based on past discussions and interviews, The Rock had seemed insistent on having the match at WrestleMania.

Exclusive Note On The Rock vs Roman Reigns

As I already reported, Roman Reigns is set to participate in WrestleMania, and the main event match has remained unchanged since early September when the decision was made. Interestingly, Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 40 match had been determined well before that, and The Rock was never part of the creative discussions this time.

The addition of house show dates to Roman Reigns’ schedule came as a surprise when announced. Many within the company initially believed he wouldn’t wrestle again in 2023 after his Undisputed Universal Title defense against LA Knight in Saudi Arabia at WWE Crown Jewel.

Despite WWE having Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania match planned, it doesn’t guarantee a lack of changes. CM Punk’s return to the company is expected to prompt a creative shift in at least one WrestleMania match. The Men’s Royal Rumble match winner, which I confirmed was determined in September, remained unchanged as I confirmed again in late December. It is very important to remember at times like these that nothing is definitively “locked in” at this point.

According to a trusted source within WWE, “Even Roman’s main event can change if circumstances dictate. Will they dictate? Most likely not. But until it’s locked in, it’s not locked in.”

I was able to exclusively report that a triple threat match at WrestleMania for Roman’s title is not in the cards. The creative team was informed of that last week.

After Cody Rhodes’ 2024 Royal Rumble win, it is apparent that WWE may be going through with their original plans. There was no sign of The Rock in Tropicana Field for the Royal Rumble, making a notable absence for the People’s Champion as they begin the road to WrestleMania. 

The Royal Rumble will likely see a huge development in this story. SE Scoops will have all the updates as we hit the road to WrestleMania 40.

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