It was the first time since 1992 that the title was on the line at the Royal Rumble.
We’re not sure if you stayed up for it, but the 2016 Royal Rumble did not disappoint. The stakes were raised, as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship went on the line in the Royal Rumble match for the first time in 24 years, when the Nature Boy Ric Flair was the last man standing in ’92 to pick up the gold.
(*spoiler warning*) Below runs through all the craic that happened last night, so if you have it recorded and don’t want to know what happened, stop reading now. If, like the rest of us though, you want to relive all the best moments, crack on…
Triple H shocked many by entering the Royal Rumble at number 30 this year and picking up his 14th WWE title in the process.
After eliminating @TheDeanAmbrose, @TripleH has become your NEW @WWE World Heavyweight Champion! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/xGcYTb6PiX
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 25, 2016
HE’S DONE IT! #TheAuthority‘s @TripleH is a 14-TIME World Heavyweight Champion! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/eMjYgR8o37
— WWE (@WWE) January 25, 2016
WE’RE GONNA HAVE A NEW CHAMPION! @TripleH just eliminated @WWERomanReigns! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/hxo9nGHPcr
— WWE (@WWE) January 25, 2016
Meanwhile, a potentially intriguing rivalry hotted up in the shape of Brock Lesnar and Bray Wyatt, with the latter eliminating the former…
He’s throwing everything he can at @BraunStrowman! #RoyalRumble @BrockLesnar pic.twitter.com/TI3wbsQXAm
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 25, 2016
The relentless #WyattFamily is picking apart @BrockLesnar… #RoyalRumble #SisterAbigail pic.twitter.com/LaeQZYykVF
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 25, 2016
AJ Stlyes made his long-awaited WWE debut and got an absolutely massive pop after entering number 3 in the Royal Rumble match.
Entrant No. 3 in the #RoyalRumble Match is simply #PHENOMENAL! @AJStylesOrg has arrived in @WWE! https://t.co/fjpnn7f6kd
— WWE (@WWE) January 25, 2016
See ya, @RealCurtisAxel…courtesy of @AJStyles! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/aKNyKfVxSu
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 25, 2016
Our very own Sheamus was a very late entry into the Rumble, so he was involved at the crucial moments…
#LeagueOfNations member @WWESheamus enters at Number 29! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/y9infpUFW1
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 25, 2016
This is the full list of eliminations in order…
1.) Roman Reigns eliminated by Triple H
2.) Rusev eliminated by Roman Reigns
3.) AJ Styles eliminated by Kevin Owens
4.) Tyler Breeze eliminated by Roman Reigns & AJ Styles
5.) Curtis Axel eliminated by AJ Styles
6.) Chris Jericho eliminated by Dean Ambrose
7.) Kane eliminated by Braun Strowman
8.) Goldust eliminated by Titus O’Neil
9.) Ryback eliminatd by Big Show
10.) Kofi Kingston eliminated by Chris Jericho
11.) Titus O’Neil eliminated by Big Show
12.) R-Truth eliminated by Kane
13.) Luke Harper eliminated by Brock Lesnar
14.) Stardust eliminated by Luke Harper
15.) Big Show eliminated by Braun Strowman
16.) Neville eliminated by Luke Harper
17.) Braun Strowman eliminated by Brock Lesnar
18.) Kevin Owens eliminated by Sami Zayn
19.) Dean Ambrose eliminated by Triple H
20.) Sami Zayn eliminated by Braun Strowman
21.) Erick Rowan eliminated by Brock Lesnar
22.) Mark Henry eliminated by Luke Harper, Erick Rowan and Braun Strowman
23.) Brock Lesnar eliminated by The Wyatt Family
24.) Jack Swagger eliminated by Brock Lesnar
25.) The Miz eliminated by Roman Reigns
26.) Alberto Del Rio elminiated by Roman Reigns
27.) Bray Wyatt eliminated by Triple H
28.) Dolph Ziggler eliminated by Triple H
29.) Sheamus eliminated by Roman Reigns
30.) Triple H eliminates Dean Ambrose
List courtesy of Wrestle Zone
Here’s the reaction to the whole thing…
Pissed that I fell asleep during the royal rumble ? still predicted the outcome nicely #HHH
— Zumran Zahid (@ZumranZahid) January 25, 2016
@WWE well done on the #RoyalRumble awesome to see aj styles hopefully for long term. An unexpected ending. #ThePhenomenalOne #TripleH
— Matt Croft (@Mattcrofty) January 25, 2016
Will watch the full #RoyalRumble match back later but I enjoyed what I saw, I woke up as Lesnar was entering.
— Jason Kallend (@JasonKallend) January 25, 2016
So has everybody let it all sink in? We are still pumped from the best Royal Rumble in recent years. What are your thoughts? #RoyalRumble
— Out of Nowhere (@OutofNowherePod) January 25, 2016
The one and future king is back on his throne. Congrats to @TripleH on his win last night. #WWE #RoyalRumble
— Darragh O’Connor (@DarraghWV) January 25, 2016
Congratulations to Respected Sir @TripleH for winning the @RoyalRumble2016 and becoming the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion #RoyalRumble
— Rajdeep Saha (@rajdeepsaha2016) January 25, 2016
@AJStylesOrg in the Royal Rumble, never thought I’d see the day.
— Ellis Topliss (@EllisTopliss) January 25, 2016
AJ STYLES!!! OH MY FUCKING GOD!!! #RoyalRumble
— ~Fight Kiril Fight~ (@BawangPurple) January 25, 2016
@TheRock What did you think of @TripleH becoming champ again? #RoyalRumble #AskRock
— Warris Mir (@Coldprince11) January 25, 2016
Triple H as a short-term champ is fine for storyline purposes, but man, I wanted Wyatt to win! Best rumble in years! #RoyalRumble
— Clare Hardaker (@mummylovesfooty) January 25, 2016
without considering the result, it was a solid #RoyalRumble match
— #NeverGiveUp (@AJR4EVER) January 25, 2016
If last night was any indication. . . and it was. . . 2016 is going to be a HUGE year for #WWE. Very little to find fault with. #RoyalRumble
— DC Matthews (@DCMatthewsNAI) January 25, 2016
It wasn’t all positive, of course…
Fans still booed Roman but it would have been worse if fans thought there was any chance of Daniel Bryan returning. #RoyalRumble
— FunkMonk (@FunkMonkv1) January 25, 2016
Royal Rumble was great until the ending
— Freezer Burns (@euan_burns) January 25, 2016
Royal Rumble completely sucked for the 3rd straight year with no Daniel Bryan victory 🙁
— Anthoney Lee (@YoungLionSalky) January 25, 2016
Elsewhere, in other matches of note, Dean Ambrose beat Kevin Owens in a brilliant Last Man Standing match for the Intercontinental title, while Kalisto beat Alberto Del Rio for the United States Championship
Clip via YouTube/WWE
Clip via YouTube/WWE
All in all, the 29th Royal Rumble was an entertaining affair, so if you haven’t seen it yet we recommend that you catch up on the class clips.
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