This was the first time in history that the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was defended in the Royal Rumble. He entered the Royal Rumble match at No. 3 and had one of the loudest pops you will ever see someone get.
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Yep. Two former world champions and they can’t even talk their way into a guaranteed spot. Bray Wyatt (eliminated by Triple H) 28. An exciting display of showmanship is expected to make the night one to remember, with wonderful things expected of last year’s victor, Roman Reigns. The victor gets a ticket to the main event of WrestleMania.
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns defeated the League of Nations (Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Rusev & King Barrett) via DQ in the 4 on 1 Handicap Match. Ambrose and Owens are fighting in a Last Man Standing match for the Intercontinental title and have not been announced for the Rumble match (although Owens was mentioned by the Authority as a potential victor in a segment on RAW). Triple H becomes just the third participant to win as the last entrant, after The Undertaker and John Cena managed that feat in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Elsewhere at the Royal Rumble, The New Day beat The Usos to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles and Kalisto reclaimed the United States Championship after striking Del Rio with Salida del Sol. Triple H entered at #30 as predicted and reported by many. Considering how many of their wrestlers are injured, they’re going to need to pull out all of the stops and big names. Will he finally win a title?
On the subject of greatness, Brock Lesnar is in the Rumble for the first time in over a decade. Either way, I feel like this main event was intended more to build up the Wyatt Family, as the stable stood tall for a second consecutive TV taping this week. He decimated the match and eliminated all three dominating members. Especially a year ago, when he left after TNA and WWE didn’t take an initiative to hire Styles.
Daniel Bryan – the man the crowd have wanted to win the last two Rumbles – is a 12/1 shot but he’s been out for the best part of a year now as the WWE doctors have reportedly failed to clear him for action following another concussion.
In a rematch at WWE TLC, the two had a no-frills singles match for the title where Ambrose won with a surprise roll-up.
HHH is the heavy betting favorite to win, despite not being on TV or mentioned as being in the match leading up to it. If he were to show up for the Rumble, he would easily be one of the biggest wrestling stars there and his appearance would create a buzz like no other. It’s hard to see Owens getting back the championship right now because the WWE might have bigger plans for him at WrestleMania. Reigns needs to make a statement that no matter who you put in front of me I will knock them down no matter who it is.
All the value has gone on Triple H now that he’s below evens but he is probably the most likely victor. Since there was no disqualification, they took out the mighty Brock together! That will most likely not happen but the return of one Triple H may very well occur.
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Bray Wyatt is 4/1 and Dean Ambrose is 5/1 – neither of who have won it before. Just for nostalgia purposes alone, The Dudley Boyz should come out on top and earn an invitation to the Royal Rumble match.
