A night of records and returns at the 36th Royal Rumble
In short: Held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, the 2023 Royal Rumble was a landmark event. It featured historic wins, high-stakes championship defenses, and the return of several major stars, marking a significant moment in the storied history of WWE's annual premium live event.
The 2023 event, held on January 28, was the 36th annual Royal Rumble. It was a unique iteration of the traditional battle royal format, where 30 participants enter at timed intervals. Because the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship had unified the Raw and SmackDown titles in April 2022, the men's winner, Cody Rhodes, was matched against a single champion. Conversely, the women's winner, Rhea Ripley, was granted the choice between the Raw or SmackDown Women's Championship for WrestleMania 39. This specific edition was the eighth time in history that the signature match did not serve as the main event. It also marked the first time the match was used to open the broadcast.
The card was defined by several historic performances and significant returns. Rhea Ripley set a new benchmark by winning from the first entry slot, remaining in the ring for a total of 1:01:08. In the men's match, Cody Rhodes emerged victorious after last eliminating Gunther, who set a record for the longest time spent in a men's Rumble at 1:11:40. The event also marked the first time the eponymous match opened the show. Gunther also became the second man to enter as the number one entrant and finish as the runner-up. This performance contributed to the event's status as a record-breaking spectacle.
Beyond the Rumble matches, the event featured a 'Pitch Black' match—a cross-promotion with Mountain Dew—where Bray Wyatt defeated LA Knight. This was Wyatt's first televised match since April 2021 at WrestleMania 37. The night also saw the return of several high-profile figures, including Pat McAfee, Edge, and Beth Phoenix. The event concluded with Roman Reigns successfully defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Kevin Owens. The show also featured appearances by Logan Paul and former wrestler Michelle McCool. Additionally, NXT commentator Booker T was among the notable figures present at the venue.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Royal Rumble (2023)
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