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COMPLETE WWE ROYAL RUMBLE 2023 REPORT: DID SAMI PASS THE FINAL TEST, MANY RETURNS, A FEW SURPRISES, TWO RUMBLES, PITCH BLACK, AND MORE

By Richard Trionfo on 2023-01-28 19:00:00

Your announcers are Corey Graves and Michael Cole.

Pat McAfee makes his way to the ring to join on commentary.

Match Number One:  Men’s Royal Rumble Match

The first two in the Royal Rumble are Gunther, at number one, and Sheamus is number two.

They stare each other down and Gunther tells Sheamus to bring it.  Gunther with a forearm and Sheamus fires back.  They continue the exchange.  Sheamus with a shoulder tackle but Gunther stays on his feet.  Gunther with a shoulder tackle and Sheamus stays on his feet.  Gunther chops Sheamus and tries to send him over the top rope in the corner but Sheamus with a thumb to the eyes followed by an Irish Curse.  Sheamus tries to get Gunther over the top rope but Gunther holds on.

Number Three is Miz

Miz gets on the apron and things again when he sees Sheamus.  Gunther gets Sheamus on the apron and Miz tries to pull Sheamus off the apron but Sheamus kicks Miz away and then Sheamus gets back in the ring.  Sheamus knocks Miz off the apron.  Sheamus goes to the floor and he chases Miz.  Gunther with a chop to Miz and Sheamus with a punch to Gunther.  Sheamus punches Miz and Gunther chops Miz when Sheamus moves.  Sheamus punches Miz when Gunther moves.  Sheamus is put over the top rope and Miz tries to eliminate Gunther.

Number Four is Kofi Kingston

Kofi goes up top and hits a cross body on Gunther and Miz.  Kofi with a drop kick to Sheamus and a flying clothesline to Miz.  Kofi with SOS on Gunther and a Boom drop on Miz and Gunther.  Kofi sets for Trouble in Paradise but Sheamus catches him.  Kofi gets back into the ring despite Sheamus' efforts.  Sheamus kicks Gunther and connects with a forearm.  Sheamus and Gunther exchangs chops.  Kofi tries to get Miz over the top rope.  Kofi with SOS on Miz

Number Five is Johnny Gargano

Miz and Kofi battle in one corner while Gunther chokes Sheamus in another.  Gargano with a slingshot spear to Kofi followed by an enzuigiri to Gunther.  Miz sends Gargano to the apron and Gargano with a slingshot DDT to Miz.  Gargano sends Miz over the top rope and Miz lands on the apron.  Gargano sets up Miz in the ropes and Sheamus looks at Gargano about Gimmick Infringement.  Sheamus shows Miz how it is done.  Gunther chokes Kofi and sends him to the apron.  Miz falls to the apron on his knees.  Gargano with a super kick to Miz and Sheamus with a Brogue Kick to eliminate Miz.

Miz Eliminated

Number Six is Xavier Woods

Woods and Kofi with chops and kicks to Gunther followed by a double bulldog.  Woods with a snap mare to Gargano and Kofi with a kick.  Woods with a clothesline and Kofi with a splash and Woods with an elbow drop to Gargano.  Woods and Kofi are the only ones standing in the ring and Woods and Kofi spank each other in a victory roll position.  Gunther gets Woods on the ropes but he gets back into the ring.

Number Seven is Karrion Kross

Kofi and Woods work over Sheamus while Gunther and Gargano recover.  Kross with kicks and punches to Woods followed by an exploder to Kofi.  Kross with a clothesline and elbow to Woods followed by a clothesline.  Gunther chops Kross.  Kross and Gunther exchange forearms.  Gunther with a clothesline to Kross.  Kross with an exploder to Gunther.  Sheamus and Kross exchange forearms.  Gargano tries to send Kofi over the top rope but Kofi holds on.

Number Eight is Chad Gable

Gable with a double thrust to Gargano and then he does the same to Kofi.  Gable with an exploder to Gargano and Kofi.  Gable with a waist lock on Woods and Woods escapes and shooooshes Gable.  Gunther kicks and chokes Sheamus in the corner.  Gable with a front face lock on Woods while Kross is sent to the apron by Gargano.  Gable with a German suplex on Woods.  Kofi with a forearm to Gable from behind.

Number Nine is Drew McIntyre

Drew with a clothesline to Gable and an overhead belly-to-belly suplex to Kofi and Woods.  Gable receives a Glasgow Kiss.  Drew sends Gargano onto Gable with a reverse Alabama Slam.  Drew with a Claymore to eliminate Kross.

Karrion Kross eliminated

Drew and Gunther circle each other and they exchange chops.  Drew with a Future Shock to Gunther.

Number Ten is Santos Escobar

Sheamus sends Woods into the turnbuckles but Woods punches Sheamus.  Santos with a head scissors to Woods.  Gable with forearms to Santos.  Santos goes to the apron and Sheamus with a forearm but Santos with forearms and an enzuigiri.  Santos goes up top and hits a cross body on Gable.  Gargano sends Escobar into the turnbuckles and Santos goes to the turnbuckles.  Gargano tries to eliminate Santos.  Santos kicks Gable and Gable chops Sheamus.  Drew holds Gable and Sheamus chops him.  Drew wants one.  Santos with a Phantom Driver off the turnbuckles to Gargano.

Number Eleven is Angelo Dawkins

Dawkins with a punch to Drew and a spinning splash into the corner followed by a kick.  Woods is sent over the top rope and he hangs on to the ropes.  Dawkins with a butterfly suplex to Gable.  Woods is sent to the apron and Kofi with Silly String to stay in.  Gunther kicks Woods off the apron to eliminate him. 

Xavier Woods Eliminated

Kofi goes after Gunther but Santos makes the save.  Kofi with a double stomp to Santos.  Kofi is sent to the apron and Gunther with a shoulder tackle but Kofi lands on a chair and his second foot is not on the ground.

Number Twelve is Brock Lesnar

Brock gets his own pyro for his entrance.  Sheamus and Drew wait for him to enter the ring.  Brock gets in the ring and he avoids Sheamus and Drew.  Brock takes Sheamus down and he gives Drew a German suplex.  Sheamus and Dawkins get German suplexes from Brock.  Brock catches Escobar off the turnbuckles and Brock with a fallaway slam to eliminate Santos. Dawkins and Gable are also eliminated by Brock.

Santos Escobar, Chad Gable, and Angelo Dawkins Eliminated

 Brock with a German suplex to Drew and an overhead belly-to-belly suplex to Sheamus.  Gunther and Brock stare each other down.

Number Thirteen is Bobby Lashley

Brock with a German suplex to Gunther.  Lashley spears Lesnar and then he gives Gargano a spinebuster.  Lashley spears Drew.  Lashley spears Sheamus and then he hits a spinebuster on Gunther.  Lashley escapes an F-5 and Lashley clotheslines Brock over the top rope to eliminate him.

Brock Lesnar Eliminated

Brock throws the cover of the announce table at Lashley.

Number Fourteen is Baron Corbin

Brock throws the ring steps on the announce table.  Brock with a running shoulder tackle to Corbin on the floor.  Brock with an F-5 to Corbin.  Drew and Sheamus try to eliminate Lashley and Gunther fights with Sheamus.  Officials come out and hold their hands up to stop Brock.  Brock pushes a referee over the ringside barrier before Brock leaves through the crowd.  Gunther tries to eliminate Lashey and Gargano.

Number Fifteen is Seth Rollins

Seth sees Corbin down on the floor and Rollins sends him into the ring and Rollins with a super kick and a clothesline to eliminate Corbin.

Baron Corbin eliminated

Seth and Sheamus exchange forearms.

Number Sixteen is Otis

Seth with a knee to Sheamus and he tries to eliminate Sheamus.  Drew and Lashley work over Gunther but Gunther fights them off.  Otis with a back fist to Gargano followed by a clothesline to Drew and an exploder to Sheamus.  Otis with a splash to Gargano.  Seth tries to get Drew over the top rope but Lashley grabs Seth and puts him on the turnbuckles.  Otis kicks Gargano.

Number Seventeen is Rey Mysterio

Rey does not come out.  Lashley catches Seth off the turnbuckles but Seth escapes and hits a series of super kicks.  Seth tries to clothesline Lashley but Lashley does not move.  Lashley catches Seth and Seth gets to his feet and he sends Lashley over the top rope.

Bobby Lashley Eliminated

Otis sets for the caterpillar on Gunther and hits it.  Otis goes to the turnbuckles but Gunther gets up and pushes Otis but Sheamus and Drew make the save.

Number Eighteen is Dominik Mysterio

Dominik rips a Rey mask on the way to the ring.  Drew and Sheamus eliminate Otis.

Otis eliminated

Rollins punches Gargano and Gargano with a super kick.  Seth with a buckle bomb to Gargano.  Gunther tries to eliminate Drew while Dominik takes his time to get into the ring since Sheamus is waiting for him.  Sheamus holds the ropes open for Dom.  Gunther chops Seth and sends him to the apron.  Drew chops Gargano and then tries to send Gargano over the top rope with a Death Valley Driver.  Gargano gets on the apron.  Dom attacks Sheamus from behind and Dom backs into the corner.  

Number Nineteen is Elias

Sheamus with punches to Dom and Seth joins in.  Elias kicks Sheamus and Gunther and then he hits Gunther in the back with the guitar.  Drew and Sheamus with head butts to Elias.  Drew with a Claymore to Elias while Sheamus hits a Brogue.  Elias is sent over the top rope to the floor.

Elias eliminated

Gargano punches Dom.

Number Twenty is Finn Balor

Sheamus sends Seth over the top rope and Gargano tries to help.  Drew kicks Dom.  Finn figures Dom is okay and he takes his time to get to the ring.  Finn with sling blade to Drew and then he sends Drew into the ropes but Sheamus makes the save for Drew.  Finn with punches to Rollins and Gargano with a super kick to Finn.  Gargano sends Balor to the apron and Gargano punches him.  Gargano runs into forearms from Dom and Gargano is sent to the apron and he holds on to the ropes.  Gargano punches Dom and he goes for a slingshot spear but Finn with a drop kick.  Gargano is sent over the top rope.

Johnny Gargano eliminated

Dom offers his hand to Drew but Drew with punches and chops.

Number Twenty-One is Booker T

Drew has Dom on the turnbuckles but Dom saves himself.  Booker with a jumping leg lariat to Finn.  Booker with a back heel kick to Dom.  Booker with a Book End to Finn.  With everyone down on the mat, Booker with a spinaroonie.  Gunther, not a fan of the spinaroonie, eliminates Booker.

Booker T Eliminated

Number Twenty-Two is Damian Priest

Sheamus sends Balor to the apron and Priest makes the save.  Priest with kicks and punches to Sheamus and then he goes after Drew.  Rollins and Balor exchange punches.  Priest and Dom join Balor as they triple team Rollins.  They turn their attention to Gunther and then Sheamus.  Balor with a back breaker to Rollins and Priest with a leg drop to Rollins.Balor with shoulders to Gunther.

Number Twenty-Three is Montez Ford

Balor and Dom work over Rollins.  Priest has Drew hanging over the ropes.  Dom is sent to the apron by Ford and Ford with a kick.  Ford with a back fist to Priest and an enzuigiri.  Balor sends Ford over the top rope but Ford skins the cat and he punches Balor.  Priest grabs Ford and he choke slams Ford tot he floor.

Montez Ford is eliminated

Number Twenty-Four is Edge

Balor, Priest, and Dom are thankful they are wearing dark pants as Edge makes his way to the ring.  Edge spears Priest and then he does the same to Balor.  Dom drop kicks Edge into the ropes for a 619 but Edge with a spear before Dom can do anything.  Edge sends Priest and Balor over the top rope.

Damian Priest and Finn Balor Eliminated

Edge and Rollins stare each other down but Dom hits Edge and Edge sends Dom over the top rope but Balor and Priest stop Dom from going over and then Finn pulls Edge to the floor.

Edge Eliminated

Number Twenty-Five is Austin Theory

Edge goes after Balor and Priest in the aisle and Edge chases Balor to the back.  Theory waits for them to finish before he goes to the ring.

Rhea Ripley attacks Edge from behind.   Beth Phoenix comes out behind Ripley and Beth spears Rhea.  Edge and Beth are escorted to the back by officials.

Back in the ring.  Theory with an elbow to Rollins and hits a neck breaker.  Theory punches Dom and Drew.  Sheamus with a forearm to Theory.

Number Twenty-Six is Omos

Sheamus clotheslines Theory.  Sheamus and Drew wait for Omos to enter the ring.  Dom kicks Seth.  Omos with a double clothesline to Sheamus and Drew.  Omos kicks Theory and Dom.  Omos with a side slam to Theory.  Gunther comes up behind Omos and chops him a few times.  Omos grabs Gunther by the throat and choke slams Gunther.  

Number Twenty-Seven is Braun Strowman

Currently in the match are Seth Rollins, Omos, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Gunther, Braun Strowman, Dominik Mysterio, Austin Theory, and Rey Mysterio.

Omos waits for Braun to enter the ring.  Omos with an elbow to Sheamus.  Braun and Omos exchange punches.  Braun staggers Omos with a punch.  Omso misses a clothesline and Braun clotheslines Omos over the top rope.

Omos Eliminated

Braun with shoulders to Seth Rollins and a punch.  Theory with punches to Drew but Sheamus corners him.  Drew chops Theory and he goes down.  Braun biels Theory while Drew and Sheamus try to eliminate Seth.

Number Twenty-Eight is Ricochet

Ricochet with a kick to Dom.  Theory with a clothesline to Braun and Braun with a forearm.  Braun grabs Drew and Sheamus and he tries to push them over the top rope but Drew and Sheamus turn the tables on Braun and they hit forearms to the chest.  Gunther hits Drew and sends him to the apron but Sheamus stops Gunther to make the save for Drew.  Seth and Theory battle in the corner.  Sheamus with a rolling slam.  Rollins punches Theory on the apron.  Gunther chops Sheamus and he tries to eliminate Sheamus but gets him to the apron.  Gunther chops Sheamus and he holds on to the ropes and Drew makes the save.  Gunther pushes Drew into Sheamus to eliminate Sheamus and then Gunther eliminates Drew.

Sheamus and Drew McIntyre eliminated

Number Twenty-Nine is Logan Paul

Paul looks at the other people in the match and Theory, Rollins, Ricochet, and Dom kick Logan.  Rollins punches Dom.  Ricochet sends Logan to the apron and Logan with a punch to Ricochet and a Buckshot Lariat to Ricochet.  Paul is sent to the apron by Gunther but Logan gets back in the ring.  Logan stares down Braun.  Logan with punches to Braun but Braun with a running power slam.  Ricochet with a shooting star press.  Logan is sent through the middle ropes.

Number Thirty is Cody Rhodes

Cody gets some pyro as he makes his way to the ring.

Cody with a back elbow to Theory and a clothesline to Dom.  Cody with a drop down uppercut to Braun.  Cody with a Cody Cutter to Theory.  Cody tosses his weight belt into the crowd.  Dom with a kcik and suplex to Cody.  Dom holds on for a second one.  Dom sets for Three Amigos but Cody escapes and hits CrossRhodes on Dom and then he sends Dom over the top rope.

Dominik Mysterio Eliminated

Braun with a power bomb to Cody.  Gunther with a forearm to Braun and Last Symphony.  Ricochet with an Asai DDT to Gunther.  Theory sends Ricochet to the apron.  Ricochet with a kick to Theory.  Ricochet and Paul are on the opposite side of the ring on the apron.  Both men go for springboard moves and collide in the middle of the ring.  Ricochet is sent to the apron and he holds on to the ropes to avoid elimination.  Braun makes the save but Cody sends Braun to the apron and he is eliminated.

Braun Strowman eliminated

Ricochet with a body scissors on Cody but Cody punches Ricochet on the apron.  Theory clotheslines Ricochet to the floor.

Ricochet eliminated

Cody punches Theory.  Cody punches Theory in the corner.  Rollins with an elbow Gunther in the corner.  Cody flips to the apron and he sunset flips Theory.  Rollins with a stomp to Theory and Cody clotheslines Theory over the top rope.

Austin Theory Eliminated

We are down to Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Gunther, Logan Paul, and Rey Mysterio.

Seth tells Cody he isn't taking his spot.  Gunther punches Seth and Cody.  Seth holds Gunther for Cody to punch him and Seth with a back heel kick while Cody holds Gunther.  Cody with a drop down kick.  Rollins with a Pedigree to Gunther.   Cody with a kick and a Pedigree to Gunther.  Cody with punches to Seth and Seth slaps Cody before Cody can hit the Bionic Elbow.  They exchange punches.  Cody sets for CrossRhodes but Seth with a snap mare.  Seth misses the Stomp.  Seth with a super kick.  Rollins with a kick and he sets for a Pedigree but Paul eliminates Rollins.

Seth Rollins eliminated

Logan points to the sign, but it is too early since the match is not over.  Logan sets for a punch but Cody blocks it and hits CrossRhodes and then Logan is sent over the top rope to the floor.

Logan Paul Eliminated

Gunther with a chop to Cody followed by an Irish whip.  Cody floats over and Cody with punches to Gunther.  Gunther chops Cody in the injured pectoral.  Cody lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex attempt.  Gunther with another chop.  Gunther with another chop.  Gunther with an uppercut and then he misses a boot and he goes to the apron.  Cody goes for Beautiful Disaster and Gunther with a clothesline.  Gunther with a forearm to the chest.  Cody with a punch and chops.  Gunther puts Cody on the turnbuckles.  Gunther with a chop and Cody falls to the apron.  Gunther with kicks to the shoulder.  Cody with a shoulder and he connects with forearms.  Cody goes up top and Gunther with a chop.  Gunther with a butterfly superplex.  

Gunther with a kick to the back.  Cody pushes Gunther and Gunther with chops.  Cody with a drop down uppercut followed by a Cody Cutter.  Cody sends Gunther over the top rope but Gunther lands on the apron.  Cody with a dragon screw in the ropes but Gunther gets back in the ring.  Cody with punches and he puts Gunther in the ropes for Shattered Dreams.  Gunther with a chop and Cody with a forearm.  Gunther with a drop kick and power bomb.  Gunther sends Cody to the apron and Cody's feet hang over the floor.  Gunther with a forearm to the back and he chops Cody.  Cody with a punch and Gunther with a chop.  Gunther with a sleeper to Cody on the apron.  Cody tries to snap mare Gunther to escape the hold.  Cody gets Gunther off his feet and Gunther releases the sleeper.  Cody comes off the turnbuckles but Gunther with a chop.  Gunther sets for Last Symphony but Cody counters and hits CrossRhodes.  

Cody clotheslines Gunther over the top rope to the floor.

Winner:  Cody Rhodes

After the match, Cody looks around and he sees the sign, and unlike Logan Paul, he knows that you don't point to the sign until you win the Royal Rumble.

Coverage Continues on Next Page


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