Royal Rumble
Promotional poster featuring various WWE wrestlers
PromotionWWE
Brand(s)Raw
SmackDown
DateJanuary 27, 2024
CitySt. Petersburg, Florida
VenueTropicana Field
WWE Network event chronology
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The 2024 Royal Rumble is the upcoming 37th annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view and livestreaming event produced by WWE. It will be held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The event will take place on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. It will be the second Royal Rumble to be held at the stadium after the 2021 event, though the first with live fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic that year. This will subsequently be the first Royal Rumble held in the Tampa Bay area to have live fans in attendance since the 1995 event.

The event is based around the Royal Rumble match, and the winner traditionally receives a world championship match at that year's WrestleMania. For the 2024 event, the winners of both the men's and women's matches receive a choice of which championship to challenge for at WrestleMania XL. The men can choose to challenge for either Raw's World Heavyweight Championship or SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, while the women have the choice between Raw's Women's World Championship and SmackDown's WWE Women's Championship.

Production

Background

The event will be held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Royal Rumble is an annual professional wrestling event produced every January by WWE since 1988. It is one of the promotion's five biggest events of the year, along with WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank, referred to as the "Big Five".[1][2] The concept of the event is based around the Royal Rumble match, a modified battle royal in which the participants enter at timed intervals instead of all beginning in the ring at the same time.[3][4]

Announced on September 13, 2023, the 37th Royal Rumble is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida and will feature wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown brand divisions.[5] This will be the second Royal Rumble to be held at Tropicana Field after the 2021 event, but the first with live fans in attendance as the 2021 event was produced without fans via the WWE ThunderDome due to the COVID-19 pandemic that year.[6] This in turn marks the first Royal Rumble to be held in the Tampa Bay area with fans in attendance since the 1995 event. In addition to airing on pay-per-view worldwide, it will be available to livestream on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network in most international markets.[5] Tickets went on sale on October 20, 2023, with premium hospitality packages also available.[7]

The Royal Rumble match generally features 30 wrestlers and the winner traditionally earns a world championship match at that year's WrestleMania. For 2024, the men and women can choose which world championship to challenge for at WrestleMania XL; the men can choose Raw's World Heavyweight Championship or SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, while the women have the choice between Raw's Women's World Championship and SmackDown's WWE Women's Championship.[3][4]

Storylines

The event will include matches that result from scripted storylines. Results are predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[8][9] while storylines are produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.[10]

Before he went on hiatus in May 2022 due to a back injury, Randy Orton had been feuding with The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso).[11] The following year at Crown Jewel in November 2023, Reigns defeated LA Knight to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship after interference from The Bloodline.[12] On the following episode of SmackDown, Knight stated that he was not done with The Bloodline until he defeated Reigns for the title.[13] Orton then returned at Survivor Series: WarGames later that same month,[14] and on the December 1 episode of SmackDown, he signed with the SmackDown brand after fending off an attack by The Bloodline (which had since added Solo Sikoa while Jey had left the group earlier that summer), vowing to get revenge.[15] Two weeks later, the returning AJ Styles helped Knight and Orton fend off The Bloodline before attacking Knight.[16] The following week, Styles explained that he attacked Knight for taking his spot in a tag team match at Fastlane in October 2023. After Orton interrupted and said that he also wanted a title match against Reigns, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis announced that Orton, Styles, and Knight would compete in a triple threat match at SmackDown: New Year's Revolution on January 5, 2024, where the winner would face Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble.[17] However, the match ended in a no contest after The Bloodline attacked all three competitors. As a result, Aldis announced that Reigns would instead defend his championship in a fatal four-way match against Orton, Knight, and Styles at the Royal Rumble.[18]

At Crown Jewel on November 4, 2023, Logan Paul won his first WWE title, the United States Championship.[12] Paul made his first appearance as champion on the December 1 episode of SmackDown where he announced that his first challenger would be determined by a 8-man tournament.[15] The tournament was won by Kevin Owens at SmackDown: New Year's Revolution on January 5, 2024, thus earning a match against Paul for the title at the Royal Rumble.[18]

Matches

No.Matches*Stipulations
1Men's Royal Rumble match30-man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania XL[19]
2Women's Royal Rumble match30-woman Royal Rumble match for a women's championship match at WrestleMania XL[19]
3Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA KnightFatal four-way match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship[20]
4Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin OwensSingles match for the WWE United States Championship[21]
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
*Card subject to change

Announced competitors

Men's Royal Rumble Match

6 out of the 30 entrants have been announced as of 18 January 2024.

  – Raw
  – SmackDown
Wrestler[19] Date Notes
Cody RhodesNovember 27, 2023Announced on Raw
CM PunkDecember 11, 2023
Shinsuke NakamuraJanuary 4, 2024Announced on WWE 2024 Preview Special
Bobby LashleyJanuary 5, 2024Announced on SmackDown: New Year's Revolution
Drew McIntyreJanuary 8, 2024Announced on Raw
GuntherJanuary 15, 2024

Women's Royal Rumble match

4 out of the 30 entrants have been announced as of 18 January 2024.

  – Raw
  – SmackDown
Wrestler[19] Date Notes
BayleyDecember 15, 2023Announced on SmackDown
Nia JaxDecember 18, 2023Announced on Raw
Becky LynchJanuary 4, 2024Announced on WWE 2024 Preview Special
Bianca BelairJanuary 5, 2024Announced on SmackDown: New Year's Revolution

WWE United States Championship #1 Contender Tournament

First round
SmackDown
December 8–15, 2023 		Semifinals
SmackDown
December 15, 2023 (aired December 22) 		Final
SmackDown: New Year's Revolution
January 5, 2024
         
Dragon Lee 9:09[22]
Santos Escobar Pin
Santos Escobar Pin
Bobby Lashley 8:44[17]
Bobby Lashley Pin
Karrion Kross 9:46[22]
Santos Escobar 16:35
Kevin Owens Pin
Carmelo Hayes Pin
Grayson Waller 10:23[16]
Carmelo Hayes 10:04[17]
Kevin Owens Pin
Austin Theory 13:32[16]
Kevin Owens Pin

    References

    1. ↑ Hamilton, Ian. Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition. p. 160.
    2. ↑ News 3 Staff (August 22, 2021). "Las Vegas to host WWE's Money in the Bank in 2022". KSNV. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    3. 1 2 "Specialty Matches: Royal Rumble". WWE. Archived from the original on July 14, 2005. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
    4. 1 2 Waldman, Jon (February 2, 2005). "Statistical survival – breaking down the Royal Rumble". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
    5. 1 2 Russell, Skylar (September 13, 2023). "WWE Royal Rumble 2024 To Take Place At Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida". Fightful. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
    6. ↑ Harris, Jeffrey (January 12, 2021). "Backstage Note on WWE Not Having Live Fans for Royal Rumble". 411Mania. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
    7. ↑ "Tickets for Royal Rumble in Tampa Bay on sale next Friday, October 20". WWE. October 9, 2023. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
    8. ↑ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
    9. ↑ "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
    10. ↑ Steinberg, Brian (May 25, 2016). "WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
    11. ↑ Pal, Arindam (June 17, 2022). "WWE Summerslam 2022 main event in jeopardy due to Randy Orton's injury?". myKhel. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
    12. 1 2 Powell, Jason (November 4, 2023). "WWE Crown Jewel results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns vs. LA Knight for the WWE Universal Title, Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Title, Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul for the U.S. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
    13. ↑ Barnett, Jake (November 10, 2023). "WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (11/10): Barnett's review of Bobby Lashley vs. Carlito, LA Knight vs. Grayson Waller, and Bayley addresses the future of Damage CTRL". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
    14. ↑ Powell, Jason (November 25, 2023). "WWE Survivor Series WarGames results: Powell's review of Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, and Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre and The Judgment Day in a WarGames match, Women's WarGames match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 26, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
    15. 1 2 Barnett, Jake (December 1, 2023). "WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (12/1): Powell's review of Randy Orton's appearance, Kevin Owens vs. Grayson Waller, Logan Paul's search for a U.S. Title challenger". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
    16. 1 2 3 Barnett, Jake (December 15, 2023). "WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (12/15): Barnett's review of the return of Roman Reigns, Carmelo Hayes vs. Grayson Waller and Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory in tourney matches for a shot at the U.S. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
    17. 1 2 3 Barnett, Jake (December 22, 2023). "WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (12/22): Barnett's review of AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa, Carmelo Hayes vs. Kevin Owens and Santos Escobar vs. Bobby Lashley in tournament matches for a shot at the U.S. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
    18. 1 2 Barnett, Jake (January 5, 2024). "WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (1/5): Barnett's review of Roman Reigns and Logan Paul's appearances, Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles for a shot at the WWE Universal Title at the Royal Rumble". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
    19. 1 2 3 4 Burdick, Michael (January 5, 2024). "Men's and Women's Royal Rumble Matches". WWE. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
    20. ↑ WWE.com Staff (January 5, 2023). "Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight — Fatal 4-Way Match)". WWE. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
    21. ↑ Miller, Gregory (January 5, 2024). "United States Champion Logan Paul vs. Kevin Owens". WWE. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
    22. 1 2 Barnett, Jake (December 8, 2023). "WWE Friday Night Smackdown results (12/8): Barnett's review of CM Punk's appearance, Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka, Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar and Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross in tourney matches for a shot at the U.S. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
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