Big Cass entered the Royal Rumble first. Chris Jericho followed right behind him.
Jack Gallagher rushed in soon after with his trusty umbrella William. Mark Henry stormed in, tossing out Gallagher in a hurry.
Braun Strowman cleared the ring when he entered by ousting four men in a matter of seconds.
NXT's Tye Dillinger went after Strowman as soon as he entered the fray. James Ellsworth had the opposite approach, refusing to step into the ring after he strolled down the entrance ramp.
A pack of wrestlers tried to take down Strowman as a unit, but it took Baron Corbin's power to eliminate him.
The ring grew crowded as the pace of eliminations slowed. Rusev charged in wearing a nose brace. The New Day worked together to stave off defeat. Dolph Ziggler fired off superkicks to anyone within reach.
Luke Harper stared down Randy Orton as Bray Wyatt tried to quell the situation. Harper wasn't having it. He blasted his fellow Wyatt Family members.
Brock Lesnar manhandled the competition upon his arrival. That is, until Goldberg showed up. The powerhouse flung The Beast Incarnate out in seconds.
Undertaker and Roman Reigns were the last two gladiators to step into battle.
Reigns took out Jericho and Undertaker. That left him to fight alone against Orton and Wyatt. The Viper survived that exchange to claim victory.
Orton wins the Royal Rumble by last eliminating Reigns.
Memorable Moments and Quotes
- Enzo Amore: "Big Cass is entering No. 1 like it's 1995 and he's HBK in his prime."
- Gallagher spins his umbrella in between Jericho's legs.
- Strowman throws Kalisto onto Big Cass and Mojo Rawley outside the ring.
- Dillinger enters at No. 10.
- Kingston cracks his face on the ring post but manages to hang on to avoid elimination.
- Cesaro hits the Cesaro Swing on everyone left in the Rumble.
- Cesaro and Sheamus toss out each member of The New Day.
- Orton RKOs a flying Sami Zayn.
- Cole: "Lesnar has left carnage in his wake."
- Goldberg spears Lesnar before ousting him from the match.
As has been a pattern in recent years, the Royal Rumble had a variety of enjoyable elements but sputtered near the end.
Strowman's dominance, Gallagher comic relief and The Wyatt Family's issues were among the match's highlights. The bout featured quite a few intriguing staredowns and faceoffs.
Reigns entering at No. 30 was an odd move, though. Why cap things off with the guy who receives the most divided reaction on the roster? There was no major surprise entrant, either, unless you count Dillinger representing NXT.
Orton is the latest repeat winner as WWE has gone away from building stars with the Royal Rumble of late.
Overall, it was a fun experience. The match's format always delivers. WWE has just been playing it safe with the victors in the 2010s, crowning the established over the emerging.
