WWE kicked off this year’s PLE with the women’s Rumble which I was expecting given the massive amount of superstars announced in the previous weeks leading up to the Men’s Rumble. But that’s not to take away from the women who put on quite a showing on Saturday Night.
Iyo Sky was the first entrant to come out followed by Liv Morgan. The two women put on quite a spectacle, both lasting over an hour and 5 minutes but it was the number 3 entrant Roxanne Perez who lasted the longest clocking in at 1:07:47. She outlasted last years winner Bayley who had an incredible time of 1:03 in the 2024 RR. Roxanne may not have won this year’s Rumble but she did make history for the longest time spent in any of the Women’s Rumble Matches. Entrant Number 4, Chelsea Green is always entertaining but she seems to take it to a whole new level in the Rumbles. She may be the greatest comedy wrestler of all time. She knows exactly when to be serious and when to pull out the laughs.
Most, if not all of the women got to showcase why they are on our TV screens every week but the real talk was the surprise entrants and the potential future storylines. Jordynne Grace came out at Number 19 to a loud reaction, having just left TNA where she’s a multiple former Knockouts Champion. She’s signed to a multi-year deal with WWE so this was an incredible first appearance as an official member of the roster. She was eliminated by Entrant 28, NXT women’s champion Giulia after 22 minutes.
Entrant Number 21 gave us possibly the loudest pop of the night from the crowd, though. Alexa Bliss graced our television screens for the first time in two years. She looked fantastic, complete with a tribute jacket to the late Bray Wyatt and an updated version of her Lilly Doll. She was only in the Rumble for just over 11 minutes but she made an impact showcasing that she hasn’t lost a step, before being Eliminated by Liv Morgan. That’s a match I’ve been wanting and I think it would be a nice addition to the upcoming Elimation Chamber or Wrestlemania in Vegas.
Other superstars including Nia Jax, Bianca Belair, Naomi, Natalya, Zelina Vega and NXT superstar Stephanie Vaquer had great outings just to name a few. But it was the surprise appearances by Trish Stratus and Nikki Bella that had fans clamoring. Unfortunately both women were eliminated by the impressive Nia Jax, along with several other women who got in her way. Nia lasted to the final three.
Unfortunately for Nia and 28 other women who have been on TV for the last 14 months putting in the time and work, it was the returning Entrant Number 27, Charlotte Flair who won the Women’s Rumble this year. Making Charlotte the only woman in history to win it twice, the other time being in 2020. I feel this was a mistake. The Royal Rumble is possibly the second most important Premium Live Event and the honor should’ve went to someone who has been putting in the work. Charlotte could’ve put on a nice showing, and lost with grace. Setting up a couple matches on Smackdown leading to Elimination Chamber. Eventually, winning the chamber thus guaranteeing her spot at Mania. Again, putting in the work. Instead a huge moment was taken away from someone else who could’ve used it more. I want Charlotte Flair vs Tiffany Stratton to happen but not at the expense of the other women in WWE. A win at the Chamber doesn’t feel as important as a win at the RR which is why I feel that someone else should’ve had the honors. Not a returning superstar who’s been gone over a year.
Next was the match of the night! The match that would put an end to the rivalry between WWE Champion The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes and longtime friend and foe, the challenger Kevin Owens. This is one of those matches that I will highly recommend to any wrestling fan for years, maybe decades to come. It was the perfect showcase of talent and skill. But it had its risk as both men quite literally left it all in the ring.
The American Nightmare came out on top in the end, retaining his WWE championship. But he had to earn it against a brawler like KO. Both men turned the ladder into a weapon, giving and taking several painful slams on it. I actually winced multiple times during this match, watching both men’s heads bounce off the steel. The storytelling and pace of the match was cinematic. But it came at a cost physically. In the end though, it was Cody prevailing victorious by using a legitimately devastating Alabama Slam on KO, sending him crashing down through a ladder that was set up between the ring and announcers desk. Then he ascended the ladder to claim his prize and continue his place as the top guy in WWE.
The Main Event was the Men’s Royal Rumble match. Rey Mysterio and Penta started as the first two entrants and we were treated to an instant classic luchador showdown. But that was quickly interrupted by Entrant Number 3, Chad Gable who lost to Penta in his debut match on Raw a few weeks back. Several others entered including one of my personal favorite wrestlers, Bron Breakker who came in at Number 7. He dominated everyone who got in his way. The dogs were definitely barking in Indianapolis for Bron.
The next surprise entrant was social media sensation I-ShowSpeed, subbing in for Akira Tozawa. He came in and helped Breakker eliminate Otis before showing off for the crowd and instantly taking an insane spear from Breakker himself. He was pulverized by Bron and it was glorious. A clearly angry and already eliminated Otis then threw Speed out of the Rumble.
More superstars like Sheamus, Jimmy Uso, Andrade, Fatu, Kaiser and Miz made their entrances. But it was surprise entrant TNA World Champion Joe Hendry that got the crowd excited. This dude is over with 95% of the fans in every company. They believe in Joe Hendry. But unfortunately WWE doesn’t and Entrant Number 16 Roman Reigns eliminated Hendry almost immediately. Roman also took out Bron Breakker, Sheamus and Miz while lasting just over 37 minutes.
The next four entrants are some of the most talented and over guys on the roster so it was stacked. Drew McIntyre, Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura and fan favorite Jey Uso. While Drew lasted 26 minutes and Finn lasted just over 11 minutes, Shinsuke didn’t fare as well as he was eliminated after just over 3 minutes by Jey “YEET” Uso. At Entrant Number 21, we got the returning Phenomenal AJ Styles who lasted 21 minutes. Next was Braun Strowman who eliminated Jacob Fatu before being eliminated almost immediately by Entrant Number 23 and one of the favorites to win the entire match, John Cena. Cena also eliminated Balor. Up next we had the second city Saint, CM Punk at Number 24 followed by Seth Rollins, Dom Mysterio and Sami Zayn. There were no more elimations until Dominick was taken out by longtime stable-mate turned foe, Entrant Number 28. Damian Priest. The final two entrants for the 2025 Men’s Rumble were LA Knight YEAH and The Maverick Logan Paul.
Damian threw McIntyre out with the help of Jey Uso in an elimation supposedly filled with backstage drama before being taken out by the Megastar, LA Knight. Knight was then taken out by his old rival, AJ Styles. One of the nights biggest moments came when Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins were eliminated at the same time by none other than CM Punk. The only thing more shocking than that was Logan Paul sneaking up behind Punk and immediately throwing him out, leading to a staredown between Punk and Reigns. That was quickly shut down when Rollins came out of nowhere with a double foot stomp to Reigns on the floor, before targeting Punk. Seth then got in Paul Heyman’s face before delivering one final stomp to Roman on the steel steps and walking off.
There were other elimations throughout the match which ultimately led to the final three left in the ring. Logan Paul, John Cena and Jey Uso. Logan was the first to go, being taken out by John Cena. We then got a classic back and forth where I genuinely didn’t know which one was going to win. At times it really looked like it was gonna be Cena but in the end, Jey proved to be on top of his game after a great fight on the ring apron where both men were hanging on for dear life. Jey eliminated John Cena to win the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble and punch his ticket to Wrestlemania with a guaranteed championship match.
I thought the rumbles and the ladder match were all fantastic, with Cody and KO stealing the show. I was actually really into both Rumble Matches up until we got the winners. Charlotte Flair is a bona-fide superstar and a very talented wrestler but she didn’t need this win. It felt pushed and anything but organic. Jey is really cementing himself as a singles superstar but after his previous encounters with The Ring General Gunther I’m not personally interested in that match. It feels like Charlotte is there to put Tiffany over which is the right choice cause she’s one of the greatest women’s wrestlers of all time. There’s a reason it’s always Tiffy Time. And Gunther feels like his only purpose is going to be to put Jey over which might be the right choice but not right now. There’s other superstars like Cena, and Punk and Knight that are the clear top choices this year. Age is always a factor and these guys need to get theirs before time does what it always does. Guys like Logan Paul, Bron Breakker, Jey Uso, Ludwig Kaiser, Santos Escobar and Carmello Hayes are the future of the company. They still have time to Main Event at Wrestlemania someday. It just seems premature to me to pass up on making incredible moments with guys like Knight and Punk now in exchange for a guy who’s lost multiple matches to Gunther already and served as nothing more than a transitional Intercontinental Champion to Breakker.
One positive is the potential for storylines going forward. Hopefully we get Reigns vs Rollins at Wrestlemania and there’s always Elimation Chamber for Punk to get his Wrestlemania moment. There isn’t a bigger match right now that WWE can do than CM Punk vs Cody Rhodes at Mania
Triumphs, Letdowns, and Future Shockwaves
Royal Rumble 2025 delivered thrilling action, with Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens stealing the show in a brutal ladder match. Jey Uso’s Rumble victory felt premature, while Charlotte Flair’s win sparked controversy. Big returns, shocking eliminations, and WrestleMania speculation made for a compelling night.
Gary Miller
35. Tattooed Father. Brother. Son. Taurus. Writer. Reviewer. Collector. Retrophile Nostalgist. Bone Artist. Wrestling Enthusiast. Cinematic Fanatic.The Inked Cinematic Fanatic on Amino Horror
