The 29th annual WWE Royal Rumble will come to you, live on the WWE Network, in just under three weeks on January 24 from the Amway Center in Orlando, FL. As announced at the end of last night’s RAW, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in the annual 30-Man Royal Rumble Match, marking the first time since 1992 that WWE’s top prize has been on the line in the Rumble and the first time ever that the WWE Champion will be defending his title in the over-the-top rope spectacular. In addition to the defending champion Roman Reigns, nine Superstars have officially been confirmed for the 2016 Royal Rumble Match. Here is the current card and up-to-date list of announced participants:
- 30-Man Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
As of last night’s RAW, ten Superstars are confirmed for the Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship as Big Show, Curtis Axel, Ryback, Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, Chris Jericho, & defending champion Roman Reigns have all been entered into the match. Of the Superstars announced, Roman Reigns is the only one to have won a Royal Rumble Match before, having won the Rumble last year. Roman also holds the all-time record for the most eliminations in a single Rumble Match. This will also be the first Rumble Match for Braun Strowman. It will be Chris Jericho’s ninth Rumble Match appearance, Big Show’s eleventh, Ryback’s fourth, Luke Harper’s third, Erick Rowan’s second, Bray Wyatt’s third, and Dolph Ziggler’s seventh Rumble Match appearance (as well as Dolph’s seventh Rumble Match appearance in a row).
In the Royal Rumble Match, two randomly drawn Superstars will enter as #1 and #2 and they will compete in the match for a pre-determined amount of time before they are joined by the Superstar who drew #3. This trend will continue until all 30 Superstars have entered the match. Elimination occurs when a Superstar goes over the top rope with both feet touching the floor on the outside with the last man standing in the ring being declared the winner.
This year’s Royal Rumble Match will be the first Rumble Match since 1992 that the Rumble Match will not determine the #1 Contender for the World Title at WrestleMania. The 1992 event saw 30 Superstars compete in the Royal Rumble Match to determine the holder of the vacant WWE Championship with Ric Flair emerging as the winner and new champion and, since 1993, the winner of the Rumble Match was guaranteed a main event championship match at WrestleMania.
What do you think of this major change to the Rumble? Post your comments in the box below.
