WWE annual top-rope extravaganza the Royal Rumble is here TONIGHT!
The road to WrestleMania is officially here as 30 men and 30 women battle for the chance of a world title shot at the Showcase Of The Immortals.
When is the Royal Rumble 2021?
- The Royal Rumble 2021 will take place this Sunday, January 31.
- The card begins from midnight UK time into the early hours of Monday morning.
- There will be a pre-show on for first from 11pm which will be shown for FREE on WWE's YouTube channel.
- The WWE Thunderdome – inside the Tropicana Field in Florida – plays host.
What TV channel and live stream is Royal Rumble 2021 on?
- The Royal Rumble will be live streamed on the WWE Network.
- The WWE Network costs £9.99 per month for subscribers, and can be cancelled at any time.
- Elsewhere, BT Sport Box Office will be showing the event live on UK TV for a one-off purchase of £19.95.
What is the full card?
Roman Reigns is set to defend his WWE Universal Championship against Kevin Owens in a last man standing match after official Adam Pearce got his way out of the match with injury.
While WWE champ Drew McIntyre puts his title on the line against Hall Of Famer Goldberg.
While in the men's Royal Rumble, rivals Randy Orton and Edge will be No's 1 and 2 and in the women's Natalya has bagged the coveted #30 spot.
The three entrant numbers were announced on WWE Backstage on Saturday night.
Expect surprise entrants and plenty more twists and turns as the rumbles takes centre stage.
- 30-man Royal Rumble match (announced so far: Daniel Bryan, Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, Randy Orton #1, Otis, The Miz, Jey Uso, Cesaro, Jeff Hardy, Dolph Ziggler, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Big E, John Morrison, The Miz, Sheamus, Mustafa Ali, Edge #2, King Corbin, Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Braun Strowman)
- 30-woman Royal Rumble match (announced so far: Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Bayley, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke, Peyton Royce, Alexa Bliss, Shayna Baszler, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott, Tamina, Natalya #30)
- Drew McIntyre (c) vs Goldberg (WWE Championship)
- Roman Reigns (c) vs Kevin Owens(WWE Universal Championship)
- Asuka and Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler (WWE Women's tag team Championships)
- Sasha Banks (c) vs Carmella (WWE Smackdown women's Championship)
What are the odds?
Daniel Bryan is the favourite for this week's Royal Rumble, according to the bookies.
Full breakdown of the Royal Rumble odds.
Men's Royal Rumble betting odds – Paddy Power
And Bryan is now the 6/5 favourite with Paddy Power.
Big E was originally priced at 3/1 but is now out to 12/1, while Keith Lee remains third favourite at 13/2.
Edge has shot up the betting and is now second favourite at 2/1.
Brock Lesner is the 8/1 fourth favourite while Shinsuke Nakamura has come in to 8/1 as well.
Royal Rumble betting odds – Paddy Power
- Daniel Bryan 6/5
- Edge 2/1
- Keith Lee 13/2
- Brock Lesnar 8/1
- Shinsuke Nakamura 8/1
- Big E 12/1
- AJ Styles 14/1
- Seth Rollins 14/1
- Goldberg 14/1
- Bray Wyatt 14/1
- Cesaro 14/1
- Drew McIntyre 16/1
- Sheamus 20/1
- The Rock 20/1
- Roman Reigns 20/1
- Kevin Owens 20/1
- Jey Uso 20/1
Selected others
- Tyson Fury 60/1
- Conor McGregor 100/1
- Vince McMahon 250/1
- Shane McMahon 250/1
Women's Royal Rumble betting odds – Paddy Power
- Bianca Belair 4/1
- Alexa Bliss 6/1
- Rhea Ripley 7/1
- Shayna Baszler 15/2
- Ronda Rousey 9/1
- Bayley 10/1
- Nia Jax 11/1
- Charlotte Flair 13/1
- Sasha Banks 13/1
- Asuka 17/1
- Ember Moon 19/1
- Lacey Evans 19/1
- Io Shirai 20/1
- Carmella 22/1
- Peyton Royce 25/1
Selected others
- Zelina Vega 100/1
- Stephanie McMahon 125/1
- Kostas Lianos
WILD THEORIES
One of the main reasons why the Royal Rumble is among the most exciting Pay-Per-View events of the year is that it features a number of shocking results and surprise returns from WWE legends.
Fan theories are running wild once more this year as many believe Goldberg will lose to WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and then go on to win the Men's Royal Rumble Match in order to set up a Universal Championship clash against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 37.
WrestleVotes have also reported that WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon is considering a shock ending for the 30-men over-the-top-rope battle royal.
They tweeted:
- Kostas Lianos
RUMBLE FAVOURITES
According to the latest odds Daniel Bryan poses as the favourite to win the Men's Royal Rumble Match for the first time in his career.
WWE Hall of Famer Edge and UFC legend Brock Lesnar follow as second and third likeliest victor respectively with Keith Lee and Intercontinental Champion Big E completing the top five.
But it is important to note that Lesnar hasn't been announced for the Rumble and Lee's appearance is in doubt after his girlfriend Mia Yim, currently performing as Reckoning, returned a positive coronavirus test result.
Bianca Belair is the absolute favourite to win the Women's Royal Rumble Match while Alexa Bliss and WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair follow – NXT superstar Rhea Ripley and UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey complete the top five, even though none of them is announced
WWE - Kostas Lianos
CONFIRMED ROYAL RUMBLE PARTICIPANTS
RAW superstars Shayna Baszler, Alexa Bliss, Peyton Royce, RAW Women's Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke have been confirmed for the Women's Royal Rumble Match.
They will be joined by SmackDown stars Bianca Belair, Bayley, Tamina, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott and Natalya, who will be coming in as No30.
The Men's Royal Rumble Match will be comprised of Randy Orton, Edge, AJ Styles, Sheamus, Jeff Hardy, US Champion Bobby Lashley, Mr Money in the Bank The Miz, John Morrison, Mustafa Ali and Braun Strowman from RAW.
SmackDown superstars Daniel Bryan, Intercontinental Champion Big E, Jey Uso, Cesaro, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Dolph Ziggler, Otis, Sami Zayn, King Corbin, Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio and Shinsuke Nakamura have also been announced.
WWE have confirmed that Orton and Edge will be renewing their rivalry as they will be starting the bout as the No1 and No2 entrant respectively
- Kostas Lianos
COVID UPDATE
As mentioned below, the Royal Rumble is going to take place behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions in the state of Florida.
WWE have adopted their own COVID-19 protocols, which have seen them carrying out tests on staff and checking everyone's temperature before they enter the premises.
Several stars have tested positive ever since the pandemic kicked in last year in the US, such as WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.
Mia Yim, who currently performs as Reckoning, is the latest wrestler to return a positive test and won't be competing in the event while her boyfriend Keith Lee remains a doubt due to close contact with the former NXT talent
WWE - Kostas Lianos
GOOD EVENING FROM FLORIDA
Welcome to our live coverage of the 2021 WWE Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View event at the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Of course, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays is going to be empty due to coronavirus safety measures but tonight promises immense excitement as it will feature arguably professional wrestling's second most entertaining show of the season.
It's that time of year when 30 men and 30 women battle it out and the winner goes on to compete for a title opportunity at WrestleMania 37, which is scheduled to take place as a two-part event once more on April 10–11 at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Hall of Famer Goldberg returns to action to take on WWE Champion and Britain's own Drew McIntyre for the title in what promises to be a real nail-biter as no one really wants to see the WCW legend going over the Scottish bruiser.
Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing Match, or otherwise the most frustrating formality of the night as there is no way The Tribal Chief is getting dethroned tonight.
WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Asuka, who is also the RAW Women's Champion, will put their belts on the line against Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax in a clash that will have major repercussions ahead of the WrestleMania booking.
Oh, and SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks will take on Carmella in the most predictable match of the evening
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