WWE: The New Era

Hollywood · February 3, 2018

THE NEW ERA

co-produced by ElliotM & Hollywood

Hollywood · February 3, 2018

The Official Destination for WWE Superstars

Hollywood · February 3, 2018

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Hollywood · February 3, 2018

WWE Royal Rumble 2018 Results

WWE Royal Rumble: January 28, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For over thirty years, the Royal Rumble has created icons, defined careers and ultimately crowned Champions. The road to WrestleMania begins at the unique event, and leads to one superstar receiving their chance to etch their name in the history books and headline WrestleMania. But now... it changes.

For the first-time ever, a 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match will take place to earn a female superstar a shot at her choice of Women's Championship on The Grandest Stage of Them All. In this history-making bout, which woman will walk out with her hand raised having beaten 29 other superstars? Tonight, we make history. Tonight, the road to WrestleMania truly begins.

Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson def. The Revival (Kickoff Match)

This past Monday at the 25 Years of Raw celebration, The Revival and The Good Brothers got into a fight in the historic Manhattan Center. That night, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson earned the victory over the former NXT Tag Team Champions. The Revival were then beaten down by Razor Ramon, D-Generation X, and The Good Brothers’ good brother Finn Bálor. The Revival looked for some sort of revenge on the Royal Rumble Kickoff after that chaotic night in Manhattan.

The Revival had a set game plan in place from the opening bell, deciding to double team and target Anderson’s legs. Once Anderson got the super hot tag to Gallows, the momentum shifted and it meant the end for The Revival. The Good Brothers continued their beat down that led to a Magic Killer for the victory that was just #TooSweet.

Kalisto, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado def. TJP, Drew Gulak & Gentleman Jack Gallagher (Kickoff Match)

Looking to impress the soon-to-be-announced 205 Live General Manager, these six Cruiserweights brought their high-octane offence to the Royal Rumble Kickoff. The masked trio of luchadores took on the oddball team of Drew Gulak, Gentleman Jack Gallagher, and the first WWE Cruiserweight Champion TJP.

The masked marvels showed a chemistry unmatched by the other team with some impressive moves that wowed the Philadelphia crowd. Gulak and Gallagher showcased their ground-based gruesome grappling against Dorado, Metalik, and Kalisto. In the end, a mishap in miscommunication forced TJP to accidentally dropkick his two partners from the apron to then fall victim to a big Metalik Driver to give the luchadores the win.

United States Champion Bobby Roode def. Mike Kanellis (Kickoff Match)

The Royal Rumble Kickoff became glorious as Bobby Roode looked to prove himself as a fighting champion from the get-go by defending his illustrious red, white and blue title in an Open Challenge. Things went from glorious to greatest when the challenge was accepted by Roode’s old rival Mike Kanellis.

The two rivals brought their very best in the match in an absolute rekindling of their rivalry. Kanellis showcased the talents that have brought him all over the world in multiple squared circles, but Bobby Roode was too much to handle at times for Maria’s husband. In the end, the United States Championship remained around the waist of The Glorious One after a beautiful Glorious DDT secured the win.

Asuka wins the first-ever 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match

The women didn't have to wait long to make their mark as the first-ever 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match kicked off the thirty-first annual Royal Rumble event on this history-defining night. The Raw Women's Champion, Alexa Bliss and her blue brand counterpart, the SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair made their way to ringside before the opening bell, clearly to observe this prestigious bout and scout their potential opponent come WrestleMania. Sharing a tense staredown with each other, the golden females backed down and sat either side of the commentary area to let this one unfold. Meanwhile sat on commentary was the Raw Commissioner, Stephanie McMahon. The daughter of the Chairman expressed her excitement to witness this history in the making. Entrants number one and two made their way to the ring, and the WWE Universe were not disappointed.

Entrant #1: Becky Lynch

Entrant #2: Sasha Banks

The two former "Four Horsewomen" from NXT reunited to open up this history-making match, also pitting Raw against SmackDown Live. Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks shook hands before the opening bell and the match got underway, the WWE Universe abuzz as they witness a first-ever in sports entertainment history. The two former Women's Champions tried to out-wrestle each other in the opening moments, hoping to get an early lead and eliminate the other to earn themselves a moment to breathe. But no sooner had they locked up, the 90-second timer was up and entrant number three made her way to the ring.

Entrant #3: Lana

It's not quite Rusev Day, but it could very well be Lana Day! The Ravishing Russian made her way to the ring to join Becky and Sasha, immediately going after The Irish Lasskicker. However, Sasha Banks came to the aid of her friend and pulled Lana away, dropping her with a big DDT. The Boss lifted her adversary up and threw her towards Lynch who delivered a jaw-shattering superkick, sending Lana stumbling back into a double knee backbreaker before locking in the Bank Statement! The WWE Universe erupted as both Sasha and Becky lifted Lana to her feet and sent her crashing over the top rope for the bouts very first elimination. Shortly after, entrant number four was ready to make her entrance.

Eliminated: Lana

Entrant #4: Ruby Riott

Showing no intimidation after the fate Lana just suffered, Ruby Riott stormed to the ring and tackled Becky Lynch to the canvas. Sasha tried to aid her friend once more, but Riott turned her attention to the former Women's Champion, backing her into the corner. The leader of The Riott Squad laid into The Boss with right hands, even turning her attention to Becky for a moment and delivering a big dropkick. Riott maintained control of the situation leading into the entrance of number five.

Entrant #5: Sonya Deville

Adding yet another element to an already increasingly volatile situation, Absolution’s Sonya Deville arrived on the scene and immediately confronted Ruby Riott, but before they could collide, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch attacked the duo and took control. Sasha dragged Deville to the corner and attempted to eliminate her, but when she couldn’t get her over the top, she delivered her signature knees to the sternum of the elevated Deville. Meanwhile, The Irish Lasskicker was taking the fight to Ruby Riott on the opposite side of the ring. The countdown continued and entrant number six joined the fray.

Entrant #6: Liv Morgan

The Riott Squad continued to grow as Liv Morgan joined her leader, Ruby Riott. She immediately assisted Riott by dragging Becky Lynch away and hitting her hard with a flurry of forearms, but the fiery former Women’s Champion battled back and sent Morgan crashing to the canvas with a roundhouse kick. Riott capitalised on the momentary break and dropped Becky with a neck breaker. The Riott Squad members regrouped as Sonya Deville managed to turn the tables on The Boss across the other side of the ring. Another ninety seconds went by and the entrance of number seven was upon us.

Entrant #7: Mickie James

The WWE Universe erupted at the arrival of the iconic superstar as she ran to the ring and took to the skies with a diving crossbody, flooring Sonya Deville. Ducking underneath a double clothesline from Riott and Morgan, Mickie also took the pair down with a leaping clothesline of her own. The former Women’s Champion screamed to the delight of the crowd as she turned to come face-to-face with former rival, Becky Lynch. The two traded forearms back and forth with Mickie coming out on top and managing to hit Becky with her patented Mick Kick. But it wasn’t long before She turned to encounter her fellow Raw superstar, Sasha Banks. The two stood face-to-face sharing a few words as the countdown clock began.

Entrant #8: Nikki Cross

The deranged SAnitY member made her Pay-Per-View debut, arriving from NXT for this history-making bout. Cross waste no time getting between The Boss and Mickie James, screaming in their faces. She unleashed a series of hard shots to both women and took them down with clotheslines. The NXT superstar grabbed Sonya Deville and hit a suplex before turning her attention to Becky Lynch. But the red-head was ready and came back with a flurry of her own and even pulled her down for the Dis-Arm-Her, but Cross quickly escaped and rolled under the ropes. Ruby Riott and her cohort, Liv Morgan attacked Lynch from behind as the next entrant awaited.

Entrant #9: Mandy Rose

Absolution evens the score as Mandy Rose makes her entrance, quickly stopping Sonya Deville from being eliminated by Mickie James. The pair then double teamed the former Women’s Champion and moments later, sent her over the ropes and down to floor, shockingly eliminating an iconic superstar in this first-ever contest. The two Absolution members revelled in their success, while on the other side of the ring, Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan continue to beat down on Sasha Banks. Nikki Cross re-entered the match to brawl with The Irish Lasskicker and took her down with a tackle. The countdown began and number ten was on their way.

Eliminated: Mickie James

Entrant #10: Sarah Logan

The trio was completed by the arrival of Sarah Logan, and The Riott Squad were now in full force. As she united with her allies, they quickly took control of the Rumble bout and became the most dominant force in the ring, taking the fight to everyone in sight. Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, even Nikki Cross tried to overcome the odds, but The Riott Squad were too much of a force to be reckoned with and the tide turned in their favour, The trio stood united in the center of the ring before turning around and coming face-to-face with Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. The WWE Universe sensed the tension as The Riott Squad and Absolution engaged in a stare down. But something was missing, and entrant number eleven proved to be the missing piece...

Entrant #11: Paige

Despite originally believing that The Raven-Haired Renegade would be ruled out due to injury, Paige made her way to the ring to a deafening reaction and much to The Riott Squad’s shock, the odds were evened. The two dominant female units stood across the ring from each other and moments later exploded into a brawl. The six superstars tore into each other to find out who the most dominant faction was, and it wasn’t long before bodies began to fly. Sonya Deville dumped Sarah Logan over the top rope, Liv Morgan managed to send Mandy Rose over and out, Paige grabbed Liv Morgan and tossed her over the ropes to eliminate her, while Ruby Riott delivered a super kick to Sonya Deville, cutting her night short. The two leaders of their teams came face-to-face once more as the countdown began again.

Eliminated: Sarah Logan, Mandy Rose, Liv Morgan & Sonya Deville

Entrant #12: Nia Jax

One of the favourites to win this first-ever bout, Nia Jax headed to the ring as the Rumble competitors turned to the entrance. Paige and Ruby Riott put their differences aside to rush the dominant female, but Jax stopped them at the ropes and dropped them with a double clothesline. Nikki Cross delivered some hard shots to Nia Jax, but she also fell victim to the dominance as she was dropped with a thunderous Samoan drop. Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks once again united and attacked their larger adversary, but Jax would once again show why she’s a potential winner of this 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match when she dropped Becky with a super kick and then crushed Sasha with a huge scoop slam. Nia Jax stood atop the carnage as the countdown lead us into entrant number thirteen.

Entrant #13: Kharma

Unlucky for some, but perhaps unlucky for Nia Jax, Kharma shocked the world and made her return to come face-to-face with the dominant superstar. One of the few women to compete in the male Royal Rumble contest, Kharma stepped through the ropes and stood nose-to-nose with Nia Jax. The WWE Universe were right to chant “this is awesome” as the two monsters collided. They began trading blows as the rest of the Rumble looked on, and Kharma even had Nia Jax on the ropes at one point. But in a shocking turn of events, Nia Jax battled back and after avoiding a clothesline from Kharma, she returned the favour with one of her own and sent the dominant superstar over the ropes and down to the floor! Kharma couldn’t believe it as Nia Jax raised her hands into the air. The countdown clock struck once more and the next entrant was due.

Eliminated: Kharma

Entrant #14: Asuka

Talking of favourites, the undefeated superstar known as Asuka was here to make history. Nia Jax turned to the entrance to see her rival make her entrance, but before Asuka got to the ring, the superstars in the ring attacked Jax and took her down. Asuka slid into the ring and immediately clashed with Nikki Cross, delivering some hard kicks with a final roundhouse kick for good measure. Ruby Riott was next to confront The Empress of Tomorrow and took a hard backhand for her troubles. Nikki Cross got back to her feet and went back on the attack, but Asuka was taking no prisoners and delivered three backhand shots before tipping Cross over the ropes and down to the floor. Meanwhile, Banks and Becky continued to keep Nia Jax cornered while Paige scouted the opposition from the corner.

Eliminated: Nikki Cross

Entrant #15: Alicia Fox

Foxy was the next entrant into the bout and immediately crossed Asuka who met her with a flurry of kicks and punches. Paige took her chance and attacked Asuka from behind, taking The Empress of Tomorrow to the canvas. Alicia Fox joined the attack and suddenly Asuka was on the back floor. Nia Jax fought back in the opposite corner and threw both Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch over the rope rope, but both superstars managed to hang on and save their Rumble experience for just a bit longer. Jax grabbed Ruby Riott and threw her into the corner, following it up with a big avalanche. Jax then pulled Paige and Alicia Fox off Asuka and grabbed her for herself. Jax screamed into Asuka’s face and then planted her in the center of the ring with a Samoan drop.

Entrant #16: Natalya

The Queen of Harts entered the match and was keen to avoid Nia Jax, edging around her and instead going on the attack on Becky Lynch. Sasha Banks came to blows with Paige, trying to eliminate her in a struggle on the ropes. Nia Jax continued her attack on Asuka while Alicia Fox and Ruby Riott clashed as well. With the halfway mark having passed, it was becoming more and more tense as the WWE Universe wondered who would be victorious in this history-making bout. But if history was going to be made, then there were always going to be some superstars desperate to be a part of it...

Entrant #17: Lita

Nobody could hear themselves think when the theme of WWE Hall of Famer, Lita hit the arena. The former Women's Champion entered the match and climbed to the top rope before hitting an amazing hurricanrana on Nia Jax, sending the dominant superstar to the canvas. Lita then traded blows with Paige, Sasha Banks and Ruby Riott before hitting a huge dropkick on Alicia Fox. Showing no signs of ring rust, Lita kicked Natalya in the gut and dropped her with a Twist of Fate. The extreme superstar then got to her feet and clotheslined Alicia Fox over the top rope, scoring the elimination. She raised her hands in the center of the ring top a huge ovation, but her Rumble moment was about to become a whole lot more surreal.

Eliminated: Alicia Fox

Entrant #18: Trish Stratus

If you couldn't hear yourself think before, you certainly couldn't now. Another WWE Hall of Famer and arch-rival turned best friend of Lita, Trish Stratus hit the ring and entered this first-ever match. The blonde bombshell came face-to-face with Lita and time almost appeared to stand still as arguably two of the most iconic female superstars in history stood locked in an intense stare down. They smiled at each other, but quickly began trading forearms to the delight of the WWE Universe. Back and forth they went as the rest of the competitors simply watched in awe. Lita went for another Twist of Fate, but Stratus slipped out and instead delivered a Chick Kick, knocking Lita to the canvas. Trying to capitalise on the situation, Ruby Riott grabbed the legendary superstar and tried to throw her over the ropes, but instead she fell victim to another Chick Kick which sent her crashing over the ropes as the countdown clock began.

Eliminated: Ruby Riott

Entrant #19: Carmella

Miss Money in the Bank slowly made her way to the ring and came into contact with Trish Stratus, but as they came closer to each other, Carmella slapped the taste right out of Trish's mouth. Not a wise move to aggravate a WWE Hall of Famer, and Carmella found that out the hard way as Trish kicked her in the gut and dropped her with a huge Stratusfaction bulldog. Nia Jax clubbed the former Women's Champion from behind, putting an end to her momentum. But Asuka quickly joined the fray and started to brawl with the monstrous female, the two potential favourites battling it out. Lita was back on her feet and found herself scuffling with Natalya in the opposite corner. The number one and two entrants, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch were still hanging in their, catching their breath as entrant number twenty waited in the wings.

Entrant #20: Dana Brooke

The Titus Worldwide secretary made her entrance into the Royal Rumble Match and quickly ran into Nia Jax, who grabbed the former bodybuilder and quickly sent her right back over the rope rope, cutting Dana's WrestleMania dreams very short. Seeing an opening, Lita and Becky Lynch moved in on Nia Jax and attempted to tip her over the ropes. Trish Stratus soon joined them, as did Sasha Banks. But even these four powerful superstars couldn't dispose of Nia Jax as she fought out of the sticky situation and refused to be eliminated.

Eliminated: Dana Brooke

Entrant #21: Bayley

There will certainly be no hugging in this every woman for herself match, that's for sure. But the former Raw Women's Champion entered the match and unleashed her adrenaline on her adversaries, hitting dropkicks on Natalya, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Carmella and Nia Jax. But Bayley turned around to come face-to-face with two of her all-time icons, Trish Stratus and Lita. Clearly struggling with the decision to hug or fight her heroines, she decided an opportunity at WrestleMania meant too much to her and after mouthing "I'm sorry", the huggable superstar swung her fists around. But the two Hall of Famers grabbed Bayley and slammed her to the mat with a double suplex. Trish and Lita raised their hands and looked out towards the crowd, but they may have taken their eye off the ball for a bit too long as from behind, Carmella and Natalya tipped the legends over the ropes and down to the floor to the WWE Universe's dismay.

Eliminated: Trish Stratus & Lita

Entrant #22: Nikki Bella

Surprising everyone with her entrance into this first-ever bout, Nikki Bella slid into the ring and took down Paige and Natalya with a series of shots. She then dropped Carmella with a Bella Buster and then turned her attention to Asuka. After a moment of confrontation, they traded blows with Asuka coming out on top and dropping Nikki with a huge roundhouse kick. Sasha Banks entered the picture and surprised Asuka with a backstabber into the Bank Statement, but submissions cannot win you a Royal Rumble Match. However, Banks knew they could wear your opponents down and kept it locked in, hoping to take Asuka out of the match. Bayley tried to battle Nia Jax in the corner but the power advantage was clearly with Jax who threw her to the mat.

Entrant #23: Tamina

Things just got a lot more serious with the entrance of Tamina. She wasted no time grabbing Becky Lynch and driving her into the canvas with a Samoan drop. She did the same thing to Bayley and hit a superkick on Carmella. But then the fierce superstar confronted Nia Jax and the two stood across from each other for a moment, until Jax made the first move and dropped Tamina with a big boot. On the opposite side of the ring, Paige was hanging in there, keeping Sasha Banks grounded in the corner while Bayley and Natalya began to brawl. Nikki Bella looked to eliminate Asuka on the ropes as the next entrant was ready to come to the ring.

Entrant #24: Victoria

The shockers kept on coming as another former Women's Champion, Victoria made her return to WWE to compete in this historical matchup. Getting involved right away, Victoria showed off her strength by throwing her adversaries around and even delivering her patented Widow's Peak to Sasha Banks. The former Women's Champion got stuck into the action, but on the other side of the ring, Nia Jax looked to eliminate Asuka with a running clothesline,. However, using Jax's own momentum, Asuka pulled down the ropes and sent the dominant superstar over the ropes and out of the match! The WWE Universe erupted as Jax tumbled to the floor. Asuka danced around in celebration as Jax looked on in horror. She tried to get back in the ring but the officials were not having any of it and sent her packing.

Eliminated: Nia Jax

Entrant #25: Ronda Rousey

It was rumoured, and now it's a reality. Ronda Rousey is here and she's in the first-ever 3-Woman Royal Rumble Match! The former UFC fighter entered the ring to the astonishment of all the other superstars, and immediately made an impact by throwing Tamina over the ropes. Rousey then ducked beneath a shot from Paige and sent her crashing over the ropes too! Natalya then tried her hand and brawling with Rousey, but suffered a big knockout blow to the jaw which allowed Ronda to dump The Queen of Harts over and out. Rousey made a statement on her entry and looked like she could win her debut match and go onto WrestleMania. Rousey then crossed paths with Asuka to a deafening reaction, but before they could collide, Carmella and Bayley pulled either one aside and their attention turned elsewhere.

Eliminated: Tamina, Paige & Natalya

Entrant #26: Naomi

The former SmackDown Women's Champion entered the ring and joined in the action, helping her ally, Becky Lynch to take down Victoria. Not long after she entered, Naomi helped The Irish Lasskicker to toss Victoria over the ropes, eliminating her from the match. On the opposite side, Asuka had got her hands on Carmella and time was up for Miss Money in the Bank as she sent her over the ropes with a spinning heel kick! Ronda Rousey continued to battle with Bayley in the corner, proving that she can hang with the best that WWE has to offer. Nikki Bella was back on her feet and approached the ring apron from a breather, only to be surprised by the next entrant.

Eliminated: Victoria & Carmella

Entrant #27: Brie Bella

Joining her sister, Brie Bella entered the Rumble Match and in a heart-warming moment, the twins shared an embrace in the center of the ring. Their emotional moment was ruined, however, by Asuka. The Empress of Tomorrow didn't care for any reunions and hit both Bellas with backhand shots. Asuka immediately capitalised and sent Brie Bella crashing over the ropes to the outside, and then followed it up by throwing Nikki over as well with a headscissors! Asuka had single-handedly eliminated The Bella Twins. Asuka screamed to the skies and the WWE Universe were totally in awe of her presence. She turned around and once again came face-to-face with Ronda Rousey. The inevitable clash was bound to come soon, but yet again it was ruined by an intervention from Bayley and Naomi.

Eliminated: Brie Bella & Nikki Bella

Entrant #28: Shayna Baszler

Coming up short at NXT Takeover: Philadelphia, the dangerous Queen of Spades decided to try her hand in the Royal Rumble Match and quickly confronted her former UFC counterpart, Ronda Rousey. The two traded some trash talk before coming to blows in a hard-hitting brawl that had the WWE Universe on their feet. Naomi and Bayley got involved and pulled the pair apart, but Baszler and Rousey were not about to be interrupted, and threw Naomi and Bayley out respectively, eliminating them from the bout before going right back to their brawl. Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch join the fight and all hell breaks loose.

Eliminated: Naomi & Bayley

Entrant #29: Ember Moon

NXT is being represented to the fullest tonight, and even more so with the NXT Women's Champion, Ember Moon entering the historic battle. Moon climbed to the top and took down her Takeover opponent from 24 hours prior, Shayna Baszler with a huge crossbody. The War Goddess delivers a dropkick to Ronda Rousey and then hits Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch with two flying forearms. The NXT Women's Champion showed her determination and lifted Baszler up to try and eliminate her. Ronda Rousey got to her feet and dragged Ember Moon away, dropping her with a hard clothesline. Rousey then clotheslined Baszler over the top herself, eliminating her from the match. With the match almost at a close, it was time for the final entrant, and it was one that shocked the entire WWE Universe, and not in a good way.

Eliminated: Shayna Baszler

Entrant #30: Stephanie McMahon

The boos were deafening as Stephanie McMahon removed her headset and made her way down to the ring with a smirk on her face. The WWE Universe were up in arms as Stephanie had once again let her ego get the better of her, and made herself the number thirty entrant in this history-defining match. The Raw Commissioner made her way to ringside where she was greeted by Ronda Rousey. Rousey beckoned Stephanie into the ring, but the billionaire daughter had other ideas, holding her hands in the air and backing away from the superstar who embarrassed her three years ago at WrestleMania 31. But the distraction appeared to have worked as Asuka came from behind and eliminated Ronda Rousey! The WWE Universe were in shock as Rousey fell to the floor and Stephanie burst into hysterical laughter.

Eliminated: Ronda Rousey

Remaining superstars: Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Asuka, Ember Moon & Stephanie McMahon

Stephanie slid into the ring with a grin from ear-to-ear, sarcastically waving goodbye to Ronda Rousey as she reluctantly left up the aisle. But Stephanie should probably have thought this through as sh turned around into four intense superstars who were determined to punch their ticket to WrestleMania. Stephanie tried to wave them off, but it was no use as they all grabbed the Raw Commissioner and sent her flying over the top rope. This was every woman for themselves, and even the daughter of the Chairman wasn't exempt from that.

Eliminated: Stephanie McMahon

Remaining superstars: Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Asuka & Ember Moon

Four superstars remained with one of them going to WrestleMania to challenge for one of the Women's Championships. The fight broke down and bodies were flying everywhere until Asuka took control, hitting everyone with brutal kicks left and right. The Empress of Tomorrow threw Ember Moon over the top but the NXT Women's Champion hung on. But when she tried to climb up the turnbuckle to re-enter the match, Sasha Banks shoved her from the top and sent her crashing to the floor.

Eliminated: Ember Moon

Remaining superstars: Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch & Asuka

The final three were left and it wasn't long before Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch decided to unite once more to try and take out Asuka. The duo were able to take Asuka over the top, but struggled to get her down to the floor. Sasha Banks stepped back and let Becky Lynch continue trying, but suddenly she came up from behind and tipped Becky Lynch up, eliminating her from the match! Becky looked up at Sasha in shock, but The Boss simply shrugged her shoulders. However, Asuka was quick to regroup and got to her feet, spinning Sasha Banks around and drilling her with a sickening roundhouse kick and then dumping her over the top to claim the victory in the first-ever 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match!

The Bar def. Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan

As any former WWE tag team competitor would tell you, communication is key. It is make or break for a tag team, especially in a Raw Tag Team Championship match. Current champions Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan have had a problem with communication recently - but they looked to right that wrong against The Bar tonight.

The Bar had no trouble communicating amongst themselves during the bout, using their tag team experience to dismantle Rollins in the opening moments. Once The Kingslayer was able to get a tag to Jordan - the momentum of the match drastically shifted in favor of the Raw Tag Team Champions. Jordan was on fire and torpedoed through Sheamus and Cesaro to the sound of boos from the wild Philadelphia crowd.

The action spilled to the outside and things went south for the explosive team of Rollins and Jordan when The Bar nearly decapitated Jordan with a a modified 3D - ala The Dudley Boyz - onto the barricade outside the ring! Seth Rollins fought through an onslaught brought on by the challengers and looked to finish things with the Blackout - the same finishing maneuver that won him the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 31 - on Cesaro, but miscommunication once again came into play. Jordan entered the ring and delivered a bulldog to a bent-over Cesaro before Seth could connect with the move, which allowed Sheamus to push Jordan out of the ring and boot Rollins with a Brogue Kick to steal the victory - a victory that marked the start of The Bar’s fourth reign as Raw Tag Team Champions.

WWE Champion AJ Styles def. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (2-on-1 Handicap Match)

The question surrounding this bout was if AJ Styles could overcome The Yep! Movement to continue his run on top of the Smackdown Live mountain. The Phenomenal One ultimately looked to prove that he is the face that runs the place, even though his face would battle against not one but two opponents at the same time. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were looking to become the first-ever co-WWE champions in history.

The numbers advantage quickly took its toll on AJ Styles when Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn double-teamed the champion with absolute ruthless aggression. Owens did take a small break to rest his injured leg, allowing Sami Zayn to continue the beatdown on his own. The champion, however, showed his talents by overcoming the initial onslaught and nearly getting an early win by locking in the Calf Crusher on Owens that was only broken up by a blindsided kick from Sami.

As the match continued with both champion and challengers exchanging offense and momentum, the vested interest in the match for the Smackdown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon was made apparent when he walked down to the ring to cheer on AJ Styles in this bout. McMahon became involved in the match after an errant Pele Kick from Styles intended for Owens connected with the referee - leaving the match with no official to call the action. The Commissioner had no choice but to take the referee’s shirt and insert himself into the match as the new referee, much to the chagrin of both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan was not a fan of Shane McMahon’s decision - Bryan himself coming down to the ring in a referee shirt as he claimed he would now be the official for the match. As Styles battled with Owens and Zayn, Bryan and Shane argued back and forth that led to a pushing match between the two bosses. The Yep! Movement momentarily stopped their attack on the WWE Champion to cheer on Bryan, who kicked Shane in the head in a moment the Philadelphia crowd absolutely loved. The distraction, however, allowed AJ Styles to roll Zayn up in a small package, the greatest move in history, as the original referee slid back into the ring to count final three.

On this historic night, AJ Styles managed to retain the WWE Championship - but once again overcame the odds thanks to the ongoing troubles between Shane McMahon, Daniel Bryan, and The Yep! Movement. And after that kick from GM to Commish, we think things on Smackdown will never ever be the same again.

Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin def. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)

After beating the Smackdown Tag Team Champions earlier in the month only to have the result reversed, Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin looked to defeat The Usos twice to become Smackdown Tag Team Champions in this Two-out-of-Three falls match. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin, an impromptu tag team that formed out of the dissolution of American Alpha and Benjamin’s delayed return to WWE, were ready to make their mark on the tag team scene.

Gable and Benjamin showed off their strategy right away, immediately pounding The Usos to the mat with a destructive assault with steel chairs. Both Jimmy and Jey were beaten to the mat - forcing the referee to call the disqualification, giving the first fall to The Usos. The damage, however, was done to the champions as Gable and Benjamin put on a wrestling clinic that left the reigning champions writing and screaming in pain. The pain from the chair attack followed by the stretching allowed Gable to easily force Jimmy Uso to tap to an Ankle Lock to decide the second fall of the match.

The next fall was for all the marbles - and the champions rebounded from the earlier sneak attack to bring the fight to the challengers. The Usos and Benjamin and Gable brawled all around the ring and traded offense like no other as they both fought for the right to be Smackdown Tag Team Champions. Benjamin and Gable connected with a slew of suplexes, but The Usos continued to fight. After dismantling Jimmy Uso with a rolling German suplex, Chad Gable finished the job alongside Shelton when they planted Jey Uso with their powerbomb and diving clothesline combination. Tonight marked the day when The Usos’ championship reign went down in flames on day 112 ish.

Universal Champion Brock Lesnar def. Braun Strowman & Kane

The squared circle is certainly no stranger to the phrase “the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.” But here at the Royal Rumble 2018, not one, not two, but three immovable objects faced off for the prestigious Universal Championship. Brock Lesnar, accompanied by his advocate Paul Heyman, took on the challenge of The Monster Among Men Braun Strowman and The Demon Kane!

This ring-shaking clash abruptly began with Brock Lesnar and Kane forming an tense short-term partnership to take down the deranged Strowman - who did not go down without a fight. Thanks to the advice from Heyman, Lesnar managed to bring The Monster Among Men to the ground with the use of the heavy and devastating steel steps. Afterwards, Lesnar exchanged the momentum with The Demon Kane, the two ring veterans brawling around the ring.

As the match went on, Braun Strowman regained his well-being and went on an absolute tear against his two opponents. Strowman threw Lesnar around as if he were a small child, and then he planted Kane through the Spanish announce table - the remnants of the table exploding! In a rematch from No Mercy, Lesnar “caught the hands” of Strowman, who unleashed a fury never seen upon the reigning and defending WWE Universal Champion. A running powerslam, however, wasn’t enough to put away The Beast before Kane returned to the melee.

Once again, the three behemoths fought outside the ring - taking full advantage of the Triple Threat rules - and managed to find themselves next to the remaining commentary booths. In order to eliminate Strowman from the contest, Kane picked up The Monster Among Men and Chokeslammed him through the Smackdown announce table! Lesnar then followed it up by giving Strowman an F5 through the Raw announce table! Strowman was down and out, having been put through two tables by his opponents.

Back in the ring, the numbers spelled disaster for Kane as he squared off against Brock Lesnar. Lesnar jumped out of a Chokeslam and planted Kane with a huge F5. Looking to add insult to injury, Lesnar picked Kane back up and eviscerated him with a second F5! Lesnar went for the cover, but Braun Strowman got back up and ran into the ring looking to break up the pin… only to be a second too late as Brock Lesnar secured another title defense for his reign as Universal Champion.

Shinsuke Nakamura wins the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match

With one Royal Rumble Match already out of the way with the first-ever 30-Woman version being won by Asuka, it was now time for the traditional 30-Man bout with the winner headlining WrestleMania. The opportunity only comes around once a year and thirty individuals are waiting in the wings for that rare chance to go on to WrestleMania and compete for their chosen World Championship. The opening moments introduced us to the superstars who drew numbers one and two, and while it is never the ideal starting position, it's been proven to be possible.

Entrant #1: Bray Wyatt

Entrant #2: Randy Orton

The WWE Championship Match from WrestleMania 33 had come full circle as Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt became the first two competitors to enter this year's Rumble bout. Moments after the bell rang, Wyatt went on the attack of his former disciple, cornering him and repeatedly delivering shot after shot. The Eater of Worlds tried to make quick work of The Viper by lifting him up over the ropes, but Orton's veteran instincts helped him fight back and stay in the match. Going for an RKO, Orton leaped into action, but Wyatt slid away and under the ropes out of harms way. The former World Champion slowly walked around the ring, glaring at Randy Orton as entrant number three was due to enter.

Entrant #3: Baron Corbin

The Lone Wolf slid into the ring and wasted no time trading blows with The Viper. Corbin gained the initial advantage and floored Orton with a huge Deep Six, but as he looked to capitalise, Bray Wyatt once again entered the match and attacked Corbin from behind. The Eater of Worlds used his mass to crush Corbin with a senton, and then did the same thing to Randy Orton. "Who's gonna stop me?!" he screamed to the WWE Universe, who didn't respond too positively. The countdown clock began again and entrant number four joined the action.

Entrant #4: Apollo Crews

Representing Titus Worldwide, Apollo Crews arrived on the scene and looked to further the brand even more with a victory. The impressive superstar took Bray Wyatt down with a standing dropkick and hit his signature standing moonsault on Baron Corbin. As he celebrated, he turned around into a big uppercut from The Viper and Orton took him down with a snap powerslam, regaining control of the situation. Wyatt climbed to his feet and approached Orton, only to be taken back down with a headlock backbreaker. Orton surveyed the chaos as the next entrant loomed.

Entrant #5: Kassius Ohno

From NXT, The Knockout Artist made his way to the ring to an ovation from the Philadelphia crowd. Coming up short against The Velveteen Dream at NXT Takeover, Ohno was looking for some redemption, and what a debut it would be to go on to headline WrestleMania. He immediately confronted The Viper and the two traded some inaudible words, but actions speak volumes and when Orton took a swing at Ohno, he missed and Ohno returned the favour with a jaw-jacking elbow. Orton dropped to the canvas in a heap as Ohno raised his hand into the air with the WWE Universe erupting. Baron Corbin spun Ohno around and went for a right hand, only to receive a shot of his own sending The Lone Wolf down to the canvas. Ohno then finds himself clubbed from behind by Bray Wyatt who disarms The Knockout Artist with a devastating Sister Abigail! Wyatt knelt beside the body of his adversary and smiled to the sky as the countdown clock began.

Entrant #6: Matt Hardy

Wyatt's smile soon turned to a scowl as The Woken Warrior, Matt Hardy made his return to the Royal Rumble Match. With a psychotic grin on his face, Hardy entered the match and both he and Bray Wyatt unleashed a flurry of right hands to each other. Hoping to avenge his loss to Wyatt at Raw's 25th anniversary, Hardy had him reeling on the ropes and went for a clothesline, but The Eater of Worlds had other plans and avoided the shot, dropping Hardy with a uranage instead. Randy Orton battled with Apollo Crews in the opposite corner, while Baron Corbin looked to eliminate Kassius Ohno.

Entrant #7: Kofi Kingston

One third of The New Day dances his way to the ring, looking to make more history in the Royal Rumble Match. The former Intercontinental Champion flew from the top rope to take down Baron Corbin with a crossbody and followed it up with a Boom Drop. Bray Wyatt moved in to put a stop to Kingston's energy, but he suffered a Trouble In Paradise, sending him right back to the canvas. Kofi joined the fight as Randy Orton continued to work over Apollo Crews in the corner. Crews battled back and went to the top rope for a high-risk move, only to learn quickly why it is called "high-risk" as Orton quickly rushed back and shoved Crews from the top and down to the floor.

Eliminated: Apollo Crews

Entrant #8: Cesaro

Earlier in the night, Cesaro recaptured the Raw Tag Team Championships along with his partner, Sheamus, and now he had the chance to headline WrestleMania as well. The Swiss Superman entered the ring and hit European uppercuts left and right on everyone who stood before him. Catching Kofi Kingston flying from the top, dropping Bray Wyatt as he ran towards him, Cesaro seemed unstoppable. But he came face-to-face with a superstar from his past, Kassius Ohno. The WWE Universe erupted as the former tag team partners on the indy scene crossed paths. In an exciting scene, the two began trading hard shots and when Cesaro looked to have the upper hand, Ohno dropped him with a huge knockout blow. Ohno mocked Cesaro with his signature taunt to the WWE Universe's delight. Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy continued their Great War in the corner while Baron Corbin had Orton on the ropes ready for elimination, but The Viper was able to fight out of it.

Entrant #9: Rusev

It's Rusev Day! The Bulgarian Brute made his way to the ring and clashed with Kassius Ohno, but he was able to take The Knockout Artist down with a superkick. With the WWE Universe chanting behind him, Rusev went on a tear, first crushing Kofi Kingston in the corner with an avalanche, and then dragging Bray Wyatt away from Matt Hardy to drop him with a big gutwrench suplex. Unfortunately, his momentum was cut short by Randy Orton who dropped him with a huge RKO! The Viper had snapped and hit an RKO on Baron Corbin and Cesaro as well. Orton was well on his way to winning his third Royal Rumble Match. He lifted Kofi Kingston to his feet and hit yet another RKO, maintaining control of the match. As he grabbed Kingston, presumably to eliminate him, the countdown clock struck once more.

Entrant #10: Shinsuke Nakamura

The Viper's expression changed and he dropped Kingston, focusing solely on the arrival of The Rockstar. The former NXT Champion entered the ring and engaged in a stare down with Randy Orton to chants of his name from the crowd. "Come onnnnnn" Nakamura shouted in vintage fashion as Orton looked on with a smirk. The Viper struck and immediately went for an RKO, but Nakamura pushed him away and caught him coming back with a big leg lariat. And another, and another. Nakamura measured Orton for the Kinshasa, but he was pulled aside by Rusev. The Bulgarian Brute may have regretted his decision as he took the brunt instead, Nakamura drilling him with a Kinshasa. Baron Corbin rushed towards Nakamura, only to be taken over the ropes by his own momentum and was eliminated from the match.

Eliminated: Baron Corbin

Entrant #11: Tye Dillinger

It might not be number ten, but it's close enough. The Perfect 10 quickly made a statement, grabbing Cesaro and planting him with a Tye Breaker. Dillinger then took aim on Bray Wyatt, brawling with The Eater of Worlds, but his decision to target such a dangerous foe may not have been the wisest idea as Wyatt delivered a sickening headbutt to Tye and then drove him into the canvas with a Sister Abigail. The New Face of Fear lifted Dillinger to his feet and dumped him over the top rope, cutting his WrestleMania dreams short. Matt Hardy took the opportunity to try and eliminate Bray Wyatt, but was unsuccessful. Kassius Ohno started a fight with Randy Orton in the corner while Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev scuffled on the opposite side. Kofi Kingston edged his way around the ring, picking his spots.

Eliminated: Tye Dillinger

Entrant #12: Seth Rollins

Not in the best of moods after losing his Raw Tag Team Championships earlier in the night, Seth Rollins made a beeline for Cesaro. The Architect tackled him to the canvas and hit him with a flurry of right hands. He dragged The Swiss Superman to his feet and drilled him with a huge enziguiri. Kofi Kingston attempted to intervene, but was met with a superkick from Rollins. The Kingslayer evaded a shot from Kassius Ohno and hit him with a spin kick, and then drove his boot into the face of Randy Orton with a dropkick. Rollins was on fire as the countdown clock returned.

Entrant #13: Titus O'Neil

The leader of Titus Worldwide may have lost his right-hand man, Apollo Crews already, but he was determined to take his brand to WrestleMania if it's the last thing he does. He entered the match with intensity and delivered a big Clash of the Titus to Cesaro. O'Neil took his eye off the ball and performed his "Worldwide" taunt to the WWE Universe, only to be dumped over the top rope from behind by Bray Wyatt. The Eater of Worlds chuckled to himself before turning around to Kassius Ohno with a knockout blow. Matt Hardy collided with Shinsuke Nakamura by the ropes, the two unorthodox superstars trading blows.

Eliminated: Titus O'Neil

Entrant #14: Big E

Kofi Kingston received some help in the form of his New Day ally, Big E. But as he approached ringside, Kofi Kingston was vaulted over the ropes by Cesaro. Big E caught his ally and stopped him from touching the floor. Once again escaping elimination, Kingston is rolled back into the ring as Big E follows, the pair taking Cesaro down with a double clothesline. Randy Orton tipped Kassius Ohno over the ropes in an attempt to eliminate him, but Ohno responded with a hard shot, stumbling The Viper. But Ohno's night was ended by Rusev who rushed into the scene and knocked Ohno from the apron with a superkick. The Bulgarian Brute celebrated the elimination to the WWE Universe's dismay.

Eliminated: Kassius Ohno

Entrant #15: Aiden English

Rusev's tag team partner arrived at ringside, but as he approached the apron, Kassius Ohno decided to get a measure of revenge on the man who eliminated him and took out his partner, English with a huge rolling elbow. Ohno rolled the unconscious body of Aiden English into the ring at Rusev's feet as The Bulgarian Brute looked down at his fallen ally. He turned around to see Randy Orton behind him, and with a big clothesline, sent Rusev over the ropes and down to the floor! The Viper quickly picked up Aiden English as well and sent him following Rusev, eliminating him as well. Meanwhile, Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy battled atop the turnbuckle in a very precarious position. The Eater of Worlds raked the eyes of The Woken Warrior and pushed him off the top, sending him crashing down to the arena floor. Wyatt outstretched his arms and laughed while sat on the top rope.

Eliminated: Rusev, Aiden English & Matt Hardy

Entrant #16: Sheamus

The other half of the new Raw Tag Team Champions enters the ring and assists his ally, Cesaro to take down Seth Rollins. Bray Wyatt descends from the top and clashes with The New Day, holding his own against the former Tag Team Champions. Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura continue to clash in the corner, revisiting their rivalry from SmackDown Live as the Rumble continues. With over half the field entered, things start to get extremely tense.

Entrant #17: Jason Jordan

The former Raw Tag Team Champion quickly made his way to the ring, just in time to save Seth Rollins from elimination. Aligning with his tag team partner, they took the fight to the new Champions and Seth Rollins was able to deliver a superkick to Cesaro, sending him flying over the ropes! Sheamus saw the elimination and went for a Brogue Kick on Rollins, only for The Architect to move, hanging Sheamus up and allowing him to tip The Celtic Warrior over and out! Rollins and Jordan celebrate the eliminations as a unit, perhaps showing that their loss earlier in the night was not the end of their alliance. However, that soon changed when in a shocking turn of events, Jason Jordan grabbed Rollins and threw him over the top rope! Jordan shrugged his shoulders at Rollins as he looked up from the arena floor in disbelief. The WWE Universe expressed their dismay for Jordan's actions as Rollins was forced to leave ringside.

Eliminated: Cesaro, Sheamus & Seth Rollins

Entrant #18: The Miz

The reigning Intercontinental Champion entered the Royal Rumble Match with victory on his mind. He cleverly avoided any conflict by jumping onto the apron and scouting out his moments to strike. The New Day were on the verge of eliminating Bray Wyatt while Orton had Nakamura on the ropes as well. Jason Jordan intervened in the battle between Orton and Nakamura and even took down The Viper with a German suplex. Jordan then tried to eliminate Nakamura himself as the countdown clock once again began.

Entrant #19: Bobby Roode

Glorious! The United States Champion had successfully defended his title in the Kickoff Show, and now had his sights set on going to WrestleMania. Roode spotted The Miz on the ring apron and pulled him to the floor, trading blows with him. The two then entered the ring and Roode made sure Miz got himself involved. The two Champions went back-and-forth until Roode took him down with a Glorious DDT. Retaliating from earlier, Randy Orton spun Jason Jordan around and dropped him with an RKO! He picked up the former Raw Tag Team Champion and tossed him over the top for an elimination. The first two entrants once again came face-to-face as Orton and Wyatt collided in the center of the ring. The New Day regrouped in the corner, awaiting the arrival of their third member, Xavier Woods, and it just so happens that they didn't have to wait that long.

Eliminated: Jason Jordan

Entrant #20: Xavier Woods

The entire New Day had now entered the Royal Rumble and they wasted no time getting to work, trying to eliminate Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt. However, Shinsuke Nakamura breaks up the fight and in an extremely oddball alliance, Orton, Wyatt and Nakamura each eliminate a member of The New Day! The trio looked at each other for a moment before engaging in a brawl once more, ending their momentary alliance. Bobby Roode and The Miz continued to battle on the other side of the ring. as the Rumble rolled on.

Eliminated: Kofi Kingston, Big E & Xavier Woods

Entrant #21: Elias

Drawing a decent number, The Drifter made his way to the ring... slowly. Holding his guitar, he strolled his way down the aisle and paused as he reached the ring apron. Elias simply paced back-and-forth, observing the ongoing match. Randy Orton managed to escape the onslaught of Wyatt and Nakamura, leaving them to fight amongst themselves. While The Miz gained the upper hand on Bobby Roode and rolled under the ropes for a breather. Orton grabbed Roode and they began to trade blows, Miz looking on with a smile, knowing he had a good strategy, until he walked into Elias on the other side of the ring. Miz raised his hands and tried to convince Elias that they could have an alliance, but Elias didn't seem interested and simply turned his focus back to the match itself. But his focus was about to turn drastically with the next entrant.

Entrant #22: John Cena

Elias spun round faster than ever as Cena's theme played around the arena. Miz backed away as the former 16-time World Champion stormed down the aisle and immediately came into contact with the man who assaulted him on Raw's 25th anniversary. Cena ducked beneath a guitar shot and instead tackled Elias to the floor. The Cenation Leader picked up the guitar for himself and returned the favour from this past Monday, smashing it over the spine of Elias! He rolled The Drifter into the ring and hit him with three shoulder blocks before dropping a Five-Knuckle Shuffle. But as he measured him for the Attitude Adjustment, Bray Wyatt intervened, only to be lifted up by Cena and thrown over the top rope with an Attitude Adjustment for himself! Cena turned back around into a big clothesline from Elias. The Drifter stumbled into the corner having taken down Cena and stopped his momentum.

Eliminated: Bray Wyatt

Entrant #23: Kevin Owens

Shocking the WWE Universe, Kevin Owens entered the Royal Rumble bout after failing to win the WWE Championship alongside Sami Zayn earlier in the night. We were informed that the decision to add Kevin Owens was made by SmackDown Live General Manager, Daniel Bryan. Owens entered the ring and didn't waste any time making an impact, driving Randy Orton down with a Pop-up Powerbomb, and then taking Nakamura off his feet with a superkick. Owens came face-to-face with John Cena, revisiting their old rivalry and the two traded blows. Cena lifted Owens onto his shoulders for an Attitude Adjustment, but Owens slipped off and shoved Cena into Elias, who dropped him with the Drift Away neckbreaker! Elias and Owens smiled at each other momentarily, only for both men to be taken down by Bobby Roode and Randy Orton.

Entrant #24: Sami Zayn

Anyone would think it was planned... and it probably was. Sami Zayn immediately follows his best friend, Kevin Owens and enters the Royal Rumble. He goes right to assist his ally who is in the process of trying to eliminate Bobby Roode. Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura come onto the scene and trade blows with Owens and Zayn, the SmackDown Live group representing tonight. Elias continued to work over John Cena in the corner, shouting the occasional insult towards the former World Champion. The Intercontinental Champion, The Miz remained on the outside of the ring, which went unnoticed for the most part.

Entrant #25: Finn Bálor

The first-ever Universal Champion made his entrance into the Royal Rumble and clashed right away with Elias, taking The Drifter down with a huge slingblade. Bálor then turned his attention to The Miz on the outside and beckoned him into the ring with a smile. The A-Lister scowled at Bálor from the outside, but he did climb onto the apron and point some fingers towards the leader of The Bálor Club. Elias attacked Bálor from behind and The Miz took that moment to step in and join in the attack. On the other side of the ring, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn had taken down Randy Orton and were trying to eliminate Shinsuke Nakamura. The Rockstar battled back and took both men down, even hitting a big roundhouse kick on Sami Zayn.

Entrant #26: Jinder Mahal

The WWE Universe were not too happy to see the former WWE Champion, but he entered the ring and almost immediately scooped up Bobby Roode who was resting on the ropes and tipped him over the top! Boos rained down on The Modern Day Maharajah as he eliminated The Glorious One. Mahal raised his hands into the air and celebrated to the dismay of the WWE Universe. Bobby Roode looked on in disappointment before taking his leave as Mahal turned his attention to Shinsuke Nakamura. The former rivals traded blows with one another with Mahal gaining the advantage. John Cena resurfaced in the match and took down Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn with a double shoulder block and then followed it up with a unique double Five-Knuckle Shuffle. The Drifter targeted Cena once more and ran towards him, but instead of hitting his intended move, Cena quickly lifted him onto his shoulders and sent him over the ropes with an Attitude Adjustment! The WWE Universe cheered as Elias crashed to the floor.

Eliminated: Elias

Entrant #27: Samoa Joe

Originally believed to be out of the match due to injury, Samoa Joe made a shocking entrance into the Royal Rumble Match. The Destroyer slid into the ring and immediately came face-to-face with John Cena. After some trash talk, Joe struck with a back elbow and took Cena down with a snap suplex. Joe stood over the fallen Cena and pointed towards the WrestleMania sign. The Miz continued to beat down on Finn Bálor, Nakamura and Mahal brawled in the corner and Randy Orton was in the process of trying to eliminate Sami Zayn. But Kevin Owens managed to save his best friend and after some struggle, Owens and Zayn shockingly eliminated The Viper! Orton tumbled to the floor after an incredible showing from number two. Owens and Zayn laughed and embraced in celebration.

Eliminated: Randy Orton

Entrant #28: Mojo Rawley

The newly aggressive Mojo Rawley stormed to the ring and showed off his brute force by tackling Randy Orton to the floor on the outside. Rawley screamed at the WWE Universe and then entered the ring, delivering another tackle to Nakamura. Rawley was on a tear, attacking everyone in the ring before focusing on Nakamura alone. Samoa Joe was still working over John Cena in the corner, showing a disturbing focus on the former World Champion. On the opposite side of the ring, Finn Bálor began battling back against The Miz and almost had the Intercontinental Champion over the ropes when out of nowhere, The Miztourage arrived on the scene. Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas hopped into the ring and attacked Finn Bálor, saving The Miz from elimination. Despite the referee's warnings, they continued to assault Bálor, that was until the arrival of Bálor's allies, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. The Bálor Club united to take down The Miztourage and both Gallows and Anderson sent Axel and Dallas packing.

Entrant #29: Roman Reigns

The Big Dog had arrived, and he slid into the ring before drilling Mojo Rawley with a Spear, following it up by launching over the top rope! Jinder Mahal was next to go for the former World Champion, but he too fell victim to Reigns after a Superman Punch, followed by a clothesline over the top. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn targetted The Big Dog and almost gained the advantage, but Reigns battled back and had them on the ropes, when out of nowhere, Shinsuke Nakamura joined the fight and helped Reigns clothesline the best friends over and out! With just one more superstar to make their entrance, the road to WrestleMania was truly in sight.

Eliminated: Mojo Rawley, Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn

Entrant #30: Braun Strowman

The reaction was deafening as The Monster Among Men who was unsuccessful in his attempt to become WWE Universal Champion earlier in the night made his entrance into the Royal Rumble. Immediately upon entering, Strowman dominated and grabbed both Finn Bálor and The Miz, tossing them over the ropes and knocking them out of the match. Strowman bellowed to the sounds of the WWE Universe as it became clear that we were down to Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns, John Cena, Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura. John Cena exploded out of the corner and took down Samoa Joe with a clothesline, and then confronted The Monster Among Men. He delivered some hard rights to the gargantuan, a even had him on the ropes, but when he tried to eliminate Strowman, the monster battled back and threw Cena to the canvas. When the former 16-time World Champion went back on the offensive, he was side-stepped by the big man, and out of nowhere, Samoa Joe returned to the fight and delivered a thunderous clothesline sending Cena over the ropes and to the floor! Samoa Joe had just eliminated the iconic John Cena!

Eliminated: Finn Bálor, The Miz & John Cena

Remaining superstars: Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, Roman Reigns & Braun Strowman

Realising the situation at hand, Roman Reigns and Shinsuke Nakamura united to combat Braun Strowman, and even Samoa Joe got in on the action. But as Strowman threw his three adversaries away, he threw Roman Reigns over the top rope... but The Big Dog hung on. Samoa Joe tried to eliminate SHinsuke Nakamura, but The Rockstar turned the tables and as he fell over the top, he pulled The Destroyer with him and sent him crashing to the floor!

Eliminated: Samoa Joe

Remaining superstars: Shinsuke Nakamura, Roman Reigns & Braun Strowman

Inside the ring, Roman Reigns hit a Superman Punch on Braun Strowman, sending him stumbling over to the ropes. Reigns hit a second consecutive Superman Punch on the big man, almost knocking him over. Then, Shinsuke Nakamura pulled down the ropes as Roman Reigns hit his third Superman Punch, sending The Monster Among Men over and to the floor in a shocking elimination!

Eliminated: Braun Strowman

Remaining superstars: Shinsuke Nakamura & Roman Reigns

Nakamura rolled back into the ring and the WWE Universe erupted as The Rockstar was nose-to-nose with The Big Dog in the final two. Chants for Nakamura were deafening as the two stared into the eyes of the other. Reigns made the first move with a strong uppercut, but Nakamure returned the favour with a hard forearm. The former World Champion bounced Nakamura off the ropes and went for another Superman Punch, but Nakamura ducked the shot and instead hit a spinning heel kick, taking down Reigns. Nakamura pointed to the WrestleMania sign looming above the ring and grabbed Reigns before throwing him over the top, but once again Reigns was able to hang on. Nakamura ran at Reigns, only to receive a big punch which stunned The Rockstar. But when Roman Reigns tried to re-enter the ring, Nakamura threw caution to the wind and threw himself over the ropes with a big roundhouse kick. Both men hung precariously on the apron as the tension began to build. Reigns blocked another kick and shoved Nakamura back, but in an explosive comeback, Nakamura ran and delivered a thunderous Kinshasa, knocking Reigns out cold and sending him to the floor!

Shinsuke Nakamura fell back into the ring as the bell rang to declare him the winner of the 2018 Royal Rumble and his ticket to WrestleMania had been punched! The former NXT Champion now had the opportunity of a lifetime and will headline WrestleMania 34 for a World title of his choosing. The Rockstar is here, and he holds all the cards. The King of Strong Style has truly arrived!

Hollywood · February 4, 2018

WWE Raw; Jan. 29th 2018 Predictions

WWE RAW — JANUARY 29TH 2018

PREDICTION KEY

1.

Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Raw's newest signee in a non-title match

2.

Tony Nese vs. Cedric Alexander

3.

Sasha Banks vs. Mandy Rose in a Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

4.

Elias vs. Finn Bálor in a Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

5.

Raw Tag Team Champions The Bar vs. Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan for the Raw Tag Team Championship

6.

Nia Jax vs. Alicia Fox in a Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

7.

Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns in a Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

8.

Kane vs. Braun Strowman in a Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

Dawn · February 4, 2018

1. Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Raw's newest signee in a non-title match

2. Tony Nese vs. Cedric Alexander

3. Sasha Banks vs. Mandy Rose in a Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

4. Elias vs. Finn Bálor in a Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

5. Raw Tag Team Champions The Bar vs. Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan for the Raw Tag Team Championship

6. Nia Jax vs. Alicia Fox in a Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

7. Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns in a Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

8. Kane vs. Braun Strowman in a Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

Body By THawk · February 4, 2018

1. Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Raw's newest signee in a non-title match

2. Tony Nese vs. Cedric Alexander

3. Sasha Banks vs. Mandy Rose in a Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

4. Elias vs. Finn Bálor in a Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

5. Raw Tag Team Champions The Bar vs. Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan for the Raw Tag Team Championship

6. Nia Jax vs. Alicia Fox in a Women's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

7. Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns in a Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

8. Kane vs. Braun Strowman in a Men's Elimination Chamber Qualifier

2Sweet · February 4, 2018

Beautiful graphics. Lovin' it!

Hollywood · February 4, 2018

WWE Raw; January 29th, 2018

WWE Raw: January 29, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The most historic night in Royal Rumble history had passed, and what a night it was. The Empress of Tomorrow claimed her throne as the winner of the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match, while SmackDown Live's Shinsuke Nakamura reigned supreme in the men's bout. History was made in Philadelphia, and sticking with the theme of making history, the Raw Commissioner, Stephanie McMahon the the General Manager of Raw, Kurt Angle made their way to the ring to shake the foundations of the WWE yet again.

The Billionaire Baroness dropped a bombshell, fresh of the history-making first just 24 hours prior, announcing that the next Raw-exclusive pay-per-view, Elimination Chamber would continue the trend as it will play host to the first-ever Women's Elimination Chamber Match! Qualifying matches will be held over the next few weeks, and Stephanie McMahon confirmed that it would be for Alexa Bliss' Raw Women's Championship. But that wasn't all.

Kurt Angle wanted to get in on the fun, and he revealed that there would be not one, but two Elimination Chamber Matches at the next big event, and revealed that The Miz will defend his Intercontinental Championship in the second contest inside the hellish structure. But before The Olympic Gold Medalist could even finish his announcement, The A-Lister himself stormed the party with a vengeance, accompanied by his Miztourage buddies.

Clearly unhappy with the decision, The Miz demanded to know why he was being forced to compete inside the Elimination Chamber when he should be going to WrestleMania as the Intercontinental Champion. But Angle made it clear that he wanted to make sure that Raw went into WrestleMania with the best possible Champions, and stated that if The Miz is so confident in his ability, then he should have no problem winning the career-defining contest.

Continuing to run his mouth, The Miz found himself in an even-deeper hole when Kurt Angle informed him that he would be competing right now in an impromptu match against Raw's newest acquisition - Kassius Ohno!

Intercontinental Champion The Miz def. Kassius Ohno

Despite being thrust into an impromptu situation, The Miz held his own against the brand new Raw superstar. The former NXT talent brought the fight to the Intercontinental Champion, coming close to knocking off The A-Lister in this non-title bout. However, thanks to the involvement of Miz's Miztourage, Ohno's chances of victory were cut down. Grabbing the leg of Ohno as he wound up for a KO blow, Curtis Axel allowed Miz to capitalise on the situation and deliver a low blow as the referee dealt with the outside situation, and followed it up with a Skull-Crushing Finale for the win.

The Intercontinental Champion escaped with a victory thanks to his cronies, but Kassius Ohno proved that he was on Raw to make an impact, and he could certainly hang with the best of them. This definitely won't be the last time we see The Knockout Artist, and it may not be the last time we see him come face-to-face with The Miz.

Cedric Alexander def. Tony Nese

Big things are on the horizon for 205 Live and the WWE Cruiserweight division tomorrow night when the General Manager of 205 Live is revealed to the entire world. Tonight, however, was an opportunity for both Cedric Alexander and Tony Nese to impress the General Manager in order to earn a possible opportunity to become the new Cruiserweight Champion.

The action was as fast-paced as you can expect from the death-defying Cruiserweight division. The Premier Athlete and The Lumbar Legacy exchanged blows and near-falls with neither competitor maintaining an advantage. Nese managed to get the upperhand but spent too much time to gloat - he has eight reasons to do so - which led to Alexander’s quicktime recovery to connect with a jaw-dropping Lumbar Check for the 3 Count, which Nese couldn’t get outta his heart.

Sasha Banks def. Mandy Rose to qualify for the Women's Elimination Chamber Match

After her impressive showing in the Women's Royal Rumble Match, The Boss looked to continue her momentum and qualify for the Elimination Chamber Match for the Raw Women's Championship. Going up against Absolution's Mandy Rose, the former Women's Champion was determined to become part of another first-ever in the WWE, but it proved to be a difficult task with Mandy Rose's allies, Paige and Sonya Deville on the outside. But the numbers game still wasn't enough to keep Sasha Banks from fulfilling her goal and she was able to use Mandy Rose as a battering ram, knocking Sonya Deville off the apron and down onto Paige, then connecting with a backstabber into the Bank Statement, forcing Mandy Rose to submit.

Alexa Bliss' first opponent had been confirmed, and it was The Boss who took the spot. Sasha Banks pointed towards the WrestleMania sign as a message to the other Raw superstars - she plans on going to WrestleMania, and there's nobody who will stand in her way.

Finn Bálor def. Elias to qualify for the Men's Elimination Chamber Match

Since reforming The Bálor Club, it's been nothing but smooth sailing for the former Universal Champion, but during the Royal Rumble, he was the victim of an attack by The Miztourage. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson had his back, as they did tonight, and fended off The Miz and his right-hand men. Tonight was a different story, however, as Bálor took on The Drifter for a spot in the Intercontinental Championship Elimination Chamber Match. Although Elias might have picked a fight with the biggest face in the WWE on Raw's 25th anniversary show, he definitely bit off more than he could chew against the determined Bálor who sent The Drifter spine-first into the corner with a shotgun dropkick and completed the sequence with a stunning Coupe de Grace, cementing his place in the Chamber.

The Bálor Club celebrated with the WWE Universe and sealed the deal with a vintage "Too Sweet", but when he's inside the most dangerous structure in wrestling history with six other superstars, will Bálor be able to overcome the odds and be victorious?

Raw Tag Team Champions The Bar def. Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan

Less than twenty-four hours ago, The Bar reclaimed the Raw Tag Team Championships for a record fourth time thanks to a huge lack of communication between Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan. Thankfully, the former champions didn’t need to wait long for their rematch, as Raw General Manager Kurt Angle made this match official earlier today on WWE.com.

It seemed that communication was not an issue for the challengers tonight, as Rollins and Jordan were like a fine-tuned machine as they brought the fight to Sheamus and Cesaro. The champions, however, worked even better as a team - a testament to their four reigns as Raw Tag Team Champions. It looked as if we were going to have new champions tonight in Philly, but Jordan tagged himself in much to the chagrin of The Kingslayer only to run right into a huge Brogue Kick that cost the challengers the match.

Nia Jax def. Alicia Fox to qualify for the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match

The path of destruction caused by The Irresistible Force continued tonight in Philadelphia when Nia Jax decimated Alicia Fox to qualify for the first-ever Women’s Elimination Chamber Match. After throwing Foxxy around the ring, Nia made her final statement with a huge Leg Drop that surely sent a message to the other Women’s Superstars on Raw - can anybody stop such an athlete inside the Chamber?

Immediately after Nia Jax’s dominant victory, it was the theme of the winner of the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble, Asuka. With a smug grin on her face, The Empress of Tomorrow danced past Jax and entered the ring with a microphone. The 29 other superstars who entered got a quick reminder of who the winner really was when Asuka officially declared her spot at WrestleMania, but the undefeated superstar would not state which title she intended on challenging for, instead maintains the mystery and putting the entire locker room on notice. Asuka made it clear that she would be watching the Women’s Elimination Chamber very closely, as the winner may be her opponent on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Roman Reigns def. Bray Wyatt to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match

So close but yet so far, The Big Dog lasted it out until the final two superstars in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match, only to be eliminated by the eventual winner, Shinsuke Nakamura, Disappointed, but lookin to the future, Reigns picked himself back up, brushed himself off and tried his hand at qualifying for the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match for the Intercontinental Championship. Despite the best efforts of The Eater of Worlds, he was unable to knock off the former World Champion, and it was with no help from “Woken” Matt Hardy. The deranged individual interrupted the contest and distracted Bray Wyatt from the titantron, turning the tables on Wyatt and giving him a taste of his own mind game medicine. The Big Dog capitalised on the distraction and drove a Spear into the abdomen of The Face of Fear for the victory.

Reigns comes one step closer to regaining the Intercontinental Championship that he lost at Raw’s 25th anniversary. But as The Big Dog celebrated, Bray Wyatt was left to dwell in his own rage after he felt the wrath of The Woken One as The Great War rages on. This isn’t the last time these two will pull at each other’s strings.

Nobody expected Samoa Joe to enter the Royal Rumble following his injury, but he made a point of getting involved with one thing on his mind aside from winning the whole thing, and that was to eliminate John Cena. And as The Destroyer informed Charly Caruso backstage, he did just that. The former NXT Champion declared that he would always make good on his promises, and his next one is to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match next week and go on to WrestleMania as the Intercontinental Champion.

Braun Strowman def. Kane to qualify for the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match

Due to a Triple Threat technicality, Braun Strowman did not even have to be involved in the fall last night to lose the match, as Brock Lesnar successfully retained his WWE Universal Championship by pinning Kane in a carnage-filled match. The Monster Among Men was clearly infuriated by the result and took out that frustration on his rival, The Big Red Machine. With a spot inside the Elimination Chamber up for grabs, these two behemoths collided once again, but things turned ugly fairly quickly as they clashed in a brawl that took them all around the ring. While Kane put up a fight as he always does, Strowman proved to be more focused then ever and actually drove Kane through the barricade at ringside with a running tackle. The big man followed it up by driving Kane into the canvas with a Running Powerslam to secure the victory and his place in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match.

Moments after the closing bell, Strowman barely even raised his hands before he grabbed his nemesis and tossed him through the ropes. In a devastating turn of events, Kane was slammed into the steel ramp with a Chokeslam by Strowman. But the chaos didn’t stop there as The Monster Among Men continued to drag Kane further and further up the aisle until they reached the announce desk, which only resulted in Kane going through the table via a Running Powerslam! The WWE Universe watched in horror as Strowman dismantled The Big Red Machine like he was nothing. But the worst was yet to come.

Strowman bellowed at the commentary team of Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Jonathan Coachman to move out of the way as he grabbed the head of Kane. In the ultimate sign of disrespect, Strowman shockingly tore the mask from Kane’s face, removing it entirely and raising it above his head as though it was a prize scalp. The world watched in disbelief as Strowman lifted Kane into the air by his throat and launched him from the stage, down to the cold, hard concrete below. This horrifying display had many WWE Universe members turning away in terror as The Big Red Machine lay motionless and maskless on the concrete. WWE officials and medical personnel arrived on the scene to tend to the fallen monster, Strowman simply raising his hands in victory. The Monster Among Men may have stepped over the line, even for him. And to top it off, he raised the torn mask of Kane above his head to send Raw to a shocking close.

Hollywood · February 5, 2018

WWE SmackDown Live; January 30, 2018

WWE SmackDown LIVE: January 30, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Road to WrestleMania truly began with Shinsuke Nakamura’s historical victory in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match just 48 hours ago. The WWE’s Rockstar made his way to the ring to open the show, and while his English may not be perfect, he spoke a language that everyone could surely understand - “Shinsuke Nakamura is going to WrestleMania!”. The King of Strong Style celebrated with the WWE Universe, but the party was crashed by the arrival of one Baron Corbin.

The Lone Wolf expresses his fury at feeling cheated out of his Royal Rumble victory by the man who eliminated him, and vowed to teach Nakamura a lesson. Corbin made his intentions clear, to embarrass The Rockstar and make everyone realise that he should have been the one to win the Royal Rumble. Of course, not one to back down from a fight, Nakamura leaned back and beckoned Corbin in vintage fashion. Rage filled Corbin’s eyes as a referee arrived for this impromptu match.

Shinsuke Nakamura def. Baron Corbin

Hot off the heels of his Royal Rumble victory, Shinsuke Nakamura took the fight to his adversary and put Baron Corbin in his place, proving to not only Corbin but everyone else that he is indeed a worthy winner of the prestigious bout. The Rockstar fought to the bitter end with The Lone Wolf, kicking out of several near falls and using his educated feet to keep the bigger man at bay. But the end came when Nakamura took advantage of an opportunity, slipping out of an End of Days and delivering a Kinshasa, hooking the leg for the three.

Nakamura felt the energy of the WWE Universe and pointed to the WrestleMani sign hanging above the arena, signalling towards his impending title bout on The Grandest Stage of Them All. But who will The King of Strong Style challenge?

To say that Shane McMahon was upset would be an understatement when he came down to his SmackDown Live ring to address the WWE Championship match from this past Sunday’s historic Royal Rumble event. After a replay of the end of the match, Shane mentioned that he was blindsided by the assault from SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan and requested he come join him in the ring and explain his actions to the entire WWE Universe.

The Yes Man arrived in Philadelphia and the WWE Universe was firmly behind him as he explained to his boss that he could not sit there at the Royal Rumble and allow Shane to become the referee of the match. Bryan noted that he finds Shane McMahon’s decision making as a referee to be unfair for Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens and he made the right choice by kicking Shane in the head during his interference. The tension between Commissioner and General Manager when McMahon played judge, jury, and executioner in order to deal with the Bryan situation… DANIEL BRYAN, YOU’RE SUSPENDED!

The shock was heard around the world as Daniel Bryan stared directly into Shane McMahon’s eyes - as the NO! Chants erupted in the Wells Fargo Center. Bryan said not a word before exiting the ring and returning up the ramp as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn both walked out with absolute ire at the immediate suspension of their GM. Owens demanded that Shane rethink his decision, but the Commish would not change his decision. But since Owens and Sami were already out there, Shane had another piece of business to deal with, and this one was for the main event tonight: Kevin Owens would face AJ Styles with Sami Zayn banned from ringside!

SmackDown Tag Team Champions Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin def. Breezango

It may not have been the most genuine way to have captured the SmackDown Tag Team Championships but they did it nonetheless. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin knocked off The Usos at the Royal Rumble in controversial fashion, somewhat hypocritical of them after their own complaints of controversy playing a part in their matches. Tonight, Gable and Benjamin defeated the duo of Fandango and Tyler Breeze in a non-title bout with a big superkick/German suplex combination.

The new SmackDown Tag Team Champions celebrated their victory, much to the dismay of the WWE Universe. However, their moment of victory was crashed by the former title holders, Jimmy and Jey arriving at ringside with a pair of steel chairs! Returning the favour from this past Sunday, The Usos swung for the fences and sent their rivals packing. It seems Gable and Benjamin aren’t out of the woods just yet, because The Usos still have them very much on lockdown.

Jinder Mahal def. Tye Dillinger

The Modern Day Maharajah made an impact in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match when he eliminated the United States Champion, Bobby Roode upon his entry. As a result, The Glorious One showed a heightened interest in this bout and sat ringside for Mahal’s clash with Tye Dillinger. The former WWE Champion defeated The Perfect 10 with his impactful Khallas, hooking the leg for the three and claiming his victory, immediately turning his attention to the commentary area where Bobby Roode sat.

It was clear to see that Jinder Mahal was still upset with his defeat at the hands of the United States Champion in the final of the title tournament, and pointed a finger towards the reigning title holder with a warning. Standing up from his seat, Bobby Roode raised his prestigious gold and in so many words, told Mahal to bring it on. The inevitable bout between these two may come sooner rather than later.

SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch def. Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan

Just 48 hours removed from the historic first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match, the sights were firmly set towards WrestleMania. One superstar who came so close to victory was Becky Lynch, but fell short. The Irish Lasskicker aligned with the reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion to take on two thirds of The Riott Squad in tag team action. With Ruby Riott looking on from ringside, Charlotte and Becky truly united as a team and pulled both superstars to the floor, locking in the Dis-Arm-Her and the Figure-Eight Leglock respectively, forcing Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan to submit simultaneously.

With a victory behind them, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch celebrated, and Ruby Riott was less than pleased with her fallen allies. The leader of The Riott Squad had some harsh words for her teammates, but The Queen and The Irish Lasskicker had conquered them for the moment, and that’s what mattered.

It’s a New Day, yes it is! The energetic trio spoke about their appearance in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match with fond memories, however they reminisce about their elimination at the hands of Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt and the eventual winner, Shinsuke Nakamura. While they discussed their Sunday night antics, they were interrupted by the duo of Rusev and Aiden English. The chants of the WWE Universe were clear as day - Rusev Day to be exact. The Bulgarian Brute and his Artiste accomplice informed The New Day that the Royal Rumble should have been Rusev Day, and he should have been going to WrestleMania, but when Big E tried to console the former United States Champion with a tray of freshly cooked pancakes, Rusev didn’t take too kindly to the offering, slapping the tray out of his hands, causing Big E to square up to The Bulgarian Brute.

Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Aiden English came between the two and prevented the situation from getting ugly, but Rusev made a challenge to the trio for next week on SmackDown Live, stating that he would teach them a lesson, and that it is never a “New Day”, it is always a “Rusev Day”!

Randy Orton def. Mojo Rawley

The Viper couldn’t seem to repeat last year’s success in the Royal Rumble Match, falling short near the last moments thanks to the devious duo of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. But the former World Champion was not going to let that stop him continue his journey to WrestleMania, as he defeated the newly aggressive Mojo Rawley. Entering the Men’s Royal Rumble Match at #28, Rawley had a unique opportunity to make history, but he too suffered defeat thanks to Raw’s Roman Reigns. One RKO-outta-nowhere later and Orton scored the pinfall, getting back on track following his unfortunate Rumble loss.

Following the ring bell, Renee Young took to the ring to interview The Viper, and with a stern message to the rest of the locker room, Orton declare that he still intended on aiming history at WrestleMania as he always does, and explained that when The Viper was ready to strike, it would be when everyone least expects it.

The Bludgeon Brothers def. Local Competitors

The intimidating and dangerous Bludgeon Brothers once again dominated their adversaries in this tag team bout, as Harper and Rowan laid waste to two local Philadelphia competitors. Dismantling the smaller duo, the monstrous team threw their opponents around the ring as if they were rag dolls, and finished the bout after Harper dropped one with a Discus Clothesline, and planted the other on top of his partner with a devastating lifting slam.

The Bludgeon Brothers stood atop the carnage and once again looked as unstoppable as ever. Surely enough, they are a force to be reckoned with, and soon they will most definitely be searching for more competition.

WWE Champion AJ Styles def. Kevin Owens (Sami Zayn is banned from ringside)

The events that unfolded earlier in the night sent shockwaves through the entire SmackDown LIVE locker room. With General Manager, Daniel Bryan now suspended by Shane McMahon, who knows what could follow? And something else which came out of McMahon's bombshell was this main event which would see AJ Styles take on Kevin Owens in a non-title match, and Sami Zayn would be banned from ringside. Zayn's absence may have played a factor in Owens' lack of concentration, and he once again suffered defeat at the hands of AJ Styles for the second time in 48 hours when the WWE Champion slipped out of a Pop-up Powerbomb attempt and delivered a Pele Kick, following it up with a huge Phenomenal Forearm for the win.

The Phenomenal One had conquered The Prizefighter once more and come out on top, much to Shane McMahon's delight no doubt. But his moment of glory was cut short when Kevin Owens' best buddy, Sami Zayn arrived on the scene and ambushed the WWE Champion from behind! With the match over, all bets were off as Zayn laid a beating down on Styles, and moments later, Kevin Owens resurfaced to join the mugging. The devious duo continued to deliver a beat down to their arch-rival, until a familiar sound saved The Phenomenal One from certain doom...

"Break the Walls Down!". As incredible as it gets, Chris Jericho made a surprise return to SmackDown LIVE and evened the odds against Sami Zayn and the man who he used to call his best friend, Kevin Owens. The former World Champion delivered a big facebuster to Zayn before dumping him over the ropes and out of the ring, then turning to confront his old friend-turned-enemy, Owens. Jericho ducked under a haymaker and landed an enziguiri, sending Owens through the middle rope and down to the floor. The WWE Universe were in awe as Jericho stood beside AJ Styles, with Owens and Zayn retreating up the aisle with their tail between their legs. But it wasn't all smooth sailing.

Y2J turned to the WWE Champion and dropped him with a crippling Codebreaker! Gasps of horror filled the arena as Chris Jericho stood over AJ Styles with a scowl. The nostalgia in the air sent shivers down everyone's spine as chants of "Y2J" echoed throughout the building. Jericho grabbed the WWE Championship from the canvas and raised it above his head while placing one foot on the sternum of AJ Styles. What does this mean for SmackDown LIVE and The Phenomenal One?

Hollywood · February 7, 2018

@WWE Twitter; Jan. 30,, 2018

Hollywood · February 7, 2018

WWE: 205 Live (January 30th, 2018)

WWE 205 Live: January 30, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We kicked off a new era for the Cruiserweight division with the introduction of Drake Maverick as WWE 205 Live’s new General Manager. After dedicating his life and career to Cruiserweight competition, Maverick announced his intention to help WWE 205 Live reach its true potential as the home for the most exciting competition in all of sports-entertainment. As a result, Maverick announced that a 16-man Cruiserweight Championship Tournament would begin immediately, and a new champion would crowned on The Grandest Stage of Them All – WrestleMania.

Mustafa Ali def. Ariya Daivari

Ali and Daivari were given a huge opportunity to set the tone for the new Cruiserweight Championship Tournament. Right out of the gate, Daivari attacked but was quickly countered by the quickness and prowess of Ali. The Persian Lion struggled to mount an offense as the fast-paced Chicago-native countered and attacked, maintaining control. As Ali prepared a high-risk move off the top rope, Daivari quickly countered by pushing his opponent to the outside, giving him the reprieve and opportunity he needed.

Daivari worked to dismantle his agile opponent, showing off his technical ability as well as executing high-impact move targeting Ali’s lower back. Fighting through the pain but unable to put Daivari away, Ali was once again on defense as The Persian Lion nearly scored a victory following his patented frog-splash. Ali recovered, stunning his opponent long enough to successfully execute the 450 for the win.

Cedric Alexander def. Tyler Bate

Earlier in the day, the first-ever WWE U.K. Champion Tyler Bate was told by new WWE 205 Live GM Drake Maverick to be ready to compete. A high-stakes competition between Bate and Cedric Alexander is exactly what the WWE Universe got in the second first-round match of the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament that absolutely tore the house down - a testament to Maverick’s eye for talented matchups for the future of 205.

Both Superstars put on a masterclass in technical and aerial ability with punishing holds and innovate high-risk maneuvers in an effort to advance in the tournament. Looking to use a classic maneuver to help his chances, Bate hit a double axe handle from the top rope but he seemed to have tweaked his knee. Alexander, the veteran, focused on his opponent’s left knee whenever he could. Although Bate used his strength and high-impact offense to remain in the fight, Alexander’s strategy paid dividends as he continued to respectfully strike at the injured knee. The battle raged on with both competitors continuing to strike back and forth and momentum failing to find a home. Attempting to seize an opportunity, Bate set Cedric up for the Tyler Driver ‘97. Unfortunately for the first-ever WWE U.K. Champion, Queen City’s Favorite Son countered and connected with a gut-checking Lumbar Check for the hard-earned win.

Hollywood · February 13, 2018

WWE: NXT (January 31, 2018)

WWE NXT: January 31st, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

On the heels of an unforgettable TakeOver: Philadelphia, the black-and-yellow brand returned to WWE Network with a high-stakes WWE U.K. Championship No. 1 Contender’s Match between Roderick Strong and Tyler Bate. For the second time since arriving in Philly, the superstars of NXT were looking to steal the spotlight from their main roster counterparts and show the world that the future is now.

Nikki Cross def. Lacey Evans

After dispatching Aliyah two weeks ago, Lacey Evans vowed to clean house on NXT and showcase some class by getting rid of the “classless psychos” in the NXT Women’s division. One of the “classless psychos” she called out by name: Nikki Cross. Calling out the SAnitY member, in hindsight, might have been a foolish decision for the former US Marine.

Cross made sure she showed Evans the wrath of a psycho by immediately tackling her to the ground to unleash a flurry of punches. Evans did fight back against the deranged Scot, even managing to nearly knock Nikki senseless with a huge punch to the jaw. In the end, however, Lacey Evans did not clean house when Cross connected with not one, not two, but three swingin’ neckbreakers that allowed the SAnitY member to show her that being a “classless psycho” isn’t all that bad in the ring.

TM61 def. Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss

TM61 picked up right where they left off since their last in-ring appearance in NXT more than a year ago, energizing the crowd en route to an empathic victory over The God Gifted Athletes.

Nick Miller & Shane Thorne’s long-awaited return to the squared circle wasn’t without its challenges, though. The athletic team of Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss used their size and strength to gain an early advantage. Miller & Thorne responded with their trademark high-energy offense, finishing off their opponents via Thunder Valley for the victory. It was a mighty impressive win, which made it even more fitting when, in a post-match interview backstage with Christy St. Cloud, the Australian duo announced that they will now be known as “The Mighty.”

Roderick Strong def. Tyler Bate to become No. 1 contender for the WWE United Kingdom Championship

Roderick Strong outlasted Tyler Bate in a classic heavy-hitting matchup to become the No. 1 Contender to Pete Dunne’s WWE United Kingdom Championship.

Having brazenly called out Lars Sullivan two weeks ago, Strong seemed determined to earn an opportunity to face The BruiserWeight for the WWE U.K. Title. The Messiah of the Backbreaker pulled out a plethora of backbreaking slams on Bate, but the young Brit showed true grit with each spirited comeback.

Strong remained committed to keeping his opponent down, however, unleashing a string of maneuvers that even Bate couldn’t overcome. After connecting with back-to-back knees on Bate’s chin, Strong forcefully spiked the former WWE United Kingdom Champion face-first to the mat. Then he hit the End of Heartache on Bate’s already-tender back for the win, and earned himself a WWE U.K. Championship Match against Pete Dunne.

MisterRomanini · February 13, 2018

Man, I should be following this more often. As a graphic designer, i absolutely love the visual identity of this dynasty - definetely unique around here.

DREAM · February 14, 2018

Don't know why those "WWE heads" on here aren't following this dynasty. Great graphics, love the whole layout and good writing, too. Keep it up!

Hollywood · February 20, 2018

WWE Raw: February 5, 2018 in Des Moines, Iowa

From the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble to the first-ever Women's Elimination Chamber Match, things are always picking up for the women's division. As revealed by Stephanie McMahon, Alexa Bliss will defend her Raw Women's Championship inside the dangerous structure on February 25, against five other Raw superstars eager to make history and enter WrestleMania as Champion. Already qualified for the bout are Sasha Banks and Nia Jax, and two more superstars will punch their ticket to the Chamber tonight. But before all that, Little Miss Bliss had something she wanted to say.

The Raw Women's Champion addressed her potential adversaries with a warning that she would be walking out of the first-ever Women's Elimination Chamber with the gold still around her waist, and there's not a superstar on the roster that can change that. She reminded everyone that she is The Goddess of the WWE, and promised that at WrestleMania she would be the one defending her title, and whether it be against Asuka, or anyone else on the roster, she guarantees a WrestleMania moment that would be nothing short of Bliss.

Her grand speech was halted by the arrival of Absolution, as Paige, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville made their way to the ring to confront the Raw Women's Champion. The Raven-Haired Renegade laughed in Alexa's face, telling her that there was only one guarantee here, and it's that a member of Absolution will be leaving the Elimination Chamber as Raw Women's Champion. Paige declared that tonight, she and Sonya Deville both have qualifying matches, and they intend to enter the Chamber and make sure that WrestleMania gets a dose of Absolution. But before she could continue, the theme of Bayley blasted around the arena and the huggable superstar made her way to the ring.

The former Raw Women's Champion, Bayley revealed that she was the woman who would be going up against Sonya Deville in her qualifying match, and explained that while the Elimination Chamber is a terrifying and intimidating match, she's not going to let the opportunity of going to WrestleMania slip through her fingers, and declared that she was ready to make that a reality right now. As the five superstars stood in the ring, awaiting someone to make the first move, Absolution jumped Bayley and beat her into the canvas as the WWE Universe rained down boos on the trio. The Raw Women's Champion, Alexa Bliss promptly fled ringside as referees emerged to separate the group. Michael Cole revealed that we were going to have Bayley against Sonya Deville right now!

Bayley def. Sonya Deville to qualify for the Women's Elimination Chamber Match

Despite the rough start, having been ambushed by Absolution, Bayley battled back with her unique determination and even managed to keep Paige and Mandy Rose at bay on the outside. Knocking Mandy Rose off the ring apron with a dropkick, sending her into Paige's arms, Bayley then turned to duck underneath a roundhouse kick and following it up by locking her arms and driving Deville into the canvas with a Bayley-to-Belly for the victory.

The Huggable One threw her hands into the air in celebration as Sonya Deville rolled out of the ring to regroup with her allies, retreating up the aisle. Bayley smiled from ear-to-ear and waved to Absolution as they back up the ramp licking their wounds. Bayley joins Sasha Banks, Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss inside the first-ever Women's Elimination Chamber Match in just three weeks!

The Revival def. Heath Slater & Rhyno

Since returning from their hiatus, The Revival haven't exactly had the best of luck, losing to Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson at the Royal Rumble, not to mention being given a veteran beating by D-Generation X and Razor Ramon at Raw's 25th anniversary. But tonight, they were intent on redeeming their recent setbacks and defeated the former SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Heath Slater and Rhyno. The Man Beast continued to try and "toughen up" Heath Slater, but it was to no avail as Slater ate a Shatter Machine after Rhyno was knocked from the ring apron, giving Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson the win.

The Revival were victorious and shared an embrace before aggravating the WWE Universe with arrogant gestures. They appear to be getting themselves back on track, so could we see a potential "revival" of these former NXT Tag Team Champions in the near future?

The recent issues between the former Raw Tag Team Champions, Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan have been apparent as of late. They were never really the most cohesive of teams to begin with, but their alliance appears to have crumbled more since losing the titles to Cesaro and Sheamus. As a result, the General Manager of Raw, Kurt Angle called both superstars to his office to address their current situation. The Olympic Gold Medalist acknowledged their recent turmoil and explained that he couldn't see them fixing the situation right now, and so he had the idea of giving both men singles opportunities to compete in the Men's Elimination Chamber Match.

Rollins and Jordan nodded their head as Jason Jordan thanked his father for the opportunity, but just before they were about to leave, Angle revealed that their opportunities would intertwine, as their qualifying match would be against each other! The Architect smirked as Jordan looked slightly concerned, turning to his partner. Slapping Jordan on the back, Seth Rollins walked out with one final remark - "See you later on, kid".

John Cena def. Elias

For the first time since the Men's Royal Rumble Match, John Cena made his in-ring return to Raw to take on a recent rival of his, Elias. The Drifter assaulted John Cena on the 25th anniversary of Raw, and made a name for himself in the process. But The Cenation Leader was back to get his revenge, and he played Elias a tune that even he was familiar with, and that's the tune of an Attitude Adjustment. Sending The Drifter crashing into the canvas, Cena hooked the leg for the three and picked up his return victory live on Raw.

But as the 16-time World Champion celebrated his victory, he was interrupted by the sound of a familiar theme, that of The Destroyer, Samoa Joe. The man who eliminated John Cena from the Royal Rumble - and then gloated about it just one week ago on Raw - made his way to the ring looking as stern as ever. The former NXT Champion jumped into the ring as Cena put up his guard, expecting conflict to follow, but Samoa Joe simply grabbed a microphone and approached The Face of the WWE.

Joe raised the microphone to his mouth and declared that he wasn't here to fight, only to give John Cena a very clear message - "Get the hell out of my ring". Gasps filled the arena as Cena's eyebrows raised. Samoa Joe shoved the microphone into Cena's chest and then retreated to the corner to warm up for his upcoming match. Cena looked down at the microphone and then looked back up at The Destroyer, smirking and shaking his head. The former World Champion left the ring and walked away, pointing at Joe as somewhat of an acknowledgement to his actions.

Samoa Joe def. Matt Hardy to qualify for the Men's Elimination Chamber Match

With the unusual and confusing confrontation between Samoa Joe and John Cena out of the way, it was time for Raw to become #Woken. Matt Hardy made his way to the ring for an Elimination Chamber qualifying bout, and going toe-to-toe with Samoa Joe proved to be a difficult task, although Hardy held his own as a veteran of the ring. The Woken One was measuring Samoa Joe for the Twist of Fate, preparing for his "deletion", when suddenly the lights flickered and after a flash of images on the screen, Bray Wyatt's laugh could be heard echoing around the arena, Matt Hardy standing in a spotlight looking confused and bewildered. Capitalising on the situation, Samoa Joe crept up behind Hardy and locked in the devastating Coquina Clutch, forcing him to submit.

The Destroyer rolled out of the ring and barely even cracked a smile before storming up the aisle with his victory now behind him. The Woken One held his neck and looked up to the titantron, realising that Bray Wyatt had returned the favour from last week. The Great War is heating up, and these two are sure to explode very, very soon. But the question is, will Bray Wyatt and Sister Abigail consume the soul of Matt Hardy, or will Bray Wyatt become another superstar who Hardy has deleted?

The debut of Kassius Ohno last week on Raw had the WWE Universe buzzing, and although he came up short against the Intercontinental Champion, The Miz, he was still able to put on a performance worthy of a Raw superstar. The Knockout Artist was backstage with Charly Caruso, being interviewed about last week's debut against a former World Champion, and just as Ohno was about to respond, he was interrupted by Curt Hawkins. The Prince of Queens explained that Kassius Ohno is nothing more than a loser, and he proved that when he lost to The Miz last week. Of course, Ohno responded by reminding Hawkins that he hasn't won a match in "a million years". Curt Hawkins informed Ohno that he's merely having a rough patch, but Ohno laughed it off and said that Hawkins needed to heed his own advice and "face the facts", but this didn't go down well and Hawkins became enraged, challenging Ohno to a match next week on Raw. The Knockout Artist accepted and Hawkins stormed off as Kassius Ohno turned back to Charly Caruso and said "We'll see who's a loser next week".

With tonight's main event coming up soon, the question many people were asking is could the two teams really coexist ahead of the Men's Elimination Chamber Match in three weeks time? One of those questions may have been answered as Roman Reigns prepared himself for the tag team bout, until Finn Bálor, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson entered the room. Reigns stood up and approached Bálor face-to-face, but Bálor broke the ice by asking if they were definitely going to be on the same page tonight. The Big Dog confirmed that tonight, he would have Bálor's back, but when the Elimination Chamber Match comes around, he'll take him out if he has to to get his Intercontinental Championship back. Reigns goes to walk past Bálor, only to be confronted by Gallows and Anderson who gave The Big Dog a sinister glare. Reigns shouldered past them and left the room as The Bálor Club watched on.

Paige def. Dana Brooke to qualify for the Women's Elimination Chamber Match

After her surprise participation in the Women's Royal Rumble Match, Paige shocked the world by returning from her injury and inserting herself right back into the mix. And there's no bigger way to do just that than qualify for the first-ever Women's Elimination Chamber Match. The Raven-Haired Renegade was able to make good on her promise from earlier in the night and defeat Dana Brooke with a huge Ram-Paige to secure her place in the history-making match.

Paige regrouped with her Absolution teammates, and the trio kicked Dana Brooke under the ropes and out of the ring. Their attention was drawn to the entrance where Sasha Banks and Bayley emerged to confront Absolution. But with their attention diverted, Nia Jax appeared from out of nowhere in the ring and delivered a double clothesline to Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville before standing face-to-face with Paige. The former Champion quickly rolled underneath the ropes and stood between Nia Jax in the ring, and Sasha Banks and Bayley on the stage. Meanwhile, the Raw Women's Champion, Alexa Bliss looked on from a monitor backstage, surveying her challengers.

Sheamus and Cesaro were on top of the world when they regained the Raw Tag Team Championships at the Royal Rumble, and they felt the need to tell us all about it. The Bar arrived to the ring on Raw and addressed their two consecutive victories over Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan, all the while claiming that they are the greatest tag team in WWE history. While some may agree, and The Bar definitely believe what they're saying, some people don't quite share that opinion, and a duo who don't are Titus O'Neil and Apollo Crews of Titus Worldwide.

The pair interrupted Sheamus and Cesaro's moment to remind them and everyone else that they own a victory over the Raw Tag Team Champions, and it's about time Titus Worldwide saw some tag team gold in the facility. Sheamus and Cesaro looked at each other and burst out laughing, before Sheamus informed Titus that their victory was nothing more than a fluke, and if they were ever to face off again, they would destroy Titus Worldwide and everything it stands for. Apollo Crews stepped forward and told The Bar to put their money where their mouth is, but the Raw Tag Team Champions simply chuckled and walked around Titus O'Neil and Apollo Crews to leave the ring and return backstage. It seems The Bar aren't taking Titus Worldwide seriously, and that could prove to be a mistake on the part of the Raw Tag Team Champions.

Seth Rollins def. Jason Jordan to qualify for the Men's Elimination Chamber Match

Kurt Angle's shocking announcement earlier tonight put these two former Raw Tag Team Champions against each other for a spot in the Men's Elimination Chamber Match in three weeks. Of course, the General Manager of Raw was looking to give his son an opportunity to prove himself, but also allowing Seth Rollins that same chance. The former partners collided in a battle for the remaining spot and Jason Jordan even came close with a roll-up and a handful of tights, but his lack of respect for The Kingslayer meant Rollins pulled no punches, and when he kicked Jordan in the gut, he saw the opening and delivered the skull-crushing Blackout, driving Jordan head-first into the canvas to the delight of the WWE Universe!

It seems like Jason Jordan's alliance with Seth Rollins is truly over as The Architect looked down at his fallen partner, shaking his head. But nonetheless, Rollins is going to the Men's Elimination Chamber for a shot at the Intercontinental Championship, and that's more than can be said for poor Jason Jordan. Something tells us that Kurt Angle won't be very pleased with his son's performance.

Intercontinental Champion The Miz & Braun Strowman def. Roman Reigns & Finn Bálor

Talk about combustible elements, these two teams are a powder keg waiting to explode. With the Men's Elimination Chamber Match just three weeks away and these four men being four of a participants in that bout, could they possibly co-exist in a tag team main event? To make the situation worse, The Miztourage and The Bálor Club were both present at ringside, adding fuel to the fire. An unnerving atmosphere surrounded this bout following Braun Strowman's heinous acts last week on Raw, tearing the mask from Kane's face and then disposing of him off the stage, sending him down to the concrete floor. Jonathan Coachman gives us a quick update on Kane, claiming that The Big Red Machine has been unresponsive since the incident and is still sidelined for an unspecified amount of time.

Onto the main event itself, The Miz kicked things off against his rival, Roman Reigns. The two went back-and-forth as they always do when they clash, neither man gaining the upper hand, but when Braun Strowman entered the mix, he demolished his opponents with ease. Finn Bálor flew from the top rope with a shotgun dropkick, stumbling The Monster Among Men, and Reigns followed it up with a Superman Punch to take the big man off his feet. As Strowman rolled to the outside, Bálor saw an opening and launched himself over the ropes and into the giant, taking him down. The Miztourage encroached on the situation, but were quickly stopped by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson who began brawling with The Miz's cohorts. The referee surveyed the chaos, and inside the ring, The Miz used the momentary distraction to his advantage, grabbing his Intercontinental Championship and cracking it over the skull of Roman Reigns, delivering a Skull-Crushing Finale immediately after and hooking the leg for the three count.

The WWE Universe were less than happy as The Miz raised his Intercontinental Championship in celebration, but things took a turn for the worse when Braun Strowman got back to his feet. The Monster Among Men threw both Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson into the barricade, then turned his attention to The Miztourage, bouncing them both off the ring apron and sending them to the floor. Strowman grabbed Finn Bálor next and threw him shoulder-first into the steel steps with a primal scream. The Miz backed into the corner as the monstrous Strowman entered the ring and grabbed Roman Reigns before driving him into the canvas with a Running Powerslam! Then he turned his attention to The Miz. The A-Lister tried to jump out of the ring, but Strowman grabbed his trunk and pulled him back into the ring, delivering a second Running Powerslam!

The Monster Among Men stood atop all the carnage for the second week in a row, having decimated the competition. He grabbed the Intercontinental Championship from the canvas and raised it above his head as Raw faded to a close. Who can stop Braun Strowman? Could we be looking at the next Intercontinental Champion?

Dawn · February 20, 2018

Great stuff, Strowman is looking like a million bucks as he should, keep up the good work!

Hollywood · February 23, 2018

WWE: Smackdown (February 6, 2018)

WWE SmackDown LIVE: February 6, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri

Nobody expected to see the return of Chris Jericho last week on SmackDown LIVE, least of all AJ Styles. The WWE Champion was taken by surprise when Y2J made his illustrious return to initially come to his aid and fend off Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, but as soon as the ring was cleared, Jericho struck and flattened The Phenomenal One with a Codebreaker and sent a clear message by raising the WWE Championship above his head.

Of course, this was never going to go unaddressed by AJ Styles and he made his way out to discuss last week's events with the WWE Universe. The WWE Champion was visibly upset and kicked things off by declaring his respect for Chris Jericho as a performer and an athlete, but he didn't appreciate it when he delivered that Codebreaker last week and laid him out. The WWE Champion made it clear that he was open to all comers for his title, and if it was a shot Chris Jericho wanted, it was a shot Chris Jericho could have.

No sooner had the words left his mouth, the self-proclaimed Best in the World made his way onto the stage and mocked AJ Styles by pretending to cry. Y2J quickly snapped out of his joke and the mood turned serious as he declared that he had sat back and watched AJ Styles have an amazing year and simply felt it was time to pull the rug from under him and bring him back down to reality. Stating that he had shaken the foundations of Japan, and rocked the wrestling industry to the core in his absence, but he couldn't stand by and watch as AJ Styles held the WWE Championship when he knew that he could take it from him.

The Phenomenal One responded by reminding Jericho that he beat him two years ago at WrestleMania, and he would do it again if he had to. "You need to wake up and realise that this isn't The House That AJ Styles Built, this is The World That Chris Jericho Created, baby!" exclaimed Y2J to a big reaction from the WWE Universe. AJ Styles expressed his respect for Jericho and his accomplishments, but says that times have changed and if Jericho wanted the WWE Championship, he'd have to come and take it from him. Beckoning Jericho to the ring, Styles prepared for a brawl, but Jericho laughed and shook his head before simply stating "On my terms, junior, not yours". Y2J left the stage as AJ Styles looked on with a glare and we are told by Tom Phillips that Chris Jericho will return to action tonight on SmackDown LIVE against The Viper, Randy Orton!

The Usos def. The Colóns

It was a huge blow to The Usos to lose the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at the Royal Rumble, but never the duo to steer away from confrontation, Jimmy and Jey sent a message to the new title holders, Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin last week with a steel chair ambush, revenge for their own steel chair assault at the Rumble which saw Gable and Benjamin throw the first fall intentionally to gain the upper hand. The Usos were able to redeem their loss and defeat Primo and Epico Colón in tag team action with a double superkick to Epico, and an Uso Splash to Primo for the win.

Moments after the bell, The Usos took to the microphone and waste no time declaring that they were cashing in their contractual rematch clause for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, and they wanted the match to take place at SmackDown LIVE's next exclusive event, WWE Fastlane! In the closing moments of their announcement, they claimed to have Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin on "lockdown", and that doesn't bode well for the current SmackDown Tag Team Champions, that's for sure.

Naomi def. Carmella

Being Miss Money in the Bank puts Carmella in a very special category, one that nobody else has ever been in. But this still doesn't make her impervious to defeat, and she realised that after suffering an unfortunate loss to Naomi. Despite Carmella's best efforts - and even a few underhanded moves or two - Naomi was able to lock in the FTG and force Carmella into submission.

Safe to say, Carmella definitely felt Naomi's glow tonight, and the reigning Miss Money in the Bank retreated clutching her neck and her briefcase, but Naomi celebrated with the WWE Universe and had them on their feet, feeling the glow along with her.

Shinsuke Nakamura def. Sami Zayn

The winner of the 2018 Men's Royal Rumble Match, Shinsuke Nakamura went head-to-head with Sami Zayn in a throwback from NXT Takeover: Dallas. The two talented athletes collided once again, but the elements were entirely different this time around. Nakamura was hot off the heels of the biggest victory of his career, and Sami Zayn had the added assistance of his best friend, Kevin Owens in his corner. But even with the presence of The Prizefighter at ringside, it was not enough to keep The Rockstar at bay. Both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn wore t-shirts with the hashtag "#JusticeForBryan" on the front, and the word "Yep!" on the back., clearly in reference to General Manager, Daniel Bryan's suspension last week. Back to the match, after his involvement got too much, the referee ejected Kevin Owens, and he believed it to be more injustice on the part of Shane McMahon's authority. Sami Zayn fell victim to a Kinshasa from Shinsuke Nakamura and The King of Strong Style was victorious in his efforts.

Celebrating with the WWE Universe, Shinsuke Nakamura raised his hands in victory, while Sami Zayn rolled to the outside holding his head. The Underdog of the Underground retreated up the ramp and rejoined Kevin Owens atop the stage. The two former number one contenders were once again left reeling for the second week in a row. And no doubt they will place all their blame on one man - Shane McMahon.

Clearly enjoying what he was seeing, Shane McMahon laughed as he watched the monitor from his office. But his viewing was rudely interrupted by the arrival of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. Gable flew off the handle and demanded that Shane McMahon overrule The Usos rematch clause, claiming that they beat them fair and square at the Royal Rumble and should be done with the Samoan twins. But Shane McMahon explains that it's a contractual clause, and whether they like it or not, they will be defending the SmackDown Tag Team Championships against The Usos at WWE Fastlane. With a grin on his face, Shane walked out of the scene leaving Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin furious.

The New Day def. Rusev & Aiden English

Stemming from an altercation last week on SmackDown LIVE, these two teams collided in the name of... what day it is? Rusev claimed that every day was Rusev Day, and that no day would ever be "a New Day". With the discussion of "days" being a hot topic, the two teams went toe-to-toe and while Rusev looked dominant throughout the match, he was eventually flattened by Big E who delivered a huge big splash to The Bulgarian Brute, and this left Aiden English to suffer the impact of a Midnight Hour, giving The New Day the victory.

The former Tag Team Champions celebrated as only they can, dancing around the ring and all around the arena. Rusev and Aiden English reluctantly left up the aisle, still demanding that everyone recognise that it is Rusev Day, but with The New Day throwing out pancakes to everybody who would catch them, a lot of people probably consider this to be a New Day, yes they do!

Ruby Riott def. Becky Lynch to become the number one contender for the SmackDown Women's Championship

The Riott Squad have been dominant since their arrival on SmackDown LIVE, and now was Ruby Riott's chance to etch her name in history by challenging for the SmackDown Women's Championship. But to do so, she would have to go through a former Champion in her own right, Becky Lynch. The Irish Lasskicker took the fight to the leader of The Riott Squad with the reigning SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair looking on eagerly from ringside, even rooting for the fiery redhead. But with the presence of Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan at ringside, it was no picnic for Becky, and even though Charlotte to to her feet at ringside and stopped The Riott Squad from getting involved, it wasn't enough to help Becky Lynch avoid defeat as Riott hit the Riot Kick and hooked the leg for a shocking victory.

RUby Riott quickly jumped out of the ring and joined her allies on the ramp having secured her position as number one contender. The Queen, Charlotte Flair jumped into the ring to tend to her fallen friend, but when her back was turned, The Riott Squad capitalised on the opportunity and ambushed her from behind. They laid waste to Flair and Lynch, standing tall over their adversaries. The SmackDown LIVE women's division just took a huge turn, and it seems that we may have a Riott on our hands.

Appearing in a darkened room, The Bludgeon Brothers issued an unnerving warning to the rest of the tag team division, stating claim as the superior team and promising that they would decimate any unit who came before them, no matter how big or small, no matter how old or young, no matter veteran or rookie - they will destroy everything. And there's nobody that can stop them!

United States Champion Bobby Roode def. Mojo Rawley

The United States Champion found himself in a confrontation with The Modern Day Maharajah last week, and he made it clear that he would be ready for the challenge whenever Jinder Mahal saw fit. But tonight, Mojo Rawley stepped up to the plate to take on The Glorious One, only to fall at his feet after a Glorious DDT drove him into the canvas and gave the United States Champion the victory.

After his win over the aggressive Mojo Rawley, Bobby Roode turned to see Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh on the stage. The former WWE Champion informed Bobby Roode that his days as United States Champion were numbered from the very day he stole that title from him in the finals of the tournament. With a sinister grin, Jinder Mahal promised that the time would come for The Modern Day Maharajah to hold the United States Championship and give America a Champion that they can respect and worship. Of course, the WWE Universe couldn't disagree more and chanted for Bobby Roode as he raised the United States Championship much like last week, making this clash even more anticipated than before.

Chris Jericho def. Randy Orton

The WWE Universe were still recovering from the shock of Chris Jericho's unpredictable return last week on SmackDown LIVE. Nobody expected the former World Champion to resurface this close to WrestleMania, let alone target the WWE Champion, AJ Styles. Tonight, Chris Jericho had to prove that his absence hadn't left him out of touch with the WWE after his stint in Japan. But Y2J looked better than ever, even against The Viper who was just as calm and calculated as ever. Randy Orton looked to put a stop to Jericho's return before it even got off the ground and even countered a Codebreaker attempt into an RKO attempt, but both men avoided the signature of the other and met a stalemate. However, when Randy Orton went for a second RKO, he was rammed chest-first into the top turnbuckle and rolled up, but as soon as The Viper escaped from the pinfall, Jericho sprung into action and dropped him with a Codebreaker, claiming the victory in a hard-fought bout with his old rival.

The self-proclaimed Best in the World had his hand raised by the referee, and despite his devious actions, the WWE Universe couldn't help by give a nostalgic "Y2J" chant. However, his moment was crashed when the theme of AJ Styles hit and The Phenomenal One stormed to ringside, clearly looking for some measure of revenge, but Jericho quickly rolled out of the ring and backed up the ramp, pointing to his head with a sinister smirk. "On my terms, junior, on my terms" he shouted as the WWE Champion looked on from the ring with a scowl on his face. Chris Jericho is well and truly back, and he's better than ever, baby!

Hollywood · February 23, 2018

WWE: 205 Live (February 6, 2018)

WWE 205 Live: February 6, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri

Last week, the future of the Cruiserweight division was turned on its head with the reveal of Drake Maverick as the first-ever 205 Live General Manager! Maverick promised a new era for the brand and demanded that we find the best champion to represent the brand going forward. A 16-man single-elimination tournament was created and both Cedric Alexander and Mustafa Ali advanced to the next round. Tonight, four more competitors will duke it out in their bid to advance to a potential WrestleMania coronation.

Mark Andrews def. Lince Dorado

The tournament action kicked off right away with a duel between the masked Lince Dorado and WWE U.K. competitor Mark Andrews. Dorado and Andrews flew around the ring in a struggle to capture the momentum, eventually leading to Dorado chopping Andrews’ down at the knees. White Lightning wasn’t going to let The Golden Lynx keep him down, however. Andrews fought back and showed the world his high-flying abilities by connecting with a beautiful Shooting Star Press to put down the Lynx.

Mark Andrews had officially punched his ticket to the second round of the all-star WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament. Dasha Fuentes entered the ring and asked Andrews’ for his thoughts on the win - which prompted the youngster to note that he had previously come up short in the WWE U.K. Championship Tournament, but he will not squander this opportunity. White Lightning will not stay down.

Last week, new 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick was gifted a bouquet of flowers by The Master of the PowerPoint Presentation Drew Gulak. This week, Gulak decided to gift the new General Manager with a box of chocolates and a No Fly Zone pin alongside Tony Nese. Maverick was not too impressed with the gift, but he had a gift of his own for Gulak and Nese: a PowerPoint Presentation! The Presentation had only five slides: Drew Gulak. VS. Tony Nese. Cruiserweight Championship Tournament. Next week!

Gentleman Jack Gallagher def. Akira Tozawa

A rematch from the second round of the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Classic in 2016, Gentleman Jack Gallagher and Akira Tozawa battled in a culture clash. Tozawa tried to keep the bout at his breakneck pace after the opening bell, but the wily Gallagher used his uncanny grappling ability to wriggle out of the Japanese competitor’s clutches with ease and slow the match down a little bit. Gallagher continued toying with his opponent, tying Tozawa up in a ball and leaving him in the centre of the ring.

After Gallagher released Tozawa from the unusual hold, the Japanese competitor was embarrassed. The furious competitor charged right at the Brit and pummeled him to the canvas with a vicious elbow and knee strikes, his primal war cry echoing through Kansas City. Following a hard right hand to the jaw, Gallagher showed showing off the torturous submission skills he learned at the infamous Snake Pit in his home country. After one final push from Tozawa, Gallagher finished things his way with a devastating Crossface Chickenwing for the submission victory.

Having advanced to the second round of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Gentleman Jack Gallagher didn’t have much to say when approached for comment by Dasha Fuentes. Gallagher simply stated that he will break the spirits of all who find themselves in his way in the tournament.

DREAM · February 23, 2018

Love it! These graphics are insane, mate. And i'm looking forward to "M", but i will keep quiet. It can be only one man;)

Hollywood · February 23, 2018

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="DREAM~!" data-cite="DREAM~!" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="44823" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Love it! These graphics are insane, mate. And i'm looking forward to "M", but i will keep quiet. It can be only one man;)</div></blockquote> <img alt=";)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/wink.png.686f06e511ee1fbf6bdc7d82f6831e53.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"> *plays Symphony No. 9 quietly in the background*

Hollywood · February 23, 2018

WWE: NXT (February 7, 2018)

WWE NXT: February 7, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia

While he wasn’t successful in his attempt at winning the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia, Johnny Gargano won everybody’s respect. And for the first time since that fateful night in Philly where his former best friend Tommaso Ciampa attacked him with a crutch, Johnny Gargano entered the NXT ring to address what transpired at the Wells Fargo Center.

With his wife Candice LeRae by his side, Gargano thanked everybody for believing in him in Philadelphia and that he is disappointed for not getting the job done to become NXT Champion. While he is putting the Philadelphia match behind him, he still wants to be the one to dethrone Andrade Cien Almas for the NXT Championship. Which, as you can guess, led to the arrival of the NXT Champion and his business manager Zelina Vega.

Vega dug into Gargano, calling him a loser and adding that Johnny Wrestler will never be on the same level as a somebody like Andrade Cien Almas. The historic Center Stage in Atlanta went to a hush with the arrival of the NXT General Manager William Regal who was not impressed by the verbal barbs sent Gargano’s way courtesy of Zelina Vega. Regal, ever the wrestling historian, praised both men for the absolute classic they put on in Philadelphia, but Regal wants to see more of the action.

And in one quick moment, William Regal announced what the world had been waiting for. In two weeks, Andrade Cien Almas will defend the NXT Championship against Johnny Gargano in a much-anticipated NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia rematch! Vega and Almas were not impressed, Gargano and LeRae were ecstatic, and the NXT Universe in Center Stage went absolutely nuts.

The Street Profits def. Local Competitors

It’s a red cup party in Atlanta! The high-energy duo of Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford were ready for a fight against two local competitors from Atlanta. The two competitors tried their hardest to compete against the charismatic Ford and the athletic Dawkins to no avail as Ford put things to rest with a huge six-star Frog Splash.

Backstage in their locker room, NXT Tag Team Champions Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly were prepping for their big NXT Tag Team Championship match against SAnitY’s Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe later tonight. As Fish and O’Reilly discussed strategy, they were joined by their Undisputed ERA cohort Adam Cole - who was still showing visible signs of agony after his huge Extreme Rules Match against Aleister Black at TakeOver: Philadelphia. Cole promised his friends that they would walk out of Center Stage tonight the NXT Tag Team Champions - no matter what.

Bianca Belair def. Taynara Conti

After Ember Moon dispatched another challenger in Shayna Baszler at TakeOver: Philadelphia, the NXT Women’s Champion is looking for a new number one contender. Both Bianca Belair and Taynara Conti looked to put their name in the forefront of contendership here in Center Stage. The EST of NXT took the W tonight with a big Kiss of Death to put Conti away for the three count.

Shayna Baszler hasn’t been in the best of moods since being unable to claim the NXT Women’s Championship from Ember Moon at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia. Her mood didn’t change when she was approached by NXT General Manager William Regal who was not a fan of the former MMA fighter’s actions after the match in Philadelphia. But before Regal could announce any form of punishment to Baszler, Dakota Kai entered the office and demanded a chance at revenge against Shayna for nearly breaking her arm. Regal decided against any punishment and made the match official for next week. Will a motivated Dakota Kai be the ultimate form of punishment for Shayna Baszler? Or will Dakota Kai feels the effects once again of The Queen of Spades?

Lars Sullivan def. Danny Burch

Danny Burch and Lars Sullivan are no strangers to one another. In fact, it was the behemoth known as Lars that drove Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan to team up as one of NXT’s newest tag teams. Burch looked to use that momentum from his team to takedown the Freak, but Lars was just too much for the Brit and finished things rather quickly with the Freak Accident to claim another victim in NXT.

NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed ERA def. SAnitY

Since joining NXT alongside their Undisputed ERA teammate Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly have been en fuego en route to the top of the tag team division. Back in December, Fish and O’Reilly dismantled the team of Eric Young and Killian Dain to claim the NXT Tag Team Championships. Since then, the ERA dispatched the challenge of The Authors of Pain all while SAnitY planned out their path to regain the championships.

It turned out that SAnitY’s best strategy is to have no strategy at all — what else are you to expect from such a group with uncontrolled chaos? Regardless, the strategy worked for Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe, with the menacing Killian Dain at ringside, as they nearly regained the titles from Fish and O’Reilly. The Undisputed ERA, however, had a backup strategy if times of trouble were presented in the ring… Adam Cole with a steel chair! Cole snuck up behind Dain and swung for the fences to cause the distraction for the other two SAnitY members. With Eric Young’s back to the champions, Fish and O’Reilly turned him around and planted him with Chasing The Dragon to retain their championships!

The dust settled with all three members of The Undisputed ERA retreated up the entrance stairs away from an incensed SAnitY. Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly successfully defended their NXT Tag Team Championship tonight in Atlanta, but we all know that this feud between the ERA and SAnitY is far from over.

mattu29 · February 23, 2018

Love the visuals and love the read, you sir have a talent for this lol

Hollywood · February 23, 2018

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="mattu29" data-cite="mattu29" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="44823" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Love the visuals and love the read, you sir have a talent for this lol</div></blockquote> It's not just me, man! Lots of credit has to go to <a href="http://greydogsoftware.com/forum/member.php?u=884123" rel="external nofollow">ElliotM</a>. This is a project done by both of us and we are happy you guys are enjoying it!

Hollywood · February 24, 2018

WWE: Raw (February 12, 2018)

WWE Raw: February 12, 2018 in San Jose, California

With less than two weeks to go until WWE Elimination Chamber, the tension was certainly rising. On a night that will not only host two Elimination Chamber Matches, but also the first-ever Women's Elimination Chamber Match, history will indeed be made. And kicking things off on Raw, the team of Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Jonathan Coachman welcomed us to the show, sending us right into a match between two of the Men's Elimination Chamber participants in the first of three bouts tonight. Finn Bálor took on old rival, Samoa Joe to kick off Monday Night Raw!

Finn Bálor def. Samoa Joe

Reigniting an old rivalry, these two former NXT Champions clashed ahead of their participation inside the hellish structure in two weeks. Hoping to be the one to gain the upper hand in the Intercontinental Championship contest, they went back-and-forth in a hard-hitting match that had all the makings of a classic. Joe looked to close in on a victory when he tried to lock in the Coquina Clutch, but Bálor managed to avoid suffering the same fate of those before him and slid beneath Joe's legs, dropkicking him into the corner. The first-ever WWE Universal Champion delivered a second dropkick to The Destroyer, sending him into the corner and went to the top rope for his patented Coupe de Grace, but Samoa Joe was able to evade the stomp. When the big man got back to his feet to take advantage, he grabbed Bálor for a second attempt at the Coquina Clutch, but Bálor jumped up into the turnbuckle and pushed himself back, rolling backwards and pinning Joe's shoulders to the mat - shades of Bret "Hitman" Hart - scoring a surprise victory over The Destroyer!

Samoa Joe was furious, and rightly so, as Bálor quickly rolled under the ropes and left ringside with a big smile on his face and his hand raised in victory. The referee took the brunt of Joe's rage, receiving an earful from the former NXT Champion, but the bell had rung and Finn Bálor held a victory over his old nemesis, seeing him well heading into the Men's Elimination Chamber Match.

Kassius Ohno def. Curt Hawkins

Last week saw a confrontation between Raw's newest superstar, Kassius Ohno and the self-proclaimed Prince of Queens, Curt Hawkins. The man with the legendary losing-streak had the nerve to call The Knockout Artist a "loser", but of course, Ohno responded with a challenge and told Hawkins to put his money where his mouth is. It didn't exactly work out well for the former Tag Team Champion who fell victim to a devastating Knockout Elbow, and it was lights out for Mr. Hawkins, leading to a win for Kassius Ohno.

The former NXT superstar stood over his opponent shaking his head as the WWE Universe chanted his name. Kassius Ohno was surely destined to be a star on Raw, and he's out looking for his opportunity to break through. Who will be the next victim of a Knockout Elbow at the hands of The Knockout Artist?!

Titus Worldwide def. The Bar via disqualification

It was clear that last week, The Bar saw Titus Worldwide as nothing more than a joke. But they should have kept their words soft and sweet as Kurt Angle saw no reason to deny Titus Worldwide a chance to prove themselves and gave them a rematch with the Raw Tag Team Champions. And surprisingly to Sheamus and Cesaro, the duo of Titus O'Neil and Apollo Crews took them to the limit once more, and looked to be closing in on a victory. Titus drove Cesaro into the canvas with a huge Clash of the Titus and hooked the leg, only to be clubbed from behind by The Celtic Warrior with one of the Raw Tag Team Championship titles, forcing the referee to call for the bell and rule this bout over via disqualification.

The Bar grabbed their gold and left up the aisle, leaving Apollo Crews and Dana Brooke to tend to their fallen ally, having been robbed of a victory by their rivals. But as the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures, and Sheamus clearly felt they were in desperate need of avoiding another loss to Titus Worldwide. But how long can they avoid giving them a fair fight?

Asuka def. Alicia Fox

The winner of the 2018 Women's Royal Rumble Match has been nothing short of dominant since emerging on the scene in NXT in 2015, and her takeover of the women's division continues as she heads into WrestleMania for a Women's Championship opportunity of her choice. Tonight, The Empress of Tomorrow defeated Foxy with relative ease, delivering her patented hard-hitting offence before eventually applying the Asuka Lock for the victory.

Asuka had the WWE Universe behind her, and her career could not be going any better at the minute. But the question still remains as to which Women's Championship she will challenge for. The entire female locker room are sure to be on notice, awaiting Asuka's blockbuster decision.

Contrary to his own belief, the WWE Universe did not buy their tickets to witness a concert with Elias, but he is still adamant that this is the case. The Drifter came to ringside to perform one of his controversial ballads, addressing his loss to John Cena last week as a "fluke", claiming that the former 16-time World Champion is nothing more than a fraud. As he declares that WWE truly stands for "Walk With Elias", he makes a bold statement and claims that he is the future of the WWE, and is destined to be the biggest star that the world has ever seen, and soon everyone will be walking with Elias to the promise land, and a land where everyone dances to his tune.

Intercontinental Champion The Miz def. Seth Rollins

The second of three Elimination Chamber preview matches took place as the Intercontinental Champion clashed with The Kingslayer one-on-one. Well, as close to one-on-one as a match with The Miz probably gets, The Miztourage close at hand by ringside. But as the two former World Champions collided, it wasn't The Miztourage that influenced the outcome of this bout, instead coming at the arrival of one Jason Jordan. The Architect was momentarily distracted by his former partner emerging at ringside, apparently to bury the hatchet and redeem his recent mishaps, but instead, he caused even more grief for Seth Rollins and allowed The Miz to capitalise with a Skull-Crushing Finale, scoring a victory heading into his big title defence in two weeks time.

The look on Jason Jordan's face told the story as he held his head in his hands, realising he had once again made a fatal error on behalf of his former ally. The Miz left ringside along with Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas, leaving Jordan to attempt to help Rollins back to his feet. But The Kingslayer was having none of it, and kicked Jordan in the gut before delivering a Blackout to the delight of the WWE Universe! For the second week in a row, Jordan ate the boot of Rollins, and he was far from happy. Maybe Jason Jordan should call it a day on his alliance with Seth Rollins, because it seems as though it is certainly over.

Mickie James def. Kairi Sane to qualify for the Women's Elimination Chamber Match

With one final spot left in the first-ever Women's Elimination Chamber Match, it was always going to be a sought for opportunity, and it brought out a surprising participant from NXT as Kairi Sane emerged as Mickie James' opponent on Raw! The Mae Young Classic winner made her Raw debut, taking on the former Women's Champion for the final spot in the first-ever bout, and what a fight she gave. Sane came so close to grasping that final spot, but when Mickie James avoided the unbelievable diving elbow drop, she followed it up with a devastating Mick Kick, knocking Sane out and scoring the victory to claim the final place in two weeks.

Mickie Jame secured her chance to claim yet another Women's Championship at Elimination Chamber, but unfortunately at the expense of Kairi Sane. However, the iconic superstar helped Sane to her feet and the two shook hands, James raising the NXT superstar's hand in a show of respect. Kairi Sane is sure to be a valid contender in the near future, but it wasn't her time just yet.

Raw has never been without its oddities, and it was about to get a whole lot more surreal as "Woken" Matt Hardy addressed the WWE Universe from the ring. The subject of his address? The Great War. The impending clash between him and Bray Wyatt had the WWE Universe on the edge of their seats, and Matt Hardy claimed that soon their essences would collide and The Great War would be forced to conclude. "Bray Wyatt's soul shall be freed from the clutches of Sister Abigail, and The Great War will come to an end" claimed Hardy, declaring that he would "delete" Bray Wyatt from this world. However, his address was rudely interrupted by The Eater of Worlds himself who appeared on the titantron to deliver his own message to his Woken rival.

"You do not understand the elements which you are dealing with, Matt Hardy" claimed Wyatt, "this will be your undoing, and your woken state will be returned to its slumber when Sister Abigail rains down on your like a hellfire at the Elimination Chamber". Seemingly issuing the challenge to Matt Hardy, The Woken One accepted, claiming that he would cleanse Bray Wyatt in two weeks and finally save the WWE Universe from his corruption. The Face of Fear laughed maniacally before declaring that his advice to Matt Hardy is simple - run!

The Raw General Manager, Kurt Angle clearly had a bee in his bonnet and the targets of his anger were the Raw Tag Team Champions, The Bar. Sheamus and Cesaro arrived into the office of the Olympic Gold Medalist and immediately felt his wrath, informing them that their actions in their match with Titus Worldwide were unacceptable, getting themselves intentionally disqualified. The Swiss Superman informed Kurt Angle that he should know better than anyone that you do whatever it takes to walk out as the Champion, but Angle declared that he would always do whatever it took, but he did it with intensity, integrity and intelligence, not taking the cheap way out. As a result of their actions, Kurt Angle informed the Raw Tag Team Champions that their run-ins with Titus Worldwide are not over, as they have landed themselves in a rematch with the duo of Apollo Crews and Titus O'Neil at Elimination Chamber - for the Raw Tag Team Championships! The Bar were less than pleased and questioned Angle's sanity, but he simply responded with the phrase "Oh it's true, it's damn true!".

Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss & Nia Jax def. Sasha Banks & Bayley

Moments after the announcement that Ronda Rousey would be returning at WWE Elimination Chamber, four of the six superstars in the first-ever Women's Elimination Chamber Match competed in tag team action. The "best friends", Bliss and Jax combined forces to take on Sasha and Bayley just two weeks before their Chamber clash, and it showed the determination of all four superstars to walk out as the victor. However, the presence of Paige and Absolution was felt as they approached ringside during the match to scout out Paige's competition inside the structure on February 25. When Bayley's attention was diverted to Absolution on the outside, Nia Jax was able to crush Sasha Banks with a devastating Samoan Drop, but it was Alexa Bliss who made the blind tag and slithered into the ring for the cover and the victory, stealing it from her supposed friend, Nia Jax.

The Raw Women's Champion celebrated the win with Nia Jax looking on rather displeased, but she celebrated nonetheless. But as she retreated up the ramp with her title over her shoulder and a grin on her face, the sound of Asuka's entrance music blasted through the arena and the WWE Universe erupted. The Empress of Tomorrow made her way to ringside, crossing paths with the Raw Women's Champion and giving her a smug grin and a nod of acknowledgement, Bliss clutching her gold even closer to her chest as Asuka continued to make her way down to the ring.

She stepped through the ropes and the rest of the superstars stood and watched her, Asuka's face beaming with a grin from ear-to-ear. Paige began directing traffic and sent in Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville to take down The Empress of Tomorrow, but as they rushed her down, Asuka battled back, dropping them both with roundhouse kicks and clotheslining them both over the top rope! Asuka danced around the ring with the Elimination Chamber participants looking on at her dominance. She pointed up to the WrestleMania sign above with a smile, sending a clear warning to whoever will leave the Elimination Chamber as the Raw Women's Champion.

Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns went to a no contest

It was time for the final of the three preview matches for the Men's Elimination Chamber Match, and it was always destined to be a huge clash between these two former bitter rivals. The Big Dog was looking to make a statement by knocking off the seemingly unstoppable force that annihilated The Big Red Machine, Kane just two weeks ago on Raw. Roman Reigns delivered a series of superman punches to The Monster Among Men in hopes of cutting him down to size, but even that didn't take down the destructive Strowman, and the big man battled back with some hard shots of his own. However, The Big Dog shocked the WWE Universe when he dropped Strowman with a thunderous Spear and looked to be closing in on victory, only for him to kick out at two. Wondering what he had to do to defeat this monster, Reigns measured him for a second Spear, but was taken down with a big boot. Strowman stood over his fallen opponent with a primal scream, but his moment of dominance was about to be halted by his soon-to-be opponents. From nowhere, Finn Bálor emerged atop the turnbuckle and launched himself into The Monster Among Men with a shotgun dropkick, sending him stumbling across into the opposite corner.

Moments later, Samoa Joe appeared at ringside and crushed Strowman with an avalanche splash, pulling him out of the corner and taking him down with an STO! Finn Bálor once again ascended the ropes and delivered a Coupe de Grace to The Monster Among Men! Samoa Joe followed it up with a crippling senton across the sternum of Strowman, and they were then joined by Seth Rollins who slid into the ring and caught Strowman as he was getting to his feet with a Blackout... but Strowman was still stirring! As he slowly got to his feet, The Big Dog had returned to a corner and measured him, delivering a Spear to take down the big man once and for all. Reigns, Rollins, Joe and Bálor stood tall over the fallen giant, giving each other a glare ahead of their Elimination Chamber clash.

It was then that the Intercontinental Champion, The Miz emerged on the stage, flanked by Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas of The Miztourage, looking down at the chaos that had just taken place. The A-Lister sarcastically applauded his challenger with a smirk and raised his Intercontinental Championship above his head as four of his opponents stood at the bottom of the ramp looking up. Inside the ring, Braun Strowman astonishingly got to his feet even after all the damage he had received and had a look of pure rage on his face. They may have wanted to take the giant down a peg, but they may have only made him even more dangerous.

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