WWE Royal Rumble is a time-honored tradition where 30 men and women compete for the chance at immortality in the main event of WrestleMania. This weekend, the annual event returns to the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, with more storytelling possibilities than we've seen in recent memory.
The Showcase of the Immortals is undoubtedly the biggest spectacle in pro wrestling, but Royal Rumble has always been a favorite for many fans, including myself. It's a perfect blend of the competition of live sports and the accessibility and crowd participation of a game show.
It has been a tumultuous few days of news for WWE. The announcement that the company's flagship series is heading to Netflix in 2025 in a massive $5 billion TV rights deal is game-changing. Meanwhile, more allegations about Vince McMahon have surfaced, casting a dark cloud over the festivities.
Still, the company's first premium live event of the year is a comfort watch for many longtime viewers. It's a gateway back into the genre for lapsed fans and a reliable viewing experience for casual watchers.
This year's men's Royal Rumble match has something for everyone. It's a snapshot of the top star brimming with engaging storylines that make the iconic stipulation match feel more monumental than it has in recent memory.
Cody Rhodes' Hard-Fought Journey Back to the Top
Cody Rhodes has been one of the most popular wrestlers in the industry for the past year and the uncrowned face of the WWE. So much so that he seemed destined to defeat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39 and claim his spot at the top of the company.
Instead, The Tribal Chief won via interference again and ended his Cinderella story at Sofi Stadium, leaving him determined to earn a rematch. To do so, The American Nightmare had to survive a trilogy of matches with Brock Lesnar.
After he earned The Beast Incarnate's respect, Rhodes had to contend with The Judgement Day and call on his mentor-turned-rival, Randy Orton, to vanquish them at Survivor Series. Then, he had to take on another former Royal Rumble winner, Shinsuke Nakamura, to start 2024.
All this time, the second-generation star has been steadfast in his quest to "finish the story" and win the WWE Championship. That goal puts him back in familiar territory as he hopes to become the first man since Stone Cold Steve Austin to win two consecutive Royal Rumble matches.
Like last year, his drive to do what his father never could makes the 38-year-old the most compelling character in the match. It felt like a foregone conclusion that he would win though as he returned from injury as entrant no. 30.
This time around, the odds are stacked against him with speculation that this could be the year that The Rock finally challenges Reigns. Conversely, Drew McIntyre has his heart set on revenge against The Bloodline and a WrestleMania moment in front of live fans.
Gunther also hopes to avenge his loss last year as he was one of the final two participants and the Iron Man of the match, surviving 71 minutes and 40 seconds. This record-setting performance makes him one of the most legitimate threats to Rhodes' journey to win back-to-back.
Lastly, a controversial figure returned two months ago and shook up the entire field. CM Punk adds a wild card to the equation that no one expected, and it's hard not to consider him a favorite to win.
The Unexpected Return of CM Punk
In 2013, Punk famously dropped the WWE Championship to The Rock, setting up a second encounter with John Cena on The Grandest Stage of Them All. The rest is history.
WWE infamously fired The Straight Edge Superstar the following year, and he retired from pro wrestling after he scolded the company and some of its top decision-makers. Now, hell has truly frozen over as he is back following an entertaining but chaotic stint with AEW.
It's still hard to believe that the 45-year-old is about to compete in his first Royal Rumble match in 10 years. Considering how hot he was at his peak, it's also remarkable that he never won the event or headlined WrestleMania.
Those two accolades are the last bucket list items for a legendary wrestler with a storied career.
His exchange with Rhodes from this week's episode of Raw was so believable in part because they're both after the same thing. The segment effectively fleshed out their history together, but it also illustrated that all bets are off this weekend because they're both seeking the last top honor they never achieved.
The Rumble already has inherent stakes because it grants the winner a shot at the world title of their choice and a potential spot in the main event of The Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment. However, Punk and Rhodes' history with WWE and their respective journeys back add weight to their need to win. In turn, it makes the match as a whole feel like a bigger deal.
There Are Still So Many Questions
One of the many bright spots of WWE programming under Triple H is the return to more story-driven events. To that end, the head of creative made it a point to use this philosophy to reinvigorate Survivor Series.
The 2024 men's Royal Rumble match has also benefited because of the amount of intriguing subplots heading into this weekend's premium live event. Rhodes and Punk are obviously the most prominent talking points, but the field is actually wide open and loaded with potential character moments.
After The Ring General addressed Seth Rollins in the opening segment of the latest edition of Raw, it wouldn't be a stretch to say Gunther could win. Can anyone thwart the Austrian wrestler's attempt to gain a world title shot and earn an opportunity to end his dominant run as Intercontinental champion?
What if The Rock enters the fray as a surprise entrant? How will Jey Uso and McIntyre factor into the match? Speaking of The Usos, this could be the first time Jimmy and Jey come face to face in months because they've been on separate brands.
How will the crowd react to Sami Zayn this year after he betrayed The Bloodline in the main event last year? Will Andrade El Idolo return after he finished his contract with AEW at Worlds End?
With all of that in mind, there is plenty to be excited about heading into Royal Rumble. This could be one for the ages.
