Jan. 31 (UPI) — WWE hosted the 39th annual Royal Rumble Saturday from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to determine who is going to main event WrestleMania 42.
The show featured the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches where 30 superstars from Raw, SmackDown and NXT competed against each other. A competitor is eliminated if they are thrown over the top rope and both feet touch the floor. The last one remaining earns a world championship, main event match at WrestleMania 42.
Charlotte Flair kicked off the women’s Royal Rumble match at No. 1 followed by her friend and tag team partner Alexa Bliss at No. 2. The pair teased attacking each other before deciding to team up as new wrestlers entered the match every 90 seconds.
Fair and Bliss worked together to throw out the powerful Nia Jax, but Flair also accidentally eliminated Bliss.
Later, WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Bella were reunited for the first time in years after Brie Bella returned at No. 29. Tiffany Stratton then came out at No. 30. The Bella Twins worked together to eliminate fellow tag team Bayley and Lyra Valkyrie before they were both thrown out of the ring by the towering Lash Legend.
Legend went on to eliminate a number of women including Flair who lasted nearly 60 minutes. Raquel Rodriguez finally took out Legend before she was betrayed by her best friend, Liv Morgan.
Morgan was amongst the final three competitors along with Stratton and newcomer Sol Ruca, who looked impressive by unleashing a number of acrobatic and high-flying moves.
Morgan, Stratton and Ruca battled on the ring apron in the closing moments. Ruca attempted a risky move using the turnbuckle and was pushed out by Stratton. Morgan then immediately nailed Stratton with an Oblivion to win the match and earn her spot at WrestleMania 42.
The powerful Oba Femi kicked off the men’s Royal Rumble match at No. 1 followed by Bron Breakker at No. 2. As Breakker made his way to the ring with his manager Paul Heyman, a masked man suddenly arrived and attacked him. The masked man performed The Stomp, a move used by the injured Seth Rollins, before he tossed Breakker into the ring. Femi then quickly eliminated Breakker in shocking fashion.
Femi, a former NXT Champion, dominated the match and had multiple eliminations as Cody Rhodes entered at No. 11. The No. 14 spot went to Royce Keys, a wrestler from AEW who was formerly known as Powerhouse Hobbs. Keys eliminated Damian Priest and battled with The Vision, which includes members Austin Theory, Bronson Reed and Logan Paul.
The Beast Brock Lesnar entered at No. 22 with Heyman by his side. Lesnar was able to eliminate Femi, who lasted 39 minutes in the match. Rhodes later teamed up with LA Knight to send Lesnar over the top rope and back to the locker room.
Roman Reigns arrived at No. 26 with Randy Orton at No. 29 and Gunther at the coveted No. 30 spot. Gunther, who last month retired John Cena, had earlier in the night retired AJ Styles in a highly-competitive match. Gunther had choked out Styles like he did Cena, putting an end to yet another Hall of Fame career.
Rhodes was eliminated after Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre arrived at the ringside area and struck his rival with a vicious Claymore.
The final three competitors were Reigns, Orton and Gunther. Orton was able to land the RKO on Reigns, but Gunther threw Orton out of the ring while he was distracted.
Reigns survived Gunther’s signature sleeper hold and landed a Spear before winning the match. WrestleMania 42 takes place April 18 and April 19 in Las Vega.