Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of WWE's 2020 Royal Rumble from Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas!
Before we begin, my deepest condolences to Kobe Bryant's family, friends and fans. What a horrible, horrible situation.
KICKOFF SHOW
The Panel is Jonathan Coachman, Charly Caruso, Christian and David Otunga.
The United States Championship match and Sheamus vs. Shorty G have been moved to the Kickoff Show.
Renee Young, Booker T and Sam Roberts were at the entrance aisle and talked about what it takes to win a Rumble. Young noted that sometimes, it just comes down to the numbers, which led to the annual "By the Numbers" video.
Natalya joined the panel. She said to win the Rumble would make her career even greater. She's already prepared for her victory. If you aren't planning to win, what are you even doing in the ring. Christian joked that he believed in her because they were both Canadians. She said believing in herself is key and if she wins, she would want to face Bayley at Wrestlemania and would guarantee herself a victory. The biggest threats would be Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross as they are sneaky. She said you don't know who is going to show up from the past, present or future of the company. She's the Iron Woman and she's going to win.
They aired a video feature on Becky Lynch vs. Asuka and discussed the Raw Women's title bout.
They showed footage of Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy winning the Raw Tag Team titles on Raw this past week.
They then played a video feature on Bryan Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Bayley backstage. She said she traveled the world trying to inspire people and being a role model better than Lacey Evans could ever be, been there, done that. She said Evans' dream isn't coming true tonight and she hopes Evans' brat daughter is sitting in the front row to watch her mother fail.
Sheamus vs. Shorty G
G tried to take Sheamus down several times but he was too strong. G grabbed an armbar but was smashed with a right hand. Sheamus controlled him until G sent him over the top to the floor. Sheamus cut him off with a knee to the mid-section and then beat him over the back. Back in the ring, G took him down and went for an anklelock but was overpowered. G was sent into the ring post shoulder-first and then nailed with a shoulderbreaker.
Sheamus stomped on G’s hand and arm over and over. Sheamus worked over his arm and wrist. G was bleeding from behind the ear. Sheamus clubbed him down. G fired back with a series of stomps to his feet but was tossed to the outside. G jumped right back on the apron but was caught with a series of shots across the chest.
Sheamus began verbally berating G, telling him he doesn’t belong in the ring. He slapped G, who slapped him back. G drilled him with several forearms and a kick. He nailed a low dropkick to the knee. He worked over Sheamus, focusing on the knee and ankle. He nailed a running kick in the corner and went for a moonsault. Sheamus caught him and went to hit a powerslam but it was turned into a DDT and G nailed a second moonsault for a two count.
Sheamus blocked a German suplex and nailed a knee to the face, but was caught with another German suplex for a two count. Sheamus went to the top for a move but G caught him and locked in an anklelock. Sheamus escaped and went for a Brogue Kick but G caught him in another anklelock. Sheamus made it to the bottom rope to break the submission.
G took Sheamus down with a crucifix for a two but Sheamus kicked out and nailed the Brogue Kick for the pin.
The story was that G was a game competitor and took the fight to Sheamus but in the end, the Brogue Kick was too much for him.
The panel ran down the lineup for the PPV.
WWE United States Champion Andrade (with Zelina Vega) vs. Humberto Carilllo
They show each other before locking up and going back and forth. Carrillo went for a kick outside but had his leg swept on the apron. Humberto went up for a move but was shoved off into the barricade on the floor.
Andrade worked over Humberto for some time, including using a hanging armbar. He maintained control on the mat as the audience rallied Carrillo. Carrillo fought to his feet but was taken back down to the mat. Carrillo finally escaped but was wiped out with a running elbow.
The story of the bout thus far was that Andrade kept cutting off the momentum of Carrillo every time he hit a big move. Carrillo surprised him with a sunset flip. Carrillo hit a nice springboard cross body. He went for a rollup moonsault but Andrade pulled his knees up. Andrade worked him over in the corner with several knees.
Andrade missed a charge and landed on the floor. Carrillo hit a moonsault to the floor. Carillo was cut off when they returned to the ring and nailed the Three Amigos but Carrillo countered on the third one and nailed a suplex of his own. He went for a moonsault but realized Andrade was going to block it and landed on his feet. He was still sent into the buckles. Andrade nailed the double knee strike in the corner.
They fired back and forth with forearms and chops. Carrillo cut Andrade off with a superkick for a two count. The battle went on with each going for big moves and missing. Carrillo went to the top but was kicked in the side of the head. Andrade went to the ropes. Carrillo met him there and nailed a rana off the top into the ring. He covered the Champion, who kicked out at the last second.
They went back and forth until Andrade rolled through a sunset flip attempt and countered, scoring Carrillo for the pin.
Your winner and still WWE United States Champion, Andrade!
A good back and forth bout.
Renee and company were talking about the show when R-Truth attempted to make his way to the ring. He asked them if they were in the Rumble. He said Lesnar took him to Sioux Falls City and Paul Heyman talked the entire time. It was the usual silly Truth stuff. Young sent it back to the panel, asking them to "save us." That was funny.
They aired the By the Numbers video again.
Charlotte Flair was interviewed backstage. She doesn't see 29 competitors, just numbers and when they look at her, they will see the Queen.
They recapped Worlds Collide.
Backstage, Kofi Kingston was interviewed by Kayla Braxton. He said a win is a one way ticket to Wrestlemania. He said everything before tonight doesn't matter. He doesn't know what number he is entering at and he doesn't know. That's part of the unpredictability of the Rumble match. He said you are trying to get to the main event of Wrestlemania and as hard as this is, its the easiest way to make it happen. He and Big E are going to work as a team. If they are the last two men, ring the bell. They would have already been the winners. There's a lot of excitement.
WWE ROYAL RUMBLE 2020
They opened with a great video featuring and narrated by Steve Austin about the Rumble match.
Baron Corbin vs. Roman Reigns - Falls Count Anywhere
Reigns didn’t want to wait and attacked the guys carrying Corbin’s throne to the ring as they were setting it down. He tossed Corbin into the ring steps and then brought Corbin into the ring. Reigns rained down punches in the corner. He went for a Samoan Drop but Corbin slipped out and went to the floor. He nailed a right as Roman attempted to follow him to the floor.
Corbin tried to leave the ringside area but Roman caught him and worked him over on the floor. Corbin made a comeback and drilled Reigns with the steps. Corbin cleared the Spanish announcing table and tried to slam Reigns into the table. Reigns fired back with rights. Corbin went into the crowd but Reigns followed, drilling him with right hands. They went through the crowd and back into the ringside area.
Corbin cut off Reigns and nailed a chokeslam on the German announcing table, scoring him for a two count on the floor. Reigns fired back but was grabbing at his arm, having hurt it. Corbin snatched him and nailed a chokeslam through the Spanish table. Corbin dragged Reigns through the fans, beating him with right hands, ending up near the production area.
Roman nailed a Samoan Drop through one of the other announcing tables. He grabbed Corbin and put him through the table again for a two count. They battled up to a production area, where Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler attacked Roman. The Usos made the save and everyone brawled. Jimmy Uso hit a flying bodypress off the production area onto everyone.
Roman regained control and sent Corbin into PortaPotties they were set up towards the back of the stadium. Roman opened one and tossed Corbin into it. Roman tipped it over. Corbin rolled out and staggered away with Roman catching up to him and nailing right hand after right hand. They battled to one o the dugouts, where Corbin drilled him in the mid-section with a chair. Roman was tossed on top of the dugout. Corbin drilled him with a chair. Corbin went for End of Days but Reigns nailed him with a Superman punch and a spear on the dugout for the pin.
Your winner, Roman Reigns!
Coverage continues on Page 2!
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
