The 34th edition of the WWE Royal Rumble was Sunday at the WWE Thunderdome, the souped up and tricked out Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, that has turned the home of the MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays into a high-tech, visually impressive broadcast playground, home to all of WWE’s tentpole events including RAW, Smackdown and recent pay-per-view events.
The Royal Rumble match is one of the most touted and creative matches among wrestling enthusiasts and lapsed fans alike. Though Wrestlemania will always be the “Super Bowl of sports entertainment,” if there is one match that is deemed appointment viewing on the yearly wrestling calendar, it’s the Royal Rumble.
This year’s event once again featured a women’s and men’s rumble match, as well as multiple WWE titles on the line.
Last year, the Royal Rumble was the final major WWE event with a live audience before the pandemic (over 42,000 in Houston at Minute Maid Park), and this year’s event will be the first Royal Rumble in history without a crowd, which will make social media even more fun to follow during the event.
Here are some of the best reactions from social media:
Pregame
“I got a lot of respect for you, Bugs Bunny. You and Michael Jordan saved the planet from the Monstars!” ?
R-Truth and his WWE 24/7 title better watch out for Bad Bunny ? #RoyalRumble
(via @WWE) pic.twitter.com/8MwYi81kGG
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) February 1, 2021
pizza rolls are in the oven let’s get this party started #RoyalRumble
— ?????? (@SimoneGJohnson) January 31, 2021
Did you know it’s actually pronounced “room-blay” #RoyalRumble
— Freddie Prinze Jr. (@RealFPJr) February 1, 2021
TONIGHT I HAVE THE COLD COLD BEER AND I WATCH THE #RoyalRumble
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) February 1, 2021
WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg
It was short and sweet, as Drew McIntyre survived Goldberg’s barrage and retained the WWE championship over the legendary Hall of Famer Goldberg. Following the match, the two embraced in mutual respect.
Why does Goldberg need security to walk him to the ring if there aren’t any fans? ? #RoyalRumble
— Chris Van Vliet (@ChrisVanVliet) February 1, 2021
Shorts – era Goldberg. #RoyalRumble
— Sam Roberts (@notsam) February 1, 2021
Drew McIntyre and Bill Goldberg is everything you want it to be. Physical and in your face. Nothing fancy. Don’t need to be. #RoyalRumble
— Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) February 1, 2021
LIVE | Respect. @DMcIntyreWWE @Goldberg #RoyalRumble #WWEAustralia pic.twitter.com/UJcIs0uQol
— WWE Australia (@WWEAustralia) February 1, 2021
Superstars who have 1-on-1 victories against BOTH @Goldberg and @BrockLesnar:
– @undertaker
– @DMcIntyreWWE #RoyalRumble— WWE Stats & Info (@WWEStats) February 1, 2021
The match hasn’t even started yet and @DMcIntyreWWE has been Speared THROUGH THE BARRICADE! ???#RoyalRumble #WWETitle @Goldberg pic.twitter.com/GTW9Xx8Vsx
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
NICE!@DMcIntyreWWE #RoyalRumble
Not sure why an old guy like me feels the need to defend the integrity of the modern era…but I do!
— Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) February 1, 2021
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks vs. Carmella
Sasha Banks retained the WWE SmackDown women’s championship over Carmella, who put in a valiant effort. Banks is coming up to 100 days as champion and recently revealed she will be getting a Star Wars action figure for her role as Koska Reeves in “The Mandalorian.”
“I’m better than you, @SashaBanksWWE! I’m hotter than you! I’m smarter than you!” – @CarmellaWWE #WomensTitle #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/5AuQz9x773
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 1, 2021
What the HOLY ? @Hasbro @starwars pic.twitter.com/ZBWa1lKsiX
— Mercedes Varnado (@SashaBanksWWE) January 30, 2021
She’s the BO$$, but y’all knew that. #AndStill #WomensTitle #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/0EIpGFLB83
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) February 1, 2021
Bad Bunny and Booker T
.@sanbenito performing with @BookerT5x at the #RoyalRumble. We can DIG IT!
…SUCKA! pic.twitter.com/ANErteXFDn
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
YOOOOO!!! Booker T brought back … GI Bro?!?!?! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/bKs0MSzKgH
— T̷R̷O̷Y̷ ̷H̷U̷G̷H̷E̷S̷ (@TommySledge) February 1, 2021
Never left! https://t.co/3HyGxE5jHV
— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) February 1, 2021
Women’s Royal Rumble
Bianca Belair, the favorite to win the Rumble going into the match, was the third to enter, and in a Ric Flair 1992 Rumble-esque performance, she outlasted everyone to win and earn a title match at Wrestlemania. The final four came down to Natalya (who was the 30th entrant), Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair and Belair. After Natalya was eliminated, Belair tossed Charlotte Flair off the apron to end her Rumble hopes, bringing it down to Belair and Ripley. After the two paused the hostilities against each other to safely get back into the ring, they went back and forth, until the pair ducked clotheslines at the ropes back-to-back. But Belair’s connected, sending Ripley over the ropes and making Belair the winner.
⬇️ ⬇️ #RoyalRumble MATCH ENTRANTS THREAD ⬇️ ⬇️
The first woman to enter this year’s #RoyalRumble Match is…
1️⃣ @itsBayleyWWE pic.twitter.com/6V0OQiclcu
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
2️⃣ @NaomiWWE!!! ?#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/iDy9ZIyKby
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
.@BiancaBelairWWE & @NaomiWWE about to show the @WWEUniverse nothing they’ve ever seen before! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/K7QDqjK5KG
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) February 1, 2021
Yeah…. @QoSBaszler already has a tag team partner.
Sorry, @BillieKayWWE. #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/qUv5QXkiyB
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 1, 2021
That @BillieKayWWE sure is entertaining!#RoyalRumble
— Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) February 1, 2021
LIVE | @Torrie11 has RETURNED! #RoyalRumble #WWEAustralia pic.twitter.com/YHYzUP6Tcc
— WWE Australia (@WWEAustralia) February 1, 2021
.@DanaBrookeWWE isn’t afraid to take risks tonight! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/ssbZv2nlD0
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 1, 2021
.@Torrie11 hasn’t missed a step, or a shimmy! #RoyalRumble @PeytonRoyceWWE pic.twitter.com/z0RdphIBg3
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) February 1, 2021
The NEW #247Champion is… @AliciaFoxy!!!! ?
We love to see it. #RoyalRumble #AndNew pic.twitter.com/eZKUOp3KTs
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
R Truth is a national Treasure #RoyalRumble
— GrandPooBear (@GrandPOOBear) February 1, 2021
One of the bEST #WrestleMania points by far. See you in April, @BiancaBelairWWE! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/jdV0utpD0q
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) February 1, 2021
Bianca Belair. That’s the tweet.
— Tim Fiorvanti (@tim00) February 1, 2021
Sasha Banks / Bianca Belair is what the culture needs.
— Kazeem Famuyide ? (@Kazeem) February 1, 2021
Listen…. I love both Belair and Ripley dearly.
But BIANCA!!
Well done ladies, I enjoyed that very much.
P.S. Billie Kay is amazing.
— Reckless Lee (@RealKeithLee) February 1, 2021
Proud … doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling I had watching @BiancaBelairWWE. From the day she walked into the #WWEPC, every #NXTTakeOver, the #RoyalRumble, and next #WrestleMania… there is no limit how bright her star can shine!!! @WWENXT pic.twitter.com/DWyxj4p1tC
— Triple H (@TripleH) February 1, 2021
Rosenberg wins 24/7 title
So, recent turn of events, @Rosenbergradio is the NEW #247Champion! Is this real life? #AndNew #RoyalRumble @RonKillings pic.twitter.com/AGJxZVc23K
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens
Roman Reigns defeated Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing Match to retain the WWE Universal Championship. The hard-hitting contest spilled outside of the ring and to multiple parts of the WWE Thunderdome, including Reigns hitting Owens with a golf cart backstage and Owens jumping off an elevated platform on the forks of a forklift onto Reigns. After being handcuffed by Owens, Reigns was set free by Paul Heyman and Reigns locked Owens in a guillotine choke, allowing the referee to administer a 10 count to end the match in favor of Reigns.
? ? ?#UniversalTitle #RoyalRumble @FightOwensFight @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/UaPhwoEy0i
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
WHAT IN THE WORLD!? ? ? ?#RoyalRumble #UniversalTitle @WWERomanReigns @FightOwensFight @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/JPB2iJ3z3T
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
KEVIN OWENS!!! That’s the tweet. #RoyalRumble
— Kel Dansby (@KelDansby) February 1, 2021
Men’s Royal Rumble
The Rated R Superstar Edge won the men’s Royal Rumble after entering first and lasting the entire match. After returning to WWE last year for the first time since retiring in 2011 due to injury, Edge was sidelined again in May and made his return to the ring on Sunday. The final four in the ring came down to Edge, Braun Strowman and surprise Rumble entrants Christian and Seth Rollins. After both Strowman and Christian were dumped to the outside by Rollins, Edge quickly eliminated Rollins. Randy Orton, who left the match with an injury, returned to the ring in an attempt to eliminate Edge, only for Edge to reverse the effort and eliminate Orton to win the match.
Surprises in the men’s edition included Carlito, who hadn’t been active in WWE since 2010, and Kane, who is currently Knox County, Tennessee, mayor Glenn Jacobs. Damian Priest from NXT entered at No. 14. Recording artist Bad Bunny, who had an awkward moment with The Miz backstage prior to the match, came to the ring after The Miz trashed his DJ setup, then distracted Miz and his tag-team partner, Morrison, long enough to get them eliminated from the Rumble match. Bad Bunny then put icing on the cake by climbing the top rope and leaping onto both men below in a pretty decent WWE celebrity stunt.
8️⃣CARLITOOOOO! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/cxzraemzv5
— WWE UK (@WWEUK) February 1, 2021
Bad Bunny takes flight!
Off the distraction by @sanbenito, @mikethemiz & @TheRealMorrison have been ELIMINATED! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/E75KqbNBK0
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
Flying bunnies ? #RoyalRumble
— KALISTO the GLOAT (@KalistoWWE) February 1, 2021
LIVE | @Christian4Peeps has RETURNED! #RoyalRumble #WWEAustralia pic.twitter.com/z1TaoeZ3YW
— WWE Australia (@WWEAustralia) February 1, 2021
Yo peep @EdgeRatedR still out there
??????????#RoyalRumble— incomparable (@swerveconfident) February 1, 2021
? ? ? ? ? ?
Reunited and it feels so good. #RoyalRumble @Christian4Peeps @EdgeRatedR pic.twitter.com/42ijbJdee8
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
That’s the thing with @RandyOrton. You never know when he’ll be back with an RKO OUTTA NOWHERE! #RoyalRumble @EdgeRatedR pic.twitter.com/ix4tC9RF6s
— WWE (@WWE) February 1, 2021
On this day, we see clearly. #WrestleMania #RoyalRumble @EdgeRatedR pic.twitter.com/qASYcas95l
— WWE WrestleMania (@WrestleMania) February 1, 2021
11 years to the day, @EdgeRatedR won his first Royal Rumble match, and now he has won his second! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/uCmI8wEimY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 1, 2021
Okay but @EdgeRatedR ??
First one in – last one to leave ??
That’s a motto I stand by ? #RoyalRumble
— Xia Brookside ☆ (@XiaBrooksideWWE) February 1, 2021
Perfection!!! What a rumble by @EdgeRatedR #RoyalRumble
— The Cowboy (@JamesStormBrand) February 1, 2021
OHHHH HECKKKKK YEAH!!!!!!
CONGRATS @EdgeRatedR
????????????????????#RoyalRumble— Noelle Foley (@NoelleFoley) February 1, 2021
EDGE!!!!!!!!
Let the Cinderella story be told!
A great way to end a very good #RoyalRumble @EdgeRatedR
— Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) February 1, 2021
