1) There Was A Rule Change This Year For The Royal Rumble Winners
On the kickoff show for the Rumble, it was announced that there was a slight rule change for the winners of the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches.
The Rumble winners were able to challenge the Champion of their choosing. Usually, if someone from RAW won, they would automatically get a WWE Universal Title shot. Now, they can cross over to the other brand if they want.
The winners of tonight’s #RoyalRumble matches will get to challenge the champion of their CHOICE at @WrestleMania this year!
But @AlexaBliss_WWE ain’t sweatin’ it… #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/hSB3gSjZbY
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 28, 2018
2) Fun American Alpha Reunion!
On the kickoff show, we had a fun little backstage moment. Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins were interrupted backstage by Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. Gable and Jordan used to team together as ‘American Alpha’.
To make it even better, Benjamin is a former ‘Team Angle’ member alongside Jordan’s dad: Kurt Angle. A fun and awkward encounter.
This just got awkward…#RoyalRumble @WWEGable @Sheltyb803 @JasonJordanJJ pic.twitter.com/2O4yyX977J
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 28, 2018
3) The Cruiserweight’s Wrestled In Front Of An Empty Building (It Was A Fun Match Though!)
The Rumble kickoff show featured a Cruiserweight 6-man tag team match: Kalisto, Gran Metalik, and Lince Dorado vs. TJP, Drew Gulak, and Jack Gallagher. WWE opened the doors at 5:00, which meant that there were not a lot of fans in their seats for the match.
The fans missed out. It was a pretty fun match to kick off the show. This included a great triple moonsault spot:
TRIPLE MOONSAULT’S TO THE OUTSIDE!!! #RoyalRumble @KalistoWWE @WWEGranMetalik @LuchadorLD #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/StDqsU8Rlh
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) January 28, 2018
4) Alicia Fox Was Pulled From The Women’s Royal Rumble Due To Injury
During the Royal Rumble kickoff show, Kurt Angle tweeted that Alicia Fox had been pulled from the Women’s Royal Rumble match due to injury. She has also been pulled from the Mixed Match Challenge.
Hopefully, she is okay!
Due to injury, @AliciaFoxy will be unable to compete in tonight’s #RoyalRumble match…..
— Kurt Angle (@RealKurtAngle) January 28, 2018
5) The Revival Picked Up Much Needed A Victory On The Kickoff Show
The Rumble kickoff show also featured a tag team match. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson faced off against the Revival. The match was won by the Revival.
It was great to see them pick up a win to know that WWE hasn’t completely decided to bury them.
#TopGuyHug@ScottDawsonWWE & @DashWilderWWE pick up the HUGE victory over @LukeGallowsWWE & @KarlAndersonWWE LIVE on #RoyalRumble Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/8NqEa69Yfw
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2018
6) Mojo Rawley Answered The U.S Open Challenge, Bobby Roode Retained
On the Royal Rumble kickoff show, Bobby Roode hosted a United States Championship open challenge. His challenge was answered by Mojo Rawley.
The match was won by Roode, who retained his title.
A GLORIOUS #USTitle defense is COMPLETE as @REALBobbyRoode successfully retains on #RoyalRumble Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/xhMoEbrsBp
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2018
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