WWE Royal Rumble 2020: Date, time, venue, how to watch, betting odds, rumours and potential returns

Liam O'Loughlin

WWE Royal Rumble 2020: Date, time, venue, how to watch, betting odds, rumours and potential returns image

WWE's second biggest pay-per-view event of the year, Royal Rumble, will take place on Monday 27th January (AEDT) and is set to be one of the most exciting in history.

The event will emanate from Houston, Texas and will be the 33rd edition of the show.

The two biggest matches on the card will no doubt be both the mens and womens Royal Rumble matches.

MORE: One-on-one with Kofi Kingston

Here is everything you need to know about January's PPV. 

 

WHEN IS THE 2020 ROYAL RUMBLE?

The 2020 Royal Rumble will take place on Monday 27th January (AEDT). 

As with all WWE main roster PPVs, the Rumble will be on Sunday night US time. 

It is the first PPV event of the calendar year and kickstarts the 'Road to Wrestlemania'.

 

WHERE IS THE 2020 ROYAL RUMBLE?

The 2020 edition of the Royal Rumble PPV will take place at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. 

The stadium holds 41,168 and the WWE show will likely go close to selling out. 

The 2019 event was held at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona where there was an attendance of 48,193. 

 

HOW CAN I STREAM THE 2020 ROYAL RUMBLE?

There are two ways you can watch the Royal Rumble - or any WWE PPV for that matter.

The first - and most popular option - is to subscribe to the WWE Network which is $9.99 a month in the US, which works out to be about $13 Australian.

The Network is free for a month for new subscribers and has weekly programming including NXT, Stone Cold Steve Austin's  Broken Skull Sessions  and more. 

The other way you can watch the Royal Rumble is the old-school way - on Main Event. This works out to usually be around the $30 mark.

 

WHAT TIME DOES ROYAL RUMBLE START IN AUSTRALIA?

As with a majority of WWE PPV events, the 2020 Royal Rumble event will officially start at 11am (AEDT).

The pre-show or 'Kickoff' show runs for 2 hours, and begun at 9am (AEDT). 

 

HOW DOES THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH WORK?

Two men will start the match, and at regularly-scheduled intervals (usually 90 seconds or 2 minutes) another competitor will enter. This continues all the way until No.30.

The aim is to throw your opponent over the top rope, onto the floor where both feet must hit the ground to constitute an elimination. 

The last competitor standing will be crowned the winner and move on to face the champion of their choosing at Wrestlemania. 

 

PAST WINNERS OF THE ROYAL RUMBLE

1988 Hacksaw Jim Duggan (Entrant No.13)
1989 Big John Studd (No.27)
1990 Hulk Hogan (No.25)
1991 Hulk Hogan (No.24)
1992 Ric Flair (No.3)
1993 Yokozuna (No.27)
1994 Bret Hart/Lex Luger (No.27/23)
1995 Shawn Michaels (No.1)
1996 Shawn Michaels (No.18)
1997 Stone Cold Steve Austin (No.5)
1998 Stone Cold Steve Austin (No.24)
1999 Vince McMahon (No.2)
2000 The Rock (No.24)
2001 Stone Cold Steve Austin (No.27)
2002 Triple H (No.22)
2003 Brock Lesnar (No.29)
2004 Chris Benoit (No.1)
2005 Batista (No.28)
2006 Rey Mysterio (No.2)
2007 The Undertaker (No.30)
2008 John Cena (No.30)
2009 Randy Orton (No.8)
2010 Edge (No.29)
2011 Alberto Del Rio (No.38)
2012 Sheamus (No.22)
2013 John Cena (No.19)
2014 Batista (No.28)
2015 Roman Reigns (No.19)
2016 Triple H (No.30)
2017 Randy Orton (No.23)
2018 Shinsuke Nakamura (No.14) and Asuka (No.25)
2019 Seth Rollins (No.10) and Becky Lynch (No.28)

 

WHO WON THE 2020 ROYAL RUMBLE MATCHES?

The two winners of the 2020 Royal Rumble matches have been determined with Charlotte Flair and Drew McIntyre booking the shots at a title of their choosing at "The Grandest Stage of Them All", Wrestlemania 36.

The women's Rumble was the second match on the card, with Flair winning the 30-women match after coming in at number 17.

NXT superstar Bianca Belair was the standout performer, lasting the longest at 33 minutes and 20 seconds along with setting the record for most eliminations by a woman (8)

However, it would be Flair who outlasted Natalya, WWE legend Beth Phoenix and former NXT champion Shayna Baszler in the final four to set up a likely clash against Raw champion and arch-rival Becky Lynch.

In the main event, Scottish superstar Drew McIntyre shocked many by outlasting 29 others to secure his spot in the main event of Wrestlemania.

WWE champion Brock Lesnar entered at number one and eliminated 13 other competitors before McIntyre and Ricochet teamed up to get rid of him.

By far the biggest shock of the night came at position 21 when Hall of Famer Edge returned after his nine-year hiatus with the company.


He would last until the final three, with Edge eliminated by Roman Reigns, who was then dumped out by McIntyre.

McIntyre will likely face Brock Lesnar in the main event and if successful, will become the first heavyweight champion from the United Kingdom.

CONFLICTING REPORTS OVER EDGE'S ROYAL RUMBLE RETURN

For anyone who was excited about the 'Rated R Superstar' returning to WWE at the Royal Rumble - don't get your hopes up.

The 46-year old retired in 2011, and last appeared with the company at Summerslam last year.

And while he is looking in good shape and did perform a couple of moves in his last appearance, he said on a recent 'Pearl Jam Podcast' that he has no idea where the rumours came from.

“It’s kind of funny to me, honestly. All of these rumors happening that I’ve been to Pittsburgh, and I’ve been cleared to wrestle again, and I’ve signed a new contract, and I’ve this," he said.

"And I have no idea where any of it came from. The last time I was in Pittsburgh I had my wrist fused in 2013. I don’t know... I haven’t been there. I haven’t signed a contract. I think I would know.

"I get this tsunami of comments saying ‘You’re coming back! You signed a contract!’ when I really haven’t.

"Oh yeah, that’s what you’d say...I’m like, okay, whatever.”

Despite his shutting down of the return rumours, Mike Johnson from PW Insider said he would be 'shocked' if Edge isn't back on WWE TV by this time next week.

 

 

ROYAL RUMBLE 'BY THE NUMBERS' 

 

ROMAN REIGNS AND BARON CORBIN TO PULL DOUBLE DUTY

They've been involved in a feud that has been going on for months - now Roman Reigns and Baron Corbin will face off in a 'Falls Count Anywhere' match at Royal Rumble.

Both men are also confirmed entrants in the Royal Rumble match itself, with Reigns considered a heavy favourite.

It is not uncommon to see competitors pull double-duty for the PPV, however at this stage they are the only two scheduled to do so. 

 

CAIN VELASQUEZ FAILS TO COMPETE IN ROYAL RUMBLE

Former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez will be in this year's Royal Rumble match, according to a recent interview with The Sun.

The 37-year old made his WWE debut late last year against Brock Lesnar but was defeated in quick fashion. 

Velasquez said he plans on winning the Rumble and earning a title shot for Wrestlemania 36. 

“I think I’m doing it [the Rumble match], right, I think so," he said. 

"I can win it, hell yeah, that’s my mentality for everything. For everyone as well, that is how your mentality has to be. I’m going in to win this thing.”

Despite this, he was a no-show when it came time for the actual match, with his absence still unclear

 

BROCK LESNAR TO COMPETE IN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH

On the January 7th edition of RAW, current WWE Champion Brock Lesnar officially entered the 2020 Royal Rumble Match and will enter No.1 as well.

It is not usually a match that current world champions compete in due to it being used to determine challengers for Wrestlemania. 

But former UFC Champion Lesnar is a different kettle of fish, and has entered the match in a bid to prove just how dominant he is. 

The WWE Title will not be defended in the match however. 

 

WHAT BIG NAMES WILL BE ON THE SHOW?

Current WWE Champion and former UFC megastar Brock Lesnar will compete in the Royal Rumble match itself. 

John Cena's WWE status remains up in the air but he could make a return, while the likes of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch will be heavily featured.

Cain Velasquez had his debut match recently against Lesnar, and could return at the Rumble depending on his knee injury.

Tyson Fury competed in Saudi Arabia late last year, but with a boxing bout against Deontay Wilder scheduled for February it is unlikely he will appear at the Rumble. 

Ronda Rousey is heavily rumoured to return and potentially win the Womens Rumble match to set up a clash at Wrestlemania 36 with Becky Lynch. 

There are always surprises and returns, and rumours will circulate in the lead up to the show over who they may be.

 

WILL CM PUNK MAKE HIS RETURN TO WWE?

Great question - but one that is still very much in the unknown.

Punk recently returned to WWE programming under the FOX umbrella for  WWE Backstage -  but at this stage, he is not signed to WWE.

In his first appearance on the show, the former WWE Champion didn't rule out a return to the ring but said that 'plenty of fences still need to be mended' before that happens.

Despite no indication that he will be returning, Punk is currently rated a $5.50 chance with BetEasy. 

 

CONFIRMED MATCH CARD FOR 2020 ROYAL RUMBLE

Mens Royal Rumble Match (confirmed entrants below)

  • Brock Lesnar
  • Randy Orton
  • AJ Styles
  • Ricochet
  • Erick Rowan
  • Roman Reigns
  • Rey Mysterio
  • Drew McIntyre
  • King Corbin
  • Dolph Ziggler
  • Elias
  • Otis
  • Tucker
  • Rusev
  • Bobby Lashley
  • Aleister Black
  • Buddy Murphy
  • Braun Strowman
  • Shinsule Nakamura
  • Seth Rollins
  • Kevin Owens
  • Samoa Joe
  • John Morrison
  • The Miz
  • Big E
  • Kofi Kingston

Womens Royal Rumble Match (confirmed entrants below)

  • Charlotte Flair
  • Alexa Bliss
  • Nikki Cross
  • Sarah Logan
  • Natalya
  • Carmella
  • Dana Brooke

Universal Title:  Bray Wyatt (c) vs Daniel Byan (Strap Match)

Raw Women's Title:  Becky Lynch (c) vs Asuka

Smackdown Women's Title: Bayley (c) vs Lacey Evans

US Title: Andrade (c) vs Humberto Carrillo 

Roman Reigns vs Baron Corbin (Falls Count Anywhere)

Chad Gable vs Sheamus

 

MEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH ODDS 

Odds courtesy of BetEasy as of 27th January. 

Drew McIntyre $1.90
Roman Reigns $2.40
CM Punk $5.50
Cain Velasquez  $7.50
Brock Lesnar $7.50
Kevin Owens $10
Edge $11
Keith Lee $13
Aleister Black $17
Finn Balor $19
Braun Strowman  $21
Daniel Bryan $21
John Cena $21
Tyson Fury $21
AJ Styles $23
Others $26+

 

WOMEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH ODDS

Odds courtesy of BetEasy as of 27th January. 

Shayna Baszler $1.91
Charlotte Flair $1.91
Ronda Rousey $5.50
Sasha Banks $9
Rhea Ripley $13
Paige $13
Nia Jax $15
Kairi Sane $21
Nikki Cross $21
Lacey Evans $21
Others $26+

 

 

Liam O'Loughlin

Liam O'Loughlin Photo

Liam has been with The Sporting News since 2019, helping lead both NRL and cricket content, as well as delving into the world of combat sports and NFL. A true rugby league tragic, he has spent the past 20 years playing, coaching and volunteering for his beloved junior club, Penshurst RSL. 

Away from work, Liam has a lifelong passion for all things pro wrestling and has travelled abroad to attend showcase events for WWE, AEW and NJPW.