WWE Royal Rumble results: Ronda Rousey debuts; Asuka wins women’s rumble, Shinsuke Nakamura men’s

Results of the annual WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view, held in Philadelphia.

A.J. Styles defeats Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn to retain the WWE title

Styles threw Zayn out of the ring. When he turned around, Owens superkicked him and threw him into the ropes for the pop-up power bomb.but Styles reversed it into a cradle for the pin. Zayn, however, was the legal man in the ring.

Backstage after the match, Owens and Zayn asked Shane McMahon if he saw that miscarriage of justice. McMahon replied with a “Yep.”

The Usos defeated Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin to retain the Smackdown tag team title in a best-of-three falls match.

Usos surprisingly won in two straight falls. The first fall ended when Gable was pinned after four super kicks. The second fall ended quickly, when Benjamin was pinned by Jimmy Uso with an inside cradle. Gable came across as a star. But this appears to be the end of this program.

Men’s Royal Rumble

The only surprises were NXT champion Andrade Cien Almas (with Zelina Vega), Adam Cole and The Hurricane.

The final four were John Cena, Roman Reigns, Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Balor (who had entered at No. 2). Cena eliminated Balor and Nakamura eliminated Cena. Reigns vs. Nakamura went back and forth. The crowd erupted in loud boos whenever Reigns had the upper hand. It ended when Nakamura hit the Kinshasa knee on Reigns and threw him over the top rope.

Renee Young then interviewed Nakamura and asked who he wanted to face at WrestleMania. Answer: A.J. Styles. The dream match will happen.

Sheamus and Cesaro defeated Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan to win the Raw tag titles

Jordan, who is injured in real life, was thrown into the post to start the match, leaving him selling on the outside throughout. Rollins couldn’t match Sheamus and Jordan and finally was able to tag a slowly recovering Jordan, who got in the ring and tagged Rollins right back in again. Sheamus hit a brogue kick and a double team white noise led the Cesaro pinning Rollins for the win.

Brock Lesnar defeated Braun Strowman and Kane to retain the Universal Title

The match ended when Lesnar hit a F5 on Kane for the pin. Before that, Strowman had Lesnar pinned after two running powerslams, but Kane broke it up. That gives Strowman an out, since he can claim he had Lesnar beat. A lot of destruction in this match, with every announce table being broken.

Women’s Royal Rumble

Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch started and stayed in for a long time. Banks double crossed Bayley near the end and threw her out.

Surprises: The Bella Twins, Torrie Wilson, Beth Phoenix, Molly Holly, Lita, Kelly Kelly, Kairi Sane, Ember Moon and Trish Stratus.

Final four were the Bellas, Banks and Asuka. The Bellas double crossed Banks and eliminated her. Then Nikki turned on her sister and eliminated Brie. That left Asuka and Nikki Bella. Asuka kicked Nikki off the apron to win.

Smackdown champion Charlotte Flair and Raw champion Alexa Bliss entered the ring. Asuka stared them both down, but before she could choose who to face at WrestleMania, “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett started to play. Ronda Rousey made her way to the ring to a huge pop from a tired crowd. She tried to shake hands with Asuka, who slapped it away. She then stared down all three and pointed to the WrestleMania sign hanging from the rafters. She left the ring and shook hands with Stephanie McMahon, who seemed stunned that Rousey was there and afraid to shake her hand. End of show.