With the recent WWE partnership with Netflix, the world of professional wrestling has been brought to the homes of millions of new fans, and has managed to rebuild its reputation as entertaining entertainment.  

The stage is set and the ring is ready, but are you ready to rumble? 

 Women’s Royal Rumble Match

The show opens with Stephanie McMahon who makes her entrance to an outstanding pop, she thanks the millions of fans watching on Netflix and those in attendance. McMahon announces the 2025 rumble as the biggest in history, insert pyro and we begin. 

  Iyo Sky and Liv Morgan begin this contest, with McAfee, Wade Barrett and Michael Cole on commentary. We begin with two of the more technically capable athletes in the women’s division, as they engage in an entertaining fast-paced opening sequence, teasing eliminations to get the crowd hyped early on, and the crowd are on fire. Entrant 3 is upon us, and it is NXT’s Roxanne Perez. She receives an underwhelming response for such a talented superstar, but those who didn’t know proceed to get schooled in exactly why she is a top star of the NXT women’s division, as she holds her own with 2 potential hall of fame inductees. 

 NXT Standouts

It was a NXT-filled ring, with powerhouse Lash Legend getting put over significantly. But the spotlight is about to be switched to fellow powerhouse Jordynne Grace in her first Rumble appearance having signed with WWE officially. She proceeds to eliminate Jaida Parker and deliver an absolutely gargantuan Death Valley driver to Piper Niven, the impact launches Grace into the ropes and the crowd go beserk. If this moment isn’t enough for us, we have the returning Alexa Bliss who hasn’t been seen since 2023 and the return of the Queen Charlotte Flair and hall of famer Trish Stratus! Nia Jax cleared house before Charlotte Flair came out victorious, and this match has been an absolute belter to kick things off.  

2-Out-of-3 Falls – WWE Tag Team Championships

The Motor City Machine Guns vs #DIY for the WWE Tag Team Championships in a 2-out-of-3 falls tag match. It has been great to see Gargano and Ciampa lean into their heel gimmick, as I wasn’t a big fan of Johnny Wrestling being an overly cliche nice guy, the change has been a benefit for sure after Gragano betrays his friend Alex Shelley. This match is a fast-paced, hard-hitting encounter with multiple strikes and flying springboard attacks, and seeing the Motor City Machine Guns perform in front of 70,000 people in a WWE ring is so cool. This one is more than just about the gold, these former friends have turned into bitter enemies. The machine guns pull off tag team moves with such ease and precise execution, a baseball slide followed by Shelley and a suicide dive by Sabin had the dopamine in the crowd soaring! It is #DIY who scored the first fall, however, as a running knee from Ciampa was enough for the 3 count.  

 Surprise Attack!  

The referee seemed to lose control here, and it didn’t seem like a work but the machine guns used the frustration to unleash a flurry of moves that had me cringing at home, I would not like to be on the receiving end of these vicious strikes and attacks! Skull and Bones lands on Gargano as the guns score to make it one-all. Props to Ciampa and Gargano for some expert selling, they made the guns look incredible. We are treated to some excellent nearfalls and a barrage of springboard attacks now, and the crowd are loving every bit of it. 

 Gargano strikes his partner with a super kick, right before chaos descends upon the ring as The Street Profits launch an extra surprise attack on The Motor City Machine Guns handing the advantage to #DIY on a silver platter. But it isn’t #DIY who Street Profits are helping, as they viciously attack the retaining Champions with crutches. Montez Ford’s energy was through the roof as he had absolutely no mercy for #DIY. 

Ladder Match – WWE Undisputed Championship 

The Undisputed WWE Championship match is next. And oh yes, I get to see the winged eagle championship belt on my television screen again. Oh hell yeah. Kevin Owen in his Canadian Dream shirt is an example of why he has taken over from Drew McIntyre as of late as my top company heel, he is simply despicable and I love it. The action swiftly spills to the outside and into the crowd, this one has the feel of an old-school Terry Funk match. The use of ladders in this match is quite brutal, some of the bumps on the steel are bone-chilling. Owens teases a senton from the top of Hornswoggles ladder, but he’s too damn heel to please the crowd. The bump Cody takes onto this smaller ladder though is huge.  

 Classic Heel Performance

A “lets go Kevin, lets go Cody” chant breaks out, which is a credit to Owens entertaining work as a heel. But Owens sets to silence any cheers for him as he goes for a package piledriver on the ladder, only to get reversed and slammed onto the side of the ladder. The back and forth continues with Owens marginally getting the better of Rhodes until both stars battle it out on the top turnbuckle. This next spot is possibly my favourite of the whole event, as Owens reverses a superplex attempt onto a ladder into a falcon arrow with Cody being catapulted into the air from the impact. Holy shit indeed. And Cody sells it to perfection. The medics and GM Nick Aldis are called out and for a moment I was waiting for the ref to throw up the ‘X’ sign. Sami Zayn even makes an appearance, this had a slight feel of King of the Ring 98’ to it, when Terry Funk came to check on Foley. We are left wondering if the match will be called off, before Owens goes right back on the attack! This is awesome. 

 The final spot comes when KO goes for a package piledriver onto a ladder from the announce table, as Cody reverses it into a behemoth of an Alabama slam. Owens head gets wedged in between the rungs and his face is a bloody mess. Is this the attitude era vibe we have been yearning for? This match was excellent, and a great example of how to use the ladder as a weapon in the ladder match… a simple thing that can be overlooked by many match stories. I hope both guys rest well after this brutal affair. Cody Rhodes retains the WWE title in this bunkhouse brawl of a ladder match.  

Men’s Royal Rumble Match  

And now it is time for the men’s Royal Rumble match, Rey Mysterio and Penta open the 30-man bout, and this year is the year of the luchadors as several Lucha workers enter the contest. A close call for Penta early on as it seems just about 1 foot touches the floor on the outside, but still Penta shines in this contest. A big credit to Carmello Hayes in this bout too, as he has arguably been overlooked since his call up to the main roster. We get a memorable moment featuring Ishowspeed, who makes a surprise entrance to replace the injured Akira Tozowa. Speed enters the match a taunts, even pulling off a backflip and helping to eliminate Otis. Bron Breakker then gears up for one of the most insane super spears of all time, snapping Speed over in comedic fashion before Otis launches Speed’s body over the announce table. This is one of my personal highlights. Jacob Fatu is another brute powerhouse to enter, and what a talent he is. Having Sheamus, Breakker and Fatu in the same ring is almost too much for the senses. Fatu takes the spotlight before Joe Hendry the new TNA Worlds Champion comes out! And man, what a pop. Hendry has gained a cult following online, and his entrance is extremely well received.  

The Last Time Is Now 

And this Rumble is littered with main event names, a returning AJ Styles a final Rumble appearance for John Cena (his entrance legit made me tear up) CM Punk and Seth Rollins. Oh and don’t forget Roman Reigns and Main Event Jey Uso. Man, the roster is in great condition lately. Big shoutouts to Penta, Jacob Fatu and Bron Breakker though as they all have standout performances. The only thing I wished for is if Fatu were to have gone on more of a rampage after his elimination, when he threw the chair I thought we were about to see the ring get ripped apart! I suppose he got his flowers during the beatdown of Braun Strowman at Saturday Nights Main Event, as Braun eliminates Fatu for revenge. A major talking point is Logan Paul getting multi main eventer eliminations! His most cunning coming from a Kofi Kingston style spot where he escapes elimination but jumping onto the announce table, then onto the stairs to eliminate a returning AJ Styles. CM Punk eliminates Rollins and Reigns only to then get thrown over the top himself by… Logan Paul. Wow. I could feel the rage from all the marks worldwide. I love it. What a bold move by WWE, as Paul is already hated now his heat is astronomical! 

 One thing I noticed after the Rollins and Punk brawl on the outside (which was awesome) is Punk stepping over Roman Reigns and saying something to Heyman… could this be linked to the favour Punk has coming from Heyman? But oh yeah, I forgot to mention… 

 THAT DOUBLE-FOOTED CURB STOMP BY ROLLINS TO REIGNS! 

 Seriously, I thought Reigns was done for here and I eagerly awaited him to move after such a devastating stomp to the head. Great work by Seth here. I thought Reigns would reappear akin to Drop Dead Fred when his head gets stuck in the fridge. But more importantly, could this be a heel turn by Seth? With Roman being a top face now, Rollins accumulated quite a round of boos for his violent antics. This Rumble has been hectic, to say the least! 

 THE YEET! ERA

But we go back to the ring where John Cena goes for a double Attitude Adjustment on Jey Uso and Logan Paul, only for Uso to break free and Paul gets eliminated by Cena. It’s not down to the final 2, Jey Uso vs John Cena. It’s a close encounter, but it is Jey Uso who is the last man standing in the ring! I did not expect this one, but looking at the sales stats and the reception Jey Uso receives upon entering the ring, well deserved! 

 I am surprised by how entertaining this match was, we all expected Punk, Rollins, Reigns or McIntyre to win, but in retrospect, the right man most certainly won! YEET!