Unpredictable and Unforgettable: WWE Royal Rumble 2025 Match-by-Match Review

WWE Royal Rumble 2025 Post Show Thumbnail

WWE Royal Rumble 2025 brought a whirlwind of clashes, surprising winners, and new questions about what’s coming next. Right after the show ended, hosts Dave and Ben Simon and pro wrestler Genesis Johnny North hopped on a post-show alongside a live audience on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, and Kick. They broke down everything: Charlotte Flair’s historic second Rumble victory, Jey Uso’s unlikely triumph, CM Punk’s animosity with Seth Rollins, and more. Also on everyone’s mind: the no-show of one of WWE’s biggest stars, Becky Lynch. Below is a full recap of each match and updated thoughts on how these developments will affect the road to WrestleMania and the looming Elimination Chamber 2025.

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30-Woman Royal Rumble Match

Charlotte Flair Returns To The Wwe And Unsurprisingly Wins The Women'S Rumble Match
Unsurprisingly, Charlotte Flair returns to the WWE and wins the Women’s Rumble Match.

A Mix of NXT Talent, Surprise Legends, and Missing Faces

Early Entrants and In-Ring Chaos

The evening’s first Rumble match saw IYO SKY at No. 1 and Liv Morgan at No. 2, immediately creating fast-paced action. Roxanne Perez (NXT) arrived at No. 3, adding new talent to the mix. The ring soon filled with various names from NXT and main roster standouts—like Zoey Stark (No. 8) and Lash Legend (No. 9). Dave remarked:

Dave Simon: “They circle the ring and lock up… Morgan drops SKY on the apron… Perez goes back and forth in the corners… there are five active competitors in the ring with no eliminations so far.”

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Chelsea Green (US Champion) and Lyra Valkyria (IC Champion) were among the belt-holders in play, with Bianca Belair arriving at No. 10 to ramp up the intensity. Around mid-match, Bayley (No. 12) looked for redemption after last year’s loss to IYO SKY.

Johnny North: “It was sloppy in parts, but you have a lot of NXT names. It’s a different level, so you expect some uneven spots.”

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Surprise Entrants, Final Moments, and Charlotte’s Triumph

WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus (No. 25) made a crowd-pleasing return, and Nikki Bella arrived at No. 30. Yet the most significant move belonged to Charlotte Flair (No. 27), who outlasted both rookie sensations and top veterans. Roxanne Perez impressed by staying in over 50 minutes, and Nia Jax notched several eliminations. In the end, Charlotte tossed out Nia and then eliminated Perez, winning the 2025 Women’s Rumble for the second time in her storied career.

Dave Simon: “Charlotte’s return was heavily rumoured, but seeing her do it again was huge!”

With Elimination Chamber coming up, fans are curious about which Women’s Championship Charlotte will challenge. There’s intrigue around Tiffany Stratton and Rhea Ripley and lingering questions about Bianca Belair’s involvement as Women’s Tag Team Champion.

Implications for WrestleMania

Charlotte’s path to choosing a champion is under the spotlight. The big question: Will she face Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown or Rhea Ripley on Raw? A late cameo from Alexa Bliss fuelled curiosity about whether Bliss herself would spark a WrestleMania angle. However, one comment overshadowed them all—Becky Lynch’s no-show. This casts doubt on Becky’s immediate storyline, though many believe she might appear at Elimination Chamber 2025, possibly to claim a spot for WrestleMania.

  • If Charlotte Picks Tiffany Stratton: Charlotte may jump to SmackDown, with the young champion looking to prove her worth against an established star. Johnny North: “Bianca is still busy with those tag titles, so Tiffany vs. Charlotte could be a good matchup. But do you want Tiffy to lose in that big spot or see her beat Charlotte?”
  • If Charlotte Picks Rhea Ripley: A trilogy fight between Charlotte and Ripley might headline Night 1 of WrestleMania, as they are tied one-to-one on the WrestleMania stage. In that case, Tiffany might need a new challenger—perhaps Becky Lynch, if she shows up and wins an Elimination Chamber match.

Either way, Becky’s absence forces WWE Creative to shuffle possible matchups. Everything shifts without Becky taking a Rumble spot (or winning it). Dave believes Becky returning in the weeks ahead could lead to a showdown with Tiffany or whoever emerges from the Women’s Chamber match. The possibility of Becky also targeting Charlotte is not entirely off the table, but it’s easier to see her as part of a SmackDown feud if Charlotte selects Rhea.

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Kevin Owens Entering Before His Ladder Match Vs. Cody Rhodes
Kevin Owens entered before his ladder match vs. Cody Rhodes.

Undisputed WWE Championship (Ladder Match): Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens

Wild Ladder Encounter

Arguably the match of the night, Cody Rhodes defended the Undisputed WWE Title against Kevin Owens in a brutal ladder contest. Ladders snapped, metal brackets clanged, and both men seemed willing to risk serious injury. Sami Zayn briefly appeared to check on Owens but never fully impacted the outcome.

Johnny North: “Match of the night for me—these guys didn’t hold back.”

Referees and even SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis hurried in at one point, only for Rhodes and Owens to keep brawling. Eventually, Cody fended off Kevin on the ladder, grabbed both belts and walked away still Undisputed Champion.

Officials and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis rushed out to check on them at one point, though many viewers believed it was just a storyline device. After a nail-biting final climb, Cody retained by knocking Kevin to the floor and pulling down both belts. Sami Zayn’s appearance stirred up new intrigue: Will Sami face any blowback for not fully saving Kevin? The dynamic there may appear at Elimination Chamber or Raw in the coming weeks.

WrestleMania and Elimination Chamber Picture

With Cody retaining, the question becomes who challenges him next. Rumours revolve around John Cena, Roman Reigns, or a dark-horse contender. Owens, though battered, remains a threat if he bounces back before WrestleMania. The Elimination Chamber could be pivotal in shaping Cody’s next challenger.

Tag Team Championship: #DIY vs. The Motor City Machine Guns (Two out of Three Falls)

Skilled Wrestling but Overshadowed

Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa (#DIY) put their titles on the line against the Motor City Machine Guns. While the in-ring level was high, many, including Dave, felt it was overshadowed by the Rumble matches and Cody–Kevin ladder battle.

Dave Simon: “Least favourite match on the card… very skilled wrestlers, but it felt like filler on a four-hour show.”

The Street Profits interfered, helping #DIY retain. The crowd reaction suggested that the match might have worked better on a TV show. Audience member Harold Schneider shared:

Harold Schneider: “Good ring work, but we didn’t need it on the Rumble card. Too long.”

Potential WrestleMania Angle

With The Street Profits now staking a claim, #DIY faces pressure heading into Elimination Chamber and possibly WrestleMania. If #DIY continues holding gold, a multi-team feud might unfold. The match did little to overshadow the night’s Royal Rumble narratives, but it has set a tag-team story in motion.


Jey Uso Wrestlemania Bound
Jey Uso is Wrestlemania Main Event Bound with his surprise victory.

30-Man Royal Rumble Match

Star Power, Cameos, and Early Highlights

The men’s match included legends like Rey Mysterio (No. 1) and newer NXT faces. Penta (No. 2) barely avoided self-elimination early on. iShowSpeed made a cameo, only to get speared by Bron Breakker, prompting Dave to say:

Dave Simon: “They beat the brakes off that kid!”

NXT star Jacob Fatu introduced a new level of power, while The Miz, Chad Gable, and Otis had the crowd chanting along to well-known spots. Gable’s comedic bit featuring near-eliminations amused viewers, though the ring became chaotic with main eventers quickly appearing.

The Final Stretch and Jey Uso’s Upset

Roman Reigns (No. 16), Seth Rollins (No. 25), CM Punk (No. 24), John Cena (No. 23), and Logan Paul (No. 30) all aimed for a WrestleMania ticket. In a pivotal moment, Punk shoved both Seth and Roman over the top rope, then Logan Paul dumped Punk immediately. Left in the ring were Cena, Logan Paul, and “Main Event” Jey Uso.

Jey’s elimination of both final opponents shocked everyone:

Ben Simon: “Nobody predicted Jey Uso. This sets up an underdog story heading for WrestleMania.”

He’s likely gunning for Gunther’s World Heavyweight Title, though John Cena’s decision to enter Elimination Chamber adds another wild card. The chaotic Punk–Rollins confrontation suggests a heated rivalry that could explode soon.

Dave Simon: “I never heard anyone say, ‘I want Jey Uso winning this year.’ Nobody. But hey, it’s a shock.”

Ben compared Jey’s victory to that of other mid-carders of the past, like Shinsuke Nakamura or Alberto Del Rio, who unexpectedly took Rumble wins without significant follow-up. Johnny pointed out that at least the crowd is behind Jey:

Johnny North: “He’s over enough for a world title run. This might be his big chance.”

No Becky Lynch?

Becky Lynch, a frequent headliner in women’s events, did not appear in the 2025 Royal Rumble nor in any backstage or on-camera segment. While some fans hoped for her return, no official announcements or storyline teases hinted she was set to appear. Dave addressed the confusion:

Dave Simon: “We didn’t see Becky tonight, so that’s a big question mark. We’ll find out if she shows up later on.”

Without any mention of her leading up to the show, Becky’s absence remains an unanswered question. WrestleMania season may still see her return, but as of now, it’s only speculation.

Jey’s Road to WrestleMania

Jey’s new status sets up a likely faceoff with Gunther for the World Heavyweight Title. They recently clashed at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but Gunther retained. Now that Jey’s guaranteed a title match, he might get the revenge he’s aiming for. This storyline hinges on whether the company wants to “pull the trigger” on Jey as champion. If Becky had been around, there’s a slim chance they might have run a family stable storyline bridging Bloodline history and a Becky cameo, but with her absence, the focus is solely on Jey’s underdog run.


Is Cm Punk Returning To The Wwe
CM Punk

Tension Between CM Punk and Seth Rollins

The Heated Ringside Altercation

Perhaps the night’s biggest controversy came when Punk eliminated Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins simultaneously—then Logan Paul dumped Punk out. On the floor, Rollins snapped, curb-stomped Roman on the steel steps, and then brawled fiercely with Punk:

Dave Simon: “It felt like they worked themselves into a shoot… Punk took him down, started kicking him, and Seth left. That was weird.”

Ben wondered if they let real frustration show:

Ben Simon: “Maybe Seth tried to show Punk up, and Punk said, ‘Nope. You’re down.’ Then the refs separated them.”

Their brawl overshadowed the match’s final minutes, with some fans fixated on the brewing Rollins–Punk feud. Both men are natural top contenders to face Cody or Roman, but their animosity may lead to a separate match at WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Reigns is also in the mix, which Johnny mused could lead to a triple threat.

With Elimination Chamber in four weeks, a multi-man scenario is possible. Becky Lynch’s presence isn’t directly related here, but if her booking remains unresolved, WWE might focus more on Punk–Rollins as the marquee grudge match.

Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins

Impact on the Road to WrestleMania

Seth, Punk, and Roman all have claims to top-level feuds. Seth is tired of being overshadowed, Punk wants the main event, and Roman is the Tribal Chief. Throw John Cena into the Chamber, and it’s a recipe for chaos. If Becky had been available, there might have been a parallel storyline, but for now, the biggest question is how Punk and Seth coexist backstage without further blow-ups. Fans will keep an eye on backstage rumours heading into Raw, SmackDown, and especially the Chamber.


Key Takeaways for WrestleMania

  1. Charlotte Flair’s Second Rumble Victory
  2. Reaffirms her position as a top superstar heading to WrestleMania. Which championship she chooses remains the biggest storyline in the women’s division.
  3. Cody Rhodes Stands Tall
  4. A triumphant ladder match leaves him as Undisputed WWE Champion. Who challenges him next could be decided in the Elimination Chamber.
  5. Tag Team Divisions
  6. #DIY retained in a match overshadowed by the Rumble chaos. Street Profits’ interference hints they could be next in line or part of a multi-team scenario.
  7. Jey Uso’s Shocking Men’s Rumble Win
  8. One of the event’s biggest upsets. Look for Jey to target Gunther for the World Heavyweight Title, building a classic underdog tale.
  9. CM Punk and Seth Rollins Tensions
  10. Their scuffle outside the ring after a pivotal double elimination sets the stage for an upcoming feud.
  11. Becky Lynch’s Absence
  12. No official mention or storyline involvement. Her status heading into Elimination Chamber or WrestleMania is unclear at this time.

Wrapping Up

WWE Royal Rumble 2025 left fans buzzing from beginning to end. Charlotte Flair’s second Rumble triumph, Jey Uso’s underdog victory in the Men’s Rumble, and Cody Rhodes’s electrifying ladder match defence against Kevin Owens provided standout highlights. Although Becky Lynch was missing, there’s a wealth of storylines unfolding. As WWE shifts into Elimination Chamber mode, questions abound: Will Jey dethrone Gunther? Who steps up to Cody Rhodes? Which championship does Charlotte pick? Tune in for replays on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, and Kick, and keep an eye on Raw and SmackDown for all the latest twists on the road to WrestleMania.

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Check out replays of the Rumble and watch the full post-show on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, or Kick. Stay locked in because big surprises, heated feuds, and new angles are sure to unfold every step on the way to WrestleMania 2025.