Three decades after "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan threw One Man Gang over the top rope, the WWE will host its 30th annual edition of the Royal Rumble live from Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.
And with that, the Road To WrestlemaniaTM will begin, with the winner of the Royal Rumble match receiving a championship match at the 'Show of Shows' on April 8. This year's Royal Rumble show, however, will be bigger than any other in history, with the pay-per-view special featuring not just one, but two Royal Rumble matches.
Although Wrestlemania is considered professional wrestling's Super Bowl, the Royal Rumble typically represents one of the most exciting shows of the year. Whether you're a "smart mark" or simply a casual fan, here's everything you need to know about the 2018 WWE Royal Rumble:
What is the Royal Rumble?
The Royal Rumble is WWE's annual January pay-per-view, which is typically headlined by the Royal Rumble match, which consists of 30 wrestlers. The match begins with two competitors in the ring, with additional wrestlers being added in timed intervals (typically between 90 seconds and 2 minutes).
Wrestlers are eliminated from the match when they are thrown over the top rope, with both having to hit the floor. The last man standing in the ring receives a world championship match of his choice at Wrestlemania.
Why is this year's Royal Rumble different?
In addition to the traditional 30-man Royal Rumble match, the WWE will hold its first-ever Women's Royal Rumble on Sunday.
The same rules from the men's match will apply to the women's, with the winner receiving a Women's Championship match at Wrestlemania 34.
Who is participating in the Royal Rumble?
Although neither the men's nor women's matches have announced full lists of participants -- leaving the door open for surprise entrants and returning legends -- the following have been announced for each Royal Rumble match:
Men's:
- Elias
- Randy Orton
- Shinsuke Nakamura
- John Cena
- Finn Balor
- Baron Corbin
- Matt Hardy
- Bray Wyatt
- Rusev
- Aiden English
- Apollo Crews
- Titus O'Neil
- The Miz
- Tye Dillinger
- Big E
- Kofi Kingston
- Xavier Woods
Women's:
- Naomi
- Asuka
- Ruby Riott
- Natalya
- Sasha Banks
- Bayley
- Mandy Rose
- Sonya Deville
- Carmella
- Tamina
- Lana
- Liv Morgan
- Sarah Logan
- Mickie James
- Nia Jax
- Becky Lynch
- Alicia Fox
- Dana Brooke
What other matches will take place at the Royal Rumble?
In addition to the two Royal Rumble matches, the following card has been announced for the show:
Triple threat match for the WWE Universal Championship:
Brock Lesnar (C) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane
Handicap match for the WWE Championship:
AJ Styles (C) vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
Tag team match for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship:
Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan (C) vs. The Bar (Cesar and Sheamus)
2-out-of-3 falls match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship:
The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso) (C) vs. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin
United State Championship Open Challenge
Bobby Roode (C) vs. TBD
How to watch the 2018 Royal Rumble and live stream
The Royal Rumble can be watched via available pay-per-view providers for the price of $44.99. It is also available for live stream on the WWE Network, which costs $9.99 per month.
The WWE Network, which is available on Apple TV, Google Chomecast, Roku and other streaming devices, is currently offering a deal where new users will receive a free two-month trial. That means if you sign up for the Royal Rumble, you will also receive access to the rest of the road to Wrestlemania 34 free of charge, with two pay-per-view shows (Elimination Chamber and Fastlane) slated between now and the end of March.
