WWE Royal Rumble 2022 Results

With 2022 having almost already reached the end of January, that meant only one thing, the WWE Royal Rumble. This year's show took place from The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri. 

The Rumble featured its usual surprises and one world title change but the main event Men's Royal Rumble ultimately underwhelmed and the winner was obvious with several minutes to spare.

Check out everything that happened below: 

Seth Rollins def. Roman Reigns (c) by DQ - Universal Championship 

A fight between former Shield faction-mates Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins opened the Royal Rumble as they went one-on-one for the Universal Title, and Rollins immediately got into The Tribal Chief's head, entering in his old Shield gear to the faction's entrance music. 

Reigns' past Universal Title matches had begun with a slow, methodical pace but that wasn't the case here as Rollins dominated the early minutes, even Powerboming Reigns through the announce table. 

Rollins then looked to have the match won after he connected with a Buckle Bomb and a Stomp but Reigns managed to kick out.   

The Universal Champion took control from there, though, and he hit a Superman Punch and a Spear on the outside. He then went for another Spear inside the squared circle but Rollins countered into a Pedigree, repeating the spot from their Money In The Bank 2016 match. Just like then, though, Reigns kicked out at the last possible moment.  

Rollins looked to follow up with another Stomp but Roman dodged it and after several counters, Reigns hit another Spear and went to make the cover, only for Rollins to laugh and offer a Shield fist bump. 

An incredulous Reigns applied the Guillotine and Rollins looked to be finished but he just managed to get his hand to the bottom rope. Reigns refused to relinquish the hold before the referee's five-count, though, handing Rollins the victory by disqualification. 

Reigns eventually relented following the match, but only so he could grab a steel chair and repeatedly attack Seth, leaving The Visionary a broken, possibly babyface mess. 

Ronda Rousey wins the Women's Royal Rumble

Following the opening contest, it was time for the Women's Royal Rumble and the match featured plenty of surprises, including the shock returns of Alicia Fox, Mighty Molly, Sarah Logan, Ivory, Melina and Cameron, who all had brief cameos in the Rumble. 

Cameron even played into Naomi's ongoing feud with Sonya Deville as the former Funkadactyl exacted revenge for her friend after the WWE official eliminated Cameron to end her short stint in the match. Deville would have the last laugh, though, as she prevented Naomi from saving herself and she pulled her to the floor after Charlotte Flair had put the former SmackDown Women's Champion in a precarious position.

WWE ultimately saved the biggest return for last, though, and Ronda Rousey entered a WWE ring for the first time in almost three years as the 28th entrant in the Rumble. 

The Baddest Woman On The Planet quickly eliminated Shotzi, Nikki A.S.H and The Bella Twins and the Rumble ultimately came down to Shayna Baszler, Rousey, Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair.

Belair and Baszler didn't last long, though, as Flair eliminated them both after The EST of WWE went for a KOD on Baszler. Flair then tried to fend off Rousey but the former Raw Women's Champion dumped her former rival over the top rope for the Rumble win. 

Rousey's celebrated following the win but her point at the WrestleMania 38 sign had unintended consequences as the pyro around the feature set the sign on fire and the section beneath it had to be evacuated so a crew could put the flames out. 

Elsewhere in the Rumble, Mickie James entered at #20 as IMPACT Knockouts Champion in a history-making moment and she lasted several minutes in the match before being eliminated by Lita. 

Becky Lynch (c) def. Doudrop - Raw Women's Championship 

In the third match of the pay-per-view, Becky Lynch defended the Raw Women's Title against Doudrop. The challenger earned her title shot back on the January 10 episode of Raw when she defeated Bianca Belair and Liv Morgan in a Triple Threat number one contender's match. 

WWE presented Doudrop as a powerful opponent throughout the contest but Lynch was ultimately too good for the challenger and she picked up the win following a Manhandle Slam from the top rope. 

Bobby Lashley def. Brock Lesnar (c) - WWE Championship 

After years of hoping it would happen, Bobby Lashley finally got his match with Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble as both men fought for the WWE Title.

Like many Lesnar matches, they wasted no time getting to the signature moves and Lashley countered an F5 into two Spears inside the ring and he went for a third through the barricade, but Lesnar avoided it, causing The All Mighty to crash and burn. 

Lashley was able to regain control shortly after, though, and he applied the Hurt Lock before Lesnar managed to escape. 

The match didn't improve for Lesnar, though, as he hit The All Mighty with an F5 but he inadvertently threw Lashley into the referee during the move, knocking the official to the floor below. 

Lesnar had the match won but no one was there to count the 1-2-3, and when The Beast Incarnate climbed to his feet, he was suddenly Speared from out of nowhere by Universal Champion and longtime rival Roman Reigns. 

The Big Dog then stared at Paul Heyman, who turned heel and handed Reigns the WWE Title, which Roman put to good use, hitting Lesnar over the head with the belt once The Beast got to his feet. 

This provided a recovering Lashley with the moment he needed and he crawled over to Lesnar and covered him for the 1-2-3 to begin his second reign as WWE Champion. 

Edge & Beth Phoenix def. The Miz & Maryse

In a match of the heels trying to win by any means necessary, it was the babyface team of Edge and Beth Phoenix who walked away with the victory at the Royal Rumble.

Both husband and wife teams enjoyed time on top throughout the contest and Miz and Maryse thought they had the match won after the former Divas Champion decked Beth Phoenix from behind with a brick while Miz distracted the referee.

The Glamazon managed to kick out, though, so Miz and Maryse tried to pin Edge, with Maryse hitting The Rated-R Superstar with a Hurricanrana before Miz connected with a Skull Crushing Finale. 

Edge just managed to kick out and he escaped a Double Skull Crushing Finale attempt from the heel couple before the 11-time world champion and Phoenix connected with a double Spear.

Moments later, Phoenix and Edge hit tandem Glam Slams and The Rated-R Superstar covered The Miz for the victory. 

Brock Lesnar wins the Men's Royal Rumble 

It was then time for the Men's Royal Rumble in the main event and while it is one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the year, the 2022 Men's Rumble underwhelmed, with very little that will live long in the memory happening until the final stages. 

One of the few noteworthy things in the early going, though, was one of the favourites AJ Styles scored several eliminations before he was tossed over the top rope by Madcap Moss of all people. 

Kofi Kingston's customary amazing Royal Rumble spot also went awry in 2022 after he was knocked from the top rope by Kevin Owens. The whole spot was mistimed, though, and Kofi was unable to grab the barricade before both of his feet touched the floor, eliminating him in the process. This ultimately scuppered some of WWE's plans for the match as Bryan Alvarez noted the company had spots planned between him and New Day faction-mate Big E. 

The Rumble then grew more exciting down the stretch and Drew McIntyre, Shane McMahon and Bad Bunny all returned during the final 10 entrants before Brock Lesnar entered the Rumble at #30. 

The Beast proceeded to dominate like he did in 2020 and he scored quick eliminations over Riddle, Randy Orton, Bad Bunny and Shane McMahon which brought the match down to Drew McIntyre and The Beast Incarnate.

Unlike in 2020, though, McIntyre failed to eliminate Lesnar and the former WWE Champion F5'd the final competitor over the top rope to win the Men's Royal Rumble.

No match has been made official for WrestleMania 38 as of yet but a third 'Mania match with Roman Reigns looks to be all but inevitable. 

A full breakdown of both Rumble matches can be found below:

Women's Royal Rumble: 

1. Sasha Banks - Eliminated by Queen Zelina

2. Melina - Eliminated by Sasha Banks 

3. Tamina - Eliminated by Natalya

4. Kelly Kelly - Eliminated by Sasha Banks

5. Aliyah - Eliminated by Charlotte Flair

6. Liv Morgan - Eliminated by The Bella Twins 

7. Queen Zelina - Eliminated by Rhea Ripley

8. Bianca Belair - Eliminated by Charlotte Flair

9. Dana Brooke - Eliminated by Michelle McCool

10. Michelle McCool - Eliminated by Mickie James

11. Sonya Deville - Eliminated by Naomi

12. Natalya - Eliminated by Bianca Belair

13. Cameron - Eliminated by Sonya Deville

14. Naomi - Eliminated by Charlotte Flair with an assist from Sonya Deville 

15. Carmella - Eliminated by Rhea Ripley

16. Rhea Ripley - Eliminated by Charlotte Flair 

17. Charlotte Flair - Eliminated by Ronda Rousey 

18. Ivory - Eliminated by Rhea Ripley 

19. Brie Bella - Eliminated by Ronda Rousey 

20. Mickie James - Eliminated by Lita

21. Alicia Fox - Eliminated by The Bella Twins

22. Nikki A.S.H - Eliminated by Ronda Rousey 

23. Summer Rae - Eliminated by Natalya

24. Nikki Bella - Eliminated by Brie Bella

25. Sarah Logan - Eliminated by The Bella Twins 

26. Lita - Eliminated by Charlotte Flair 

27. Mighty Molly  - Eliminated by Nikki A.S.H

28. Ronda Rousey - Winner

29. Shotzi - Eliminated by Ronda Rousey

30. Shayna Baszler - Eliminated by Charlotte Flair

Men's Royal Rumble:

1. AJ Styles - Eliminated by Madcap Moss

2. Shinsuke Nakamura - Eliminated by AJ Styles

3. Austin Theory - Eliminated by AJ Styles

4. Robert Roode - Eliminated by AJ Styles

5. Ridge Holland - Eliminated by AJ Styles

6. Montez Ford - Eliminated by Omos

7. Damian Priest - Eliminated by Omos 

8. Sami Zayn - Eliminated by AJ Styles

9. Johnny Knoxville - Eliminated by Sami Zayn

10. Angelo Dawkins - Eliminated by Omos

11. Omos - Eliminated by AJ Styles

12. Ricochet - Eliminated by Happy Corbin 

13. Chad Gable - Eliminated by Rick Boogs

14. Dominik Mysterio - Eliminated by Happy Corbin

15. Happy Corbin - Eliminated by Drew McIntyre

16. Dolph Ziggler - Eliminated by Bad Bunny

17. Sheamus - Eliminated by Bad Bunny

18. Rick Boogs - Eliminated by Happy Corbin 

19. Madcap Moss - Eliminated by Drew McIntyre

20. Riddle - Eliminated by Brock Lesnar

21. Drew McIntyre - Eliminated by Brock Lesnar

22. Kevin Owens - Eliminated by Shane McMahon

23. Rey Mysterio - Eliminated by Kevin Owens

24. Kofi Kingston - Eliminated by Kevin Owens 

25. Otis - Eliminated by RK-Bro

26. Big E - Eliminated by Randy Orton

27. Bad Bunny - Eliminated by Brock Lesnar

28. Shane McMahon - Eliminated by Brock Lesnar

29. Randy Orton - Eliminated by Brock Lesnar

30. Brock Lesnar - Winner