It's a bit of a sad day when the women out do the men at the Rumble.
First "surprise" was the return of Naomi (entrant #2). Then came TNA women's champion (with belt in tow), Jordynne Grace. But, the biggest pop by far was Jade Cargill. Not only by her entrant, but by her scooping up all 300-lb of Nia Jax and dropping her on her back and chucking her over the top rope single-handedly (with a little leap from Jax herself).
But in the end, Bailey (entrant #3) went the distance and won it.
Men's rumble was interesting early, with Jey and Jimmy Uso being entrants #1 and #2 respectively. They had a little surprise, with the return of Andrade (entrant #6) and, if anyone cares, Omos.
A bit of a surprise was Bron Breaker, who actually eliminated Omos by himself. CM Punk got #27 and was among the final four, with Drew McIntyre (#30), Cody Rhodes (#15) and IC champ Gunther. Punk tore his triceps during the Rumble (perhaps when he eliminated McIntyre). Rhodes tossed Gunther out again.
It all looks as if Punk was going to win it. But, he self-sabotaged by screaming, "I didn't wait 10 years just to lose to Dusty's kid!". He went for the Go-To-Sleep. But, Rhodes grabbed the leg, told Punk about himself, and sent him sailing over the top.
After a victorious scream, smooching the mat, and obligatory pointing to the WM 40 sign to cue the pyro, The American Nightmare looked to the skyboxes in Tropicana Field (in my hometown of St. Petersburg, FL) and looked dead at the Tribal Chief (who to no one's surprise, retained the Universal championship against Orton, Knight, and Styles) and declared he wants Reigns at 'Mania.
However, when word got out that Punk tore his triceps, they had Seth Rollins confront Rhodes and insist that the 2023-2024 Rumble winner face him for what he called the "Dusty Rhodes title" (the new big gold belt), rather than Reigns' Universal strap.
If they go Rollins vs. Rhodes for WM 40 with Punk out, does that mean Reigns keeps his belt even longer?
