The 2010 Royal Rumble Match took place on January 31, 2010, at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of WWE’s annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view event. The Royal Rumble is a 30-man battle royal, where participants enter at timed intervals, and the only way to be eliminated is by being thrown over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor. The winner of this match earns a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 26.
The Build-Up to the 2010 Royal Rumble
The 2010 edition of the Royal Rumble match featured some of WWE’s biggest stars, including John Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Batista, and The Undertaker. There was immense tension leading into the match, as multiple storylines were at play. Shawn Michaels was desperate to win, as he wanted a rematch against The Undertaker at WrestleMania, but he would have to outlast 29 other superstars to achieve that dream.
The Match Begins
The first two entrants were Dolph Ziggler and Evan Bourne, kicking off the match with high-energy offense. However, the early minutes of the match were dominated by CM Punk, who entered at #3. With the help of his Straight Edge Society, Punk eliminated multiple superstars and used his time between entrants to deliver speeches about his “straight-edge” lifestyle, drawing heavy boos from the crowd.
One of the biggest surprises of the night came when Beth Phoenix entered the match at #6, making history as only the second woman ever to compete in a Royal Rumble match. She even managed to eliminate The Great Khali by kissing him and pulling him over the top rope. However, her run was short-lived as CM Punk eliminated her soon after.
Mid-Match Chaos and Rivalries
As more superstars entered, the ring filled up with notable names such as Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and John Cena. The long-standing rivalry between Triple H and Shawn Michaels played a key role in the match. Despite being DX teammates, they both knew they had to eliminate each other to achieve their WrestleMania goals.
A dramatic moment occurred when Michaels eliminated Triple H, showing his desperation to win the Rumble and get his rematch with The Undertaker. However, Michaels’ dream was shattered when he was shockingly eliminated by Batista, leaving him devastated. Michaels even re-entered the ring to argue with officials before leaving in frustration.
The Final Entrants and The Winner
As the match neared its end, the final four superstars were John Cena, Batista, Edge, and Chris Jericho. Edge, who made a shocking return from injury at #29, had the crowd on their feet. He quickly eliminated Jericho, reigniting their past feud.
The final showdown came down to Edge, Cena, and Batista. After a dramatic sequence, Edge eliminated Batista, leaving just himself and Cena. In the end, Edge eliminated Cena to win the 2010 Royal Rumble Match, earning his shot at WrestleMania 26.
Edge’s victory was a defining moment, marking a triumphant return from injury and setting up an intense road to WrestleMania.
