The 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was one of the most exciting and well-executed Royal Rumble matches in WWE history. With 30 superstars competing for a chance to headline WrestleMania 34, the match was filled with shocking moments, legendary returns, and intense action.
The Match Begins – Rusev Day Kicks Things Off
The first two entrants were Rusev (#1) and Finn Bálor (#2). The Philadelphia crowd erupted in “Rusev Day” chants as he and Bálor went back and forth in the early minutes. One of the match’s ironmen, Bálor showed incredible endurance, using his agility to stay in the fight.
Early Entrants and Surprise Returns
The ring began to fill up with superstars like Rhyno (#3), Baron Corbin (#4), and Heath Slater (#5). Corbin was eliminated early by Bálor, and in frustration, he attacked Slater before leaving. This led to a comedic sequence where every new entrant took turns attacking Slater on the ramp before even entering the ring.
Elias (#6) took advantage of the chaos and even performed a song mid-match. One of the biggest surprises came when Andrade “Cien” Almas (#7) from NXT entered, holding his own against top-tier talent.
The Arrival of Legends
The match saw its first major legendary return when The Undertaker’s brother, The Hurricane (#21), entered, attempting to hit his signature chokeslam on John Cena (#20), only to be quickly tossed out.
One of the loudest reactions of the night came when Rey Mysterio (#27) made a shocking return to WWE, delivering fast-paced offense and hitting a 619 on The Miz.
The Final Six – A Battle of Generations
As the match neared its end, the final six competitors were John Cena, Roman Reigns, Finn Bálor, Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, and Rey Mysterio. After a flurry of eliminations, it came down to the final four: Cena, Reigns, Bálor, and Nakamura—a showdown between WWE’s biggest stars and the future of the company.
Bálor, who had lasted over 57 minutes, was eliminated by Cena. Shortly after, Reigns eliminated Cena, leaving a dream final two matchup: Roman Reigns vs. Shinsuke Nakamura.
Shinsuke Nakamura’s Triumphant Victory
The crowd was firmly behind Nakamura as he and Reigns battled in an intense closing sequence. After countering a Spear, Nakamura delivered a brutal Kinshasa knee strike before tossing Reigns over the top rope to secure the biggest victory of his WWE career.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (#14, Last Eliminated: Roman Reigns)
Following the match, Nakamura made his decision for WrestleMania 34, declaring that he would challenge AJ Styles for the WWE Championship. The 2018 Royal Rumble was widely praised for its thrilling action, storytelling, and Nakamura’s well-earned victory, marking one of the best Rumble matches in recent history.
