The 2024 Royal Rumble was a star-studded affair that saw Roman Reigns retain his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a Fatal 4-Way Match, Logan Paul barely hold onto his United States Championship, and Cody Rhodes and CM Punk battle for the right to headline WrestleMania 40.
Beyond those stars, though, are the unsung heroes of the event who may not have captured the headlines, but helped create moments that enhanced the extravaganza and solidified it as another landmark event for WWE.
These are a few of them.
Bron Breakker
The second-generation star and former NXT champion exploded into the match Saturday with the ferocity of a lion and unmatched speed, hitting the ropes and running through anyone silly enough to stand in front of him.
WWE on TNT Sports @wweontntBRON BREAKKER IS READY TO TAKE HIS SPOT! 🚨<a href="">#RoyalRumble</a> | TNT Sports Box Office<a href="">
His run was relatively short-lived after being eliminated by the sneaky, cunning Dominik Mysterio, but he was one of the few competitors in the men's match that left a lasting impression, thanks to the intensity and burst of energy he brought to the bout.
He even made Omos interesting for a millisecond.
The former women's singles and tag team champion is a legitimate Hall of Famer who recognized her value, walked out of the biggest company in professional wrestling, went to TNA, became their Knockouts World champion, and leveled up her in-ring game. Saturday, she returned to WWE better than ever before and wasted no time setting records.
Dark Puroresu Flowsion @PuroresuFlowNaomi is getting Welcome Back chants! You love to see it. <a href="">
She overcame an array of emotions early as the No. 2 entrant in the match, lasted over one hour (1:02:10), had a memorable embrace (then brawl) with TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace, and lasted to the final moments of the bout.
She worked in her first match back and the fans repaid both her return and effort with a thunderous response.
Some are understandably not into the comedy that accompanied R-Truth in nearly every major angle in which he appears but from his mistaken appearance in the Women's Royal Rumble match to his "hot tag" moment in the men's match, his work Saturday night was superb.
WWE @WWER-Truth just entered the ring during the Women's <a href="">#RoyalRumble</a> Match! 😂<br><br>And ANTLERS! <a href="">
Truth entering the women's match and being tossed by Nia Jax was a nice throwback to their previous encounter in 2019, where Jax jumped him and took his spot in the men's match.
The aforementioned tag spot involving Mysterio was golden and played up the confusion over whether or not to tag in, as directed by Damian Priest two weeks ago on Raw.
The comedy is over the top but works because Truth is dedicated to it. In anyone else's hands, it would be potentially disastrous.
Speaking of the Irresistible Force, one cannot overstate how significant she was to this year's match.
First, she was a significant contributor in that her dominance engulfed a large portion of the match. She tossed opponents around, then out of the ring as she compiled eliminations. While that may not be new, it is what establishing dominance meant once Jade Cargill entered the fray.
WWE @WWEWHAT. A. MOMENT.<a href="">@Jade_Cargill</a> lifts AND eliminates Nia Jax in the Women's <a href="">#RoyalRumble</a> Match! <a href="">
Cargill is an absolute star and was always going to succeed but we would be fooling ourselves if we did not admit the significance of building up a seemingly unstoppable heel like Jax and having the former TBS champion overpower her and eliminate her from the match.
That one moment announced to the world that Cargill was a different competitor altogether and went a long way in heating both her and the Rumble itself up down the stretch. None of that happens without Jax, who added to what has been a string of performances of late that have her trending upward.
Chelsea Green
If there was damage to be done, Green endured it.
The former Women's Tag Team Champion was run over, smashed in the corner, and tossed around Saturday night, all while selling the barrage of assaults with superb facial expressions and body language that would have major motion picture companies thinking about casting her for the Weekend At Bernie's reboot.
USA Network @USANetworkAt this rate, Chelsea Green wishes she was eliminated in 5 seconds… <a href="">#RoyalRumble</a> <a href="">
It was another example of the entertainment factor she brings to her performances, on top of her obvious in-ring talent. How WWE ever let her go the first time is beyond this writer.
Bianca Belair
Last, but certainly not least, is The EST herself.
Perhaps we have become spoiled by the excellence of the former Raw and SmackDown Women's champion because it feels as though Belair flies under the radar now more than she used to. In reality, she is as good now as she ever has been and that was on full display in a lengthy Rumble appearance.
No moment stood out more than the staredown between her and Jade Cargill, which teased a dream match that absolutely no one was ready for.
Wrestle Ops @WrestleOps🚨 Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair face-to-face!<a href="">#RoyalRumble</a> <a href="">
Two extraordinarily gifted athletes, whose raw power should not be enhanced by their speed and agility but is, they electrified Tropicana Field and had plenty hoping and dreaming of a showdown sooner rather than later.
Belair continues to seize every moment possible and remind the wrestling world that she may not be one of the famed "horsewomen," but she will not be denied in her quest to establish herself as a standard-bearer in this era of WWE.
