The 22nd annual Royal Rumble will come to you, live on pay-per-view this Sunday, from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI. Here is the final card for the event:
- 30-Man Royal Rumble Match featuring Superstars from RAW, SmackDown, & ECW (detailed list of participants below)
- WWE Championship: Jeff Hardy (c) Vs. Edge
- World Heavyweight Championship: John Cena (c) Vs. John "Bradshaw" Layfield (with Shawn Michaels)
- ECW Championship: Jack Swagger (c) Vs. Matt Hardy
- Women’s Championship: Beth Phoenix (c) Vs. Melina
The 30-Man Royal Rumble Match will start with two participants and every 90 seconds, another wrestler will enter. A Superstar is eliminated by being thrown over the top rope with both feet touching the floor. The winner of the Royal Rumble Match will head to WrestleMania XXV to challenge either the WWE or World Heavyweight Champion for their title. Here is a detailed list of the 21 announced participants (there is expected to be at least a few surprise entrants):
Triple H- SmackDown Superstar; Entry Announced on January 2; Won The Royal Rumble in 2002 And Won The WWE Undisputed Title At WrestleMania X-8; A 12-Time World Champion; Previous Royal Rumbles- 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2008
Vladimir Kozlov- SmackDown Superstar; Entry Announced on January 2; First Royal Rumble Match
Big Show- SmackDown Superstar; Entry Announced on January 2; Last Man Eliminated in 2000 & 2004 Royal Rumble; Former WWE, WCW, & ECW Champion; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006
Shelton Benjamin- SmackDown Superstar; Reigning United States Champion; Entry Announced on January 2; Seventh Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
The Undertaker- SmackDown Superstar; Entry Announced on January 2; Won The Royal Rumble in 2007 and Won The World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 23; Former WWE & World Heavyweight Champion; Previous Royal Rumbles- 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008
Randy Orton- RAW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 5; Last Man Eliminated in 2006 Royal Rumble; Teammates Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase also in the Rumble; Former WWE & World Heavyweight Champion; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2004, 2006, 2007
Chris Jericho- RAW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 5; First WWE Undisputed Champion & Former World Heavyweight Champion; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005
Rey Mysterio- RAW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 5; Won The Royal Rumble in 2006 and Won The World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 22; Former World Heavyweight Champion; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2003, 2005, 2006
Kofi Kingston- RAW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 5; First Royal Rumble Match
The Miz- ECW Superstar; Reigning World Tag Team Champion with John Morrison; Entry Announced on January 12; Third Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2007, 2008
John Morrison- ECW Superstar; Reigning World Tag Team Champion with The Miz; Entry Announced on January 12; Fourth Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2006, 2007, 2008
Kane- RAW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 12; Last Man Eliminated in 2001; Eleventh Straight Rumble Appearance; Holds The Record For Most Superstars Eliminated In A Single Match with eleven in 2001; Former WWE Champion; Previous Royal Rumbles- 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Cody Rhodes- RAW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 12; Teammates Randy Orton & Ted DiBiase Also In The Rumble; Second Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Rumbles- 2008
Ted DiBiase- RAW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 12; Teammates Randy Orton & Cody Rhodes Also In The Rumble; First Royal Rumble Match
Santino Marella- RAW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 12; Second Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Rumbles- 2008
R-Truth- SmackDown Superstar; Entry Announced on January 16; Previous Rumbles- 2001
The Brian Kendrick- SmackDown Superstar; Entry Announced on January 16; First Royal Rumble Match
Carlito- SmackDown Superstar; Reigning WWE Tag Team Champion with Primo; Entry Announced on WWE.com on January 16; Second Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2006, 2008
CM Punk- RAW Superstar; Reigning Intercontinental Champion; Entry Announced on January 19; Former World Heavyweight Champion; Third Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2007, 2008
Mark Henry- ECW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 19; Second Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Royal Rumbles- 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008
Finlay- ECW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 19; Third Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2007, 2008
The Great Khali- SmackDown Superstar; Entry Announced on January 23; Former World Heavyweight Champion; Third Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2007, 2008
Chavo Guerrero- ECW Superstar; Entry Announced on January 23; Fourth Straight Rumble Appearance; Previous Royal Rumbles- 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008
Seven spots remain for either unannounced superstars or surprise entrants.