The Unexpected Twists In WWE Royal Rumble 2025

WWE Royal Rumble 2025 Pay-per-view was so good that it’s still been talked about till date.

WWE held their 39th annual Royal Rumble on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Lucas Oil Station, Indianapolis, Indiana, and needless to say, the Pay-per-view was nothing short of spectacular! Every match that took place that night was —in the words of Sheamus, “Banger, after banger, after banger.”

It’s no news that the world of wrestling is full of surprises and one has to be alert at all times but nothing prepares you for that twist that always steals the show. This year’s Royal Rumble wasn’t an exception. I mean, of course, the WWE Universe and fans at home had their expectations about certain superstars that they think would make their long anticipated appearance at the Royal Rumble but then, the management had other plans and that’s what I’ll be talking about.

Alexa Bliss And Nikki Bella’s Appearance At The Royal Rumble

The show kicked off with the Women’s Royal Rumble match, and like I previously mentioned, many fans had a particular superstar they expected to make an appearance at the Rumble, stars like Jade Cargill who was last seen on the November 11, 2024 episode of Monday Night Raw.

Being that Cargill’s absence had to do with her being attacked by a yet to be identified person, it’s only fitting that her “surprise” comeback at the Rumble will leave the culprit in shivers as she’d definitely dive head first into her attacker to get her pound of revenge thereby carving a WrestleMania spot for herself. However, that wasn’t the case at all.

Rather than Cargill, we got Alexa Bliss. Bliss, who was last seen at the 2023 Royal Rumble made her surprise return to WWE as No. 21 in this year’s Royal Rumble. Prior to her appearance, her return date was in doubt amid a reported contract dispute with WWE.

Frightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that “Alexa Bliss’ return came together very late, and originally Shotzi was to be in the WWE Royal Rumble in that spot as of Friday, @FightfulSelect has learned,” he also added, “Those we spoke to were both happy to see Alexa back, and felt bad that Shotzi didn’t get in.”

https://x.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1886113668179394683?t=Y9LFiziK02nnEmvVTLuobw&s=19

Another superstar whose appearance was not expected was Nikki Bella. Bella’s surprise appearance at the Rumble as the 30th and final entrant was not in any way expected not just because it’s been three years since she stepped foot inside a WWE ring, but also because she and her twin sister Brie Bella said in March 2023 that they wouldn’t be re-signing with WWE.

The appearance of both Bliss and Bella was well received by the WWE Universe.

Sami Zayn’s Involvement In Cody Rhodes And Kevin Owens’ Match

The match between Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship was so beautiful. Those two gave us everything, and more. They really left it all in the ring. The most beautiful thing about that match was how almost everyone expected Sami Zayn to interfere with the match and cost Rhodes his title but the reverse was the case.

The first time Sami appeared at the ringside was after Owens delivered the Fisherman Buster through the ladder on Rhodes. For a second there, Rhodes looked like he was dead and Sami was seen rushing down to the ring to check on both Owens and Rhodes. Towards the end of their match, after Rhodes turned the tide on Owens and delivered an Alabama Slam through the ladder on Owens causing Owens to land with his neck and break the ladder in half, Sami who was still hanging around the ringside rushed to check on Owens.

Now, here’s when almost everyone in the arena held their breath. The moment Rhodes climbed the ladder inside the ring to retrieve the titles, it was half-expected that Sami would rush in anytime and stop Rhodes from winning and retaining his championship title. Sami didn’t move, instead he stayed glued to Owens’ side till the medics arrived.

Akira Tozawa’s Replacement By IShowSpeed

This particular scene took place at the Main-Event which was the Men’s Royal Rumble match. Here’s what happened; Bron Breakker eliminated Carmelo Hayes but, just when Carmelo was grudgingly leaving the arena, Akira Tozawa was about to enter the rumble as No 8. Out of excitement, Tozawa in his usual manner wanted to show off his dance moves but was unfortunately attacked by an angry Carmelo. 

Tozawa was taken backstage where the Chief Content Officer Triple H suddenly called out to popular YouTuber IShowSpeed who was coincidentally hanging out backstage to replace Tozawa. IShowSpeed on his part made the most of the opportunity given to him as the minute he joined the rumble, he helped Bron Breakker eliminate Otis. Afterwards, he began dishing out Christiano Ronaldo’s famous backflip —a move which took his mind off the prize and gave Bron Breakker the chance to eliminate him after hitting him with a powerful Spear.

The following day, which was on Sunday, Tozawa took to X to break his silence on how his slot was given to someone else. He tweeted:

“8 years since I came to WWE.

This was my first time making an entrance at the #ROYALRUMBLE

Next year, I want to take even one step closer to the ring!!

Thank you!!!!”

https://x.com/TozawaAkira/status/1885893661268873387?t=bMEZBGzEjkHmVGFyUDWHrA&s=19

His post garnered sympathy from fans who quickly encouraged and supported him in the comments section. One said, “Akira, your journey in WWE is truly inspiring! Eight years of dedication, and now, your first Royal Rumble entrance—what a milestone! Next year, as you aim to step closer to the ring, remember that each stride is a victory in itself. Keep pushing forward with that.” And another added: “If I was you man, I would’ve wanna go somewhere else and prove myself that I would be great without WWE.”

Seth Rollins’ Attack On Roman Reigns

This also took place at the Men’s Royal Rumble. Roman Reigns was trying to eliminate Seth Rollins when CM Punk came and eliminated both Roman and Seth. Now, Punk eliminating Roman and Seth wasn’t the issue. The whole thing started after an unsuspecting Punk was eliminated by Logan Paul.

After Punk’s elimination, Roman who was still lying on the floor struck an argument with Punk and while this was going on, Seth was at the corner reeling. In a split second, Seth targeted Roman and hit him with a Curb Stomp. He didn’t stop there, he rushed to Punk and began fighting Punk.

Here’s why this is a surprise. Of course, the WWE Universe knows that there’s bad blood between Seth and Roman way before last year’s WrestleMania XL, however, the last person Seth had a serious match with was Punk. It was expected that Seth would direct his anger to Punk and Punk alone but Roman took the heaviest blow. Even after WWE officials managed to separate Seth from Punk, Seth still found a way to deliver a second Curb Stomp on the steel step to an unsuspecting Roman.

WWE Royal Rumble 2025 was a complete 100 overall, but as the next Pay-per-view is the Elimination Chamber, who do you think would win the chamber’s match in both the Men and Women’s Chamber match? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media. Keep following the Reel Movie Junkie for more WWE content like this.