Cody Rhodes has won the men’s Royal Rumble match, sealing his place in a main-event spot at WrestleMania 39.
Rhodes joined the match at number 30 and entered the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, to a raucous reception.
He won the match after eliminating the #1 entrant, Gunther.
The Road to #WrestleMania just became Rhodes to WrestleMania!!!
Congratulations @CodyRhodes! pic.twitter.com/15XEe4eMQt
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2023
The 37-year-old was making his return from injury after more than seven months out.
He last competed against Seth Rollins at Hell in a Cell on June 5th, 2022. He worked that match with a fully torn pectoral muscle.
He won the Rumble match from a final five that also included Gunther, Austin Theory, Seth Rollins and Logan Paul.
The runners-up were eliminated in the following order: Theory, Rollins, Paul, and finally, Gunther.
Other notable returns or appearances from non-main roster talent in the men’s Rumble included:
- Booker T, who entered at #21. He did the Spinaroonie to a huge response before being quickly eliminated by Gunther.
- Edge, who drew #24 and eliminated Finn Balor and Damian Priest, before they pulled him over the top rope from the outside when he tried to eliminate Dominik Mysterio. He was later beaten down by members of the Judgement Day, including Rhea Ripley. Beth Phoenix made the save with a spear to Ripley.
- Logan Paul, who entered at #29. The crowd reacted negatively to Paul, who had been dealing with knee injury sustained in his match with Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel in November 2022.
