A battle for control of the WWE goes down in Phoenix today at the annual Royal Rumble event.

The traditional 30-man and recently-added 30-woman elimination matches will decide who earns title opportunities at WrestleMania, but there’s also a host of title bouts on the line. WARNING: Spoilers

3.18pm

Kingston delivers annual ‘save’ spot

As far as Kofi Kingston goes the WWE veteran is famous for his creative ways of avoiding Royal Rumble elimination and this year he made use of the solid LED board that is the edge of the ring to stop both feet hitting the ground, after Dean Ambrose tossed him from the ring, using it to roll to safety before getting back in the ring.

His New Day partner Xavier Woods then saved an exiting Kingston on his way to the ring. Woods game them a piggyback into the ring before McIntyre eliminated them both at the same time.

Order of Entry: Elias, Jeff Jarrett, Shinsuke Nakamura, Kurt Angle, Big E, Johnny Gargano, Jinder Mahal, Samoa Joe, Curt Hawkins, Seth Rollins, Titus O’Neil, Kofi Kingston, Mustafa Ali, Dean Ambrose, No Way Jose, Drew McIntyre, Xavier Woods, Pete Dunne, Andrade, Apollo Crews, Aleister Black, Shelton Benjamin, Baron Corbin, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley

Order of Elimination: Jeff Jarrett, Kurt Angle, Jinder Mahal, Big E, Elias, Titus O’Neil, Curt Hawkins, Shinsuke Nakamura, Johnny Gargano, No Way Jose, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Dean Ambrose, Samoa Joe, Apollo Crews, Alesietr Black, Pete Dunne, Bobby Lashley

3.10pm

WWE star makes fun of himself

Last year WWE star Titus O’Neil went viral when he tripped and fell on his way to the ring at the Royal Rumble, this year he poked fun at himself for last year’s epic fail.

And here is that bungle again.

Order of Entry: Elias, Jeff Jarrett, Shinsuke Nakamura, Kurt Angle, Big E, Johnny Gargano, Jinder Mahal, Samoa Joe, Curt Hawkins, Seth Rollins, Titus O’Neil, Kofi Kingston, Mustafa Ali, Dean Ambrose, No Way Jose

Order of elimination: Jeff Jarrett, Kurt Angle, Jinder Mahal, Big E, Elias, Titus O’Neil, Curt Hawkins, Shinsuke Nakamura, Johnny Gargano, No Way Jose

3.00pm

Legend makes shocking WWE return to start Royal Rumble

That's J-E-double F... proving there's hope for a CM Punk return yet.

That’s J-E-double F… proving there’s hope for a CM Punk return yet.Source:Supplied

WWE legend Jeff Jarrett has returned to the ring in a move that shows never say never in pro wrestling.

Once upon a time at the height of the Monday Night Wars he held WWE boss Vince McMahon to ransom over his contract before jobbing to Chyna on his way out the door to WCW but he entered the rumble at number 2 to duet with current singing star Elias.

Elias then sent him packing with what was Jarrett’s patented move, a guitar shot over the head, before tossing him from the ring.

2.40pm

Brock Lesnar retains

Brock Lesnar is still WWE champion.

Brock Lesnar is still WWE champion.Source:Supplied

The Brock Lesnar WWE Universal Title reign continues.

As far as Lesnar matches go his bout with Finn Balor was slightly disappointing for those baying for blood or any form of botch but The Beast, with his manager Paul Heyman in tow conquered Balor after a back and forth match.

Balor managed to have Lesnar on the ropes after several dives oover the top rope and his finisher the Coup de Grace but when he hit that it was all over as Lesnar trapped the Irishman in a kimura lock, forcing the tap out.

A host of viewers were disgruntled at the ho-hum spectacle and took aim at the MMA star on Twitter.

2.30pm

Becky Lynch delivers a message

She pulled double duty at the Royal Rumble and now Becky Lynch has vowed to shatter the mould and become the first woman to main event WrestleMania.

Speaking to ESPN, Lynch was adamant, she and her opponent for the biggest WWE event of the year, rumoured to be Ronda Rousey, will go on last in April.

“We have changed the business. I am going to be the first woman to main event WrestleMania and that is happening in April,” Lynch told ESPN.

“It all started here tonight in front of 50,000 people screaming my name and millions around the world egging me on.”

The full interview can be seen in the below video.

2.20pm

Daniel Bryan retains, gets a henchman

Erick Rowan made his WWE return, helping Daniel Bryan beat AJ Styles.

Erick Rowan made his WWE return, helping Daniel Bryan beat AJ Styles.Source:Supplied

The new Daniel Bryan did more than just start a wonderful Twitter feud with Chase Field this week, he also defended the WWE Championship while bringing back an absolute beast of a man to the WWE fold.

After AJ Styles hit the Styles Clash it appeared Bryan was done but a returning Erick Rowan hit the ring with a choke slam to Styles as the previously fallen ref made the count of three for Bryan to retain his title.

Also if this is the start of an environmentally charged stable with Bryan as the leader, and he channels Straight Edge CM Punk, consider us all in.

For some pure wrestling gold from Bryan’s week in Phoenix, check out the below tweets.

1.40pm

The Man is going to WrestleMania

Get ready for WrestleMania season to get real … well sort of because the much-mooted battle between Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey may well be on.

The two have been jawing at each other over social media across the last few months and now expect WWE to book them into a title match.

After losing her own WWE Smackdown Women’s title match earlier in the night to Asuka, Lynch entered at No. 30 after Lana sold an ankle injury from the pre-show.

The final three were Charlotte, Jax and Lynch after Charlotte managed to toss Bayley they were left with Lynch elimination Jax, before having her knee battered and then Charlotte herself, when Flair charged at her and Lynch dumped her over the top rope.

Order of entrance: Lacey Evans, Natalya, Mandy Rose, Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Ember Moon, Billie Kay, Nikki Cross, Peyton Royce, Tamina, Xia Li, Sarah Logan, Charlotte Flair, Kairi Sane, Maria Kanellis, Naomi, Candice Lerae, Alicia Fox, Kacy Catanzaro, Zelina Vega, Ruby Riott, Dana Brooke, Io Shirai, Rhea Ripley, Sonya DeVille, Alexa Bliss, Bayley, Lana (never entered), Nia Jax, Carmella, Becky Lynch

Order of elimination: Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Nikki Cross, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Xia Li, Tamina, Sarah Logan, Naomi, Mandy Rose, Lacey Evans, Maria Kanellis, Alicia Fox, Candice Larae, Kairi Sane, Kacy Catanzaro, Dana Brooke, Zelina Vega, Sonya Deville, Ruby Riott, Rhea Ripley, Io Shirai, Natalya, Ember Moon, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Bayley, Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair

1.25pm

Chase Field erupts for The Man

Natalya just set a record for the longest time in a women’s Royal Rumble at nearly 59 minutes but the place has just erupted.

As Lana was selling an ankle injury after a beat down from Nia Jax and unable to make into the ring the Irish star walked down and demanded to be given her spot.

She got it and the crowd became unglued at the Rumble.

1.10pm

Aussie makes main roster debut

Adelaide’s Rhea Ripley has just made her WWE main roster debut at the Royal Rumble.

The former NT UK Women’s Champion entered the Rumble at number 24 and promptly eliminated fellow rookie Kacy Catanzaro and then Zelina Vega.

Just before that Io Shirai delivered one amazing moment with a moonsault from the top of the ringpost to the outside.

Ripley would wreck shop for a short period of time before she was eventually eliminated before former women’s champion Bayley.

12.58pm

Naomi tried for the Kofi Kingston ‘save’ spot

Naomi is long considered to have some of the most athletic moves of the WWE women’s crew and at the Rumble she nearly pulled off the Kofi Kingston save spot.

Having gone out over the rope when eliminating Mandy Rose, she reversed a powerbomb attempt into a headscissors and walked onto the ringside barricade before leaping to the steps before Rose actually threw her from there to the floor.

12.39pm

Women’s Royal Rumble gets Iconic

Continuing a theme that has gone on for a while Australia’s favourite pro wrestling duo Billie Kay and Peyton Royce have entered the Royal Rumble together.

The Iconic Duo managed to enter early on in the piece with Billie initially refusing to enter until Peyton got out there in a show of their friendship.

It didn’t happen though as Nikki Cross waylaid Billie on her way to the ring before the Australian was thrown in — not to worry though Royce was next to enter the fray.

12.30pm

Women’s Royal Rumble order of entry/elimination

Woo! Charlotte Flair in one elaborate gown.

Woo! Charlotte Flair in one elaborate gown.Source:Supplied

Order of entrance: Lacey Evans, Natalya, Mandy Rose, Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Ember Moon, Billie Kay, Nikki Cross, Peyton Royce, Tamina, Xia Li, Sarah Logan, Charlotte Flair, Kairi Sane, Maria Kanellis, Naomi, Candice Lerae, Alicia Fox, Kacy Catanzaro, Zelina Vega, Ruby Riott, Dana Brooke, Io Shirai, Rhea Ripley, Sonya DeVille, Alexa Bliss, Bayley, Lana (never entered), Nia Jax, Carmella, Becky Lynch

Order of elimination: Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Nikki Cross, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Xia Li, Tamina, Sarah Logan, Naomi, Mandy Rose, Lacey Evans, Maria Kanellis, Alicia Fox, Candice Larae, Kairi Sane, Kacy Catanzaro, Dana Brooke, Zelina Vega, Sonya Deville, Ruby Riott, Rhea Ripley, Io Shirai, Natalya, Ember Moon, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Bayley, Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair

12.25pm

Rousey retains title

There was plenty of talk about whether Ronda Rousey would leave WWE after WrestleMania and she dispelled that via her own words and then a great showing at the Royal Rumble with Sasha Banks.

Unable to lock in her signature armbar due to punching the ringpost early in the match Rousey was forced to find another way to beat Banks in what was a very physical match where Rousey showed just how far she has come in a short time.

Those moves included a tribute to WWE legend Eddie Guerrero when Rousey went for his signature Three Amigos suplexes.

After spending time in Banks’ own submission move the Banks Statement, Rousey eventually powered out of the move and lifted Banks into a bridging pinfall version of a judo throw she call’s the Piper’s Pit for the win via pinfall.

After winning the match Rousey wanted a show of sportsmanship from Banks, which she got before Banks later walked backed to her and threw up the hand gesture for the Four Horsewoman, suggesting a looming feud for Rousey against and Banks and her cohorts, Becky Lynch, Bayley and Charlotte Flair.

Rousey also celebrated post-match with her husband, UFC fighter Travis Browne, who was in the front row.

12.10pm

What will the winners point at?

Twitter has gone into a medium-level meltdown over the lack of the ubiquitous WrestleMania sign that is usually hanging from the rafters at the Royal Rumble.

Apparently the WWE could not hang it at Chase Field and the scoreboard will be used for the winners of both the men’s and women’s rumbles to point at as a digital version of the sign lights it up.

11.48am

Shane McMahon defies age and gravity

At 49 years of age Shane McMahon should no longer be able to produce the hops he did in his youth, and while he didn’t jump off the cage or the set at the Royal Rumble what he pulled off was equally impressive.

After Sheamus missed a Brogue Kick hitting his partner Cesaro square in the mouth The Miz dropped the Irishman with a Skull Crushing Finale, setting the stage for McMahon.

The son of the boss climbed to the top rope, having earlier crashed and burned on a coast-to-coast attempt before hitting Cesaro with a picture perfect Shooting Star Press to get the three as he and The Miz won the Smackdown tag titles.

The Miz had earlier taken to the ring wearing a matching Mcmahon style-baseball shirt emblazoned with ‘Miz&Mac’ to compete.

11.25am

The man ain’t the woman

Becky Lynch and Smackdown women’s champion Asuka kicked off the main card but the woman who goes by the moniker ‘The Man’ and may just be the hottest act in WWE today couldn’t get the job done.

As she and Asuka traded submission moved late in the match Lynch would eventually fall prey to the Asuka Lock, tapping out in the centre of the ring.

The two destroyed each other during the match with some particularly nasty spots including this inverted DDT onto the floor.

With the match going on first the result plays into the theory that Lynch will now enter and win the women’s Royal Rumble match to set up a WrestleMania bout with Raw women’s champ Ronda Rousey.

10.55am

Australia’s best kept secret retains Cruiserweight title

Australia’s Buddy Murphy continues to reign as the WWE’s Cruiserweight champion.

The Australian, who won the title back in January in his hometown of Melbourne retained in a fatal four-way when he hit his Murphy’s Law finisher on Japanese star Hideo Itami.

The cruiserweights might have been on the pre-show but Murphy, Itami, Akiro Tozawa and Kalisto delivered some high-flying brilliance to get the crowd hyped up for the main card.

Late in the match Murphy delivered knee strikes to all four of his opponents in short fashion, particularly this one to Kalisto before going on to get the win.

10.30am

Nakamura regains US title

He won the Royal Rumble last year but 12 months on Shinsuke Nakamura was relegated to the pre-show.

At least he walked away a winner, regaining the United States championship from Rusev in a match that was finished with a Kinshasa knee.

10am

Cameraman takes a tumble

Bobby Roode and Chad Gable took out the opening match of the night, winning a tag team contest against Scott Dawson and Rezar.

But the match was most notable for a tumble taken by a cameraman who was filming Roode’s entrance.

9.30am

Full card, results

Ronda Rousey is taking on Sasha Banks. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ronda Rousey is taking on Sasha Banks. Picture: Mark StewartSource:News Corp Australia

Pre-show

Bobby Roode and Chad Gable defeated Scott Dawson and Rezar in a tag team match

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Rusev in a singles match for the WWE United States Championship

Buddy Murphy (champion) defeated Akira Tozawa, Hideo Itami and Kalisto in a fatal four-way match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Main card

Asuka (champion) defeated Becky Lynch in a singles match for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship

The Miz and Shane McMahon defeated The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) to win the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships

Ronda Rousey defeated Sasha Banks in a singles match for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship

Becky Lynch won the 30-woman Royal Rumble match for a women’s championship match at WrestleMania 35

Daniel Bryan defeated AJ Styles in a singles match for the WWE Championship

Brock Lesnar defeated Finn Balor in a singles match for the WWE Universal Championship

30-man Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania 35

9am

Confirmed Royal Rumble entrants

Women: Carmella, Alexa Bliss, Lacey Evans, Bayley, Tamina Snuka, Lana, Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke, Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Ember Moon, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Alicia Fox, Natalya, Mickie James, Nia Jax, Nikki Cross, Naomi, Zelina Vega, Charlotte Flair. Rest of the field to be confirmed.

Men: R-Truth, Randy Orton, Titus O’Neil, Rey Mysterio, Mustafa Ali, Andrade, Apollo Crews, Elias, Baron Corbin, Jinder Mahal, Bobby Lashley, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods, Jeff Hardy. Rest of the field to be confirmed.