It’s time for our second title tilt of the evening. After a quick shot of Cody Rhodes backstage, which elicits a big pop from the crowd, we head into the pre-match video package for our next bout, which features the WWE United States Championship on-the-line, with reigning title-holder Logan Paul defending against Kevin Owens.

The familiar sounds of Kevin Owens’ theme hits the house speakers inside Tropicana Field and the crowd roars as “The Prize Fighter” emerges and heads to the ring looking all business. He sits on the top rope and leans foward with a stone cold look in his eyes. Logan Paul makes his way out with his U.S. title in-hand. He settles in the ring as Pat McAfee sings his praises on commentary.

Samantha Irvin does the pre-match formal ring introductions for this championship contest, while Owens stays seated on the top-rope in the corner with a stone cold stare at Logan. The bell sounds after the champ is introduced next and we’re officially off-and-running with this one. The commentators remind us that Owens is not wearing his protective cast on his broken hand as promised.

Owens immediately goes after Paul, decking him and stomping away at him in the corner. The two quickly fight out to the floor, where Owens slams Paul into the barricade. Paul fights back and sends Owens into the barricade viciously after hitting a big leaping splash from the ring to the floor. He lets out a war scream and then brings Owens back in the ring, where he hits a big high spot before going back to work on the injured hand of Owens.

Paul starts to tear the trademark black tape from the wrist and hand of his injured paw. Owens grabs Paul by the nose to stop him, but Paul fights his way free and continues to punish the challenger and more experienced veteran, focusing his attack on his injured hand all-the-while as the crowd boos and tries rallying behind “The Prize Fighter.” Paul goes for a 6-1-9 but Owens avoids it and begins fighting back.

Kevin Owens hits a cannonball in the corner on Paul and some of his other trademark spots, but Paul takes back over. He hits a Buckshot Lariat and then a nice follow-up spot and then leaps off the top-rope with a modified frog splash for a close near fall. Paul takes Owens to the top-rope and yells to Corey Graves, “You said no man can suplex Kevin Owens, well watch me!” He goes to super-plex him, but Owens counters with an avalanche brainbuster for a close near fall.

“The Prize Fighter” fights back and takes over on offense. He looks for the pop-up power bomb and a stunner, but Paul avoids it and ends up decking Owens with a knockout punch. He goes for the cover, but somehow Owens kicks out.

We see one of Paul’s friends at ringside, who Pat McAfee keeps yelling, “That’s Jeff! Jeff from the internet!” Security comes to stop this Jeff guy and even Austin Theory and Grayson Waller come out. Theory passes brass knuckles to Paul, who slips them on just as Owens rolls him up. Paul kicks out. Owens grabs Paul’s hand and takes the brass knuckles off. He decks Paul with them and covers him, but the ref notices the knuckles on Owens hand during the pin. He calls for the bell and disqualifies him.

Winner via DQ and STILL WWE United States Champion: Logan Paul

We see the aftermath of the Owens-Paul match, as Cole, McAfee and Graves are all standing in front of a slaughtered commentary desk as they promote the upcoming WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth and WrestleMania XL premium live events. Trailers for both shows air and then they promote The Weeknd’s “Gasoline” being the theme for WrestleMania 40, marking the fifth year in a row he has a theme for WrestleMania.

Samantha Irvin then announces 48,044 fans are in attendance inside the building tonight, marking a new attendance record for Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. She then runs down the rules for our main event, the Men’s Royal Rumble match.

After the match, Owens attacks Paul and Powerbombs him through the announce table. 

Men’s 30-Man Royal Rumble Match

The theme for “Main Event” Jey Uso hits and out he comes as the number one entrant in this year’s Men’s Rumble bout. Jimmy Uso comes out as the number two entrant.

They faced off for a long time and had some great emotional facial reactions.  They battled back and forth with right hands.  Some good back and forth action.

Number #3 is Grayson Waller.  He cut a promo as he walked all the way down to the ring, saying he was going to host an edition of The Grayson Waller Effect.    He ripped them both.  He got kicked off the apron before he got into the ring.  Jey went to toss Jimmy out.  Waller attacked and asked Jimmy to work with him.

Number four is the returning Andrade. Waller approached him but was drilled.  Andrade nailed a spinning elbow.  He nailed the Three Amigos on Waller, who blocked it.  

Number five was Carmelo Hayes, making his Rumble debut. He hit the ring and looked really good.  He and Uso attacked Andrade.  Hayes eliminated Waller with a clothesline over the top.

Number six is Shinsuke Nakamura.    The crowd sang his theme song.  He went back and forth with Carmelo.

Number seven is Santos Escobar.  He tried to align himself with Andrade.  Andrade blew him off.  Escobar tried to toss him off.

Number eight is Karrion Kross with Scarlett.  He attacked Jey Uso and left him laying for Jimmy.  

Number nine is Dominik Mysterio.  Kross suplexed over and began drilling him with right hands.  Kross attacked Nakamura.

Number 10 is Carlito.  He took out Dom and pulled out an apple.  Escobar tossed him over the top but he saved himself.  Escobar checked on Dom but Carlito spit the apple in his eye.

Number 11 was Bobby Lashley.  He speared Nakamura.  He chokeslammed Andrade.  Dom begged off from Lashley as he charged in the corner.  Lashley still speared him.  He and Kross faced off.  Carlito was knocked off the apron by Lashley.    He then tossed Kross.

The Authors of Pain and Paul Ellering came down.  The officials argued with them, allowing Kross to pull Lashley off the apron.  Lashley, pissed he was eliminated, attacked Kross.  The Authors of Pain got involved and The Street Profits charged down for a huge brawl!

Nuimber 12 was Ludwig Kaiser.  Everyone battled.

Number 13 was Austin Theory.   Everyone battled.

Number 14 was Finn Balor.  He tossed Hayes.  Balor and Dom started double-teaming everyone.  

Number 15 was Cody Rhodes.  The crowd picked up for his entrance.  He cleaned house on Austin and tossed him.

Number 15 was Cody Rhodes.  The crowd picked up for his entrance.  He cleaned house on Austin and tossed him.  Finn and Dom doubleteamed Cody.

Number 16 was Bronson Reed.  He began beating on everyone.  He hit a double Samoan Drop on Dom and Finn.  Andrade was tossed.  Cody and Nakamura brawled.

Number 17 was Kofi Kingston.  Nakamura was eliminated.  Kof took out Ludwig with a kick.

Number 18 was WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.   He began chopped everyone.  He and Reed battled.  GUNTHER and Cody faced off and battled.  GUNTHER smashed Kofi and eliminated him.

Number 19 was Ivar.   He looked great taking out everyone for a bit, including Cody and Uso.  Ivar and Bronson began beating each other.

Number 20 was NXT’s Bron Breakker. Bron went nuts with intense clotheslines on everyome.  He eliminated Jimmy Uso with a clothesline. He tossed Balor.  He pressed GUNTHER over his head.  GUNTHER escaped but was speared.

Number 21 was Omos.  He tossed Bronson.  Bronson tossed Ivar.

Number 22 was Pat McAfee, who acted like he didn’t know he was in it.  He was psyched up by Cole and Graves.  He entered the ring and saw Bron and Omos waiting for him, so he eliminated himself.

Bron avoided a charge, so Omos got caught on the ropes.  Bron knocked him out.  Dom pushed Bron over.

Number 23 was JD McDonough.  Bron speared him in the entrance, pissed he was eliminated.

Cody and GUNTHER battled. 

Number 24 was R-Truth.  He tossed JD in and JD was immediately clotheslined over the top.  Truth got on the apron and waited to get tagged in as he don’t know the rules.  Dom finally did it.  Truth cleaned house on GUNTHER.  

Number 25 was Miz.  He nailed a floatover DDT on GUNTHER.    Dom hit the 619 on Miz.

Number 26 was Damian Priest.  He drilled Truth and tossed him out, then looked down at him, angry.  He then attacked Miz and began swinging down.  He went for a splash on Cody but missed.  They battled.

Number 27 is CM Punk.  He cleaned house.  Dom tried to toss him but Punk reversed and adios Dom.   Priest attacked Punk from behind and laid him out.  

Number 28 is Ricochet.  He hit some big moves but was clotheslined by Damian.  Miz was knocked off the ropes and bounced off the apron to the floor.

Number 29 is Drew McIntyre. He battled everyone. He kicked the hell out of GUNTHER. He nailed a big suplex on Ricochet. Jey was tossed out.

Number 30 is Sami Zayn. TJ Parsons is the happiest man in the world. Everyone battled.

Drew tossed Ricochet over the top.

The final six all faced off and battled, all hitting big moves.

Zayn tossed Priest.  Drew tossed Sami.

Four men left.

Cody hit the Cody Cutter on GUNTHER, who came back with a clothesline.

Drew and Punk battled in the corner.    Drew and GUNTHER faced off and then went back after the others.  Drew chopped Punk hard.  He and GUNTHER had words, allowing Cody and Punk to attack.  Punk avoided the Claymore and called for the GTS but Drew escaped.  Drew nailed the Glasgow Kiss.  Drew nailed the Claymore Kick on Cody.  He nailed another on Punk.

Drew trash-talked Punk but Punk tossed him over.  

Three man left.

GUNTHER dropkicked Punk and then slammed him.    GUNTHER was pulled over and eliminated by Cody.

It’s down to Punk and Cody.

They showed Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins each watching from suites.

They battled back and forth, slugging it out.  Punk nailed a series of strikes but was nailed with a low powerslam.  Cody went for the Cody Cutter but Punk caught him and nailed a series of suplexes.  Punk nailed the knee strike into the bulldog on Cody.    He called for GTS  but Cosdy slipped out and went for CrossRhodes.  He nailed some clubbering shots and hit a Bionic Elbow.  

Punk tossed him but Cody pulled himself back under the ring.  Punk pointed to the Mania sign but was hit with CrossRhodes.  The crowd chanted for Cody.  Punk was pulled up but nailed GTS.  Cody used a Crucifix to try and pull Punk over but it didn’t work.   Punk nailed a Pedigree.  Punk said he didn’t wait 10 years to lose to Dusty’s kid.   He set up for a GTS but Cody blocked it and tossed Punk.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

Cody pointed to the Reigns’ title as Roman watched, defiant.

–– Here is the card for 2024 WWE Royal Rumble ––

• WWE United States Championship Match: Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens.
• Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Match: Roman Reigns (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles.
• Women’s 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match: Bayley, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch, Alba Fyre, Zelina Vega, Shotzi, “Michin” Mia Yim & Bianca Belair announced.
• Men’s 30-Man Royal Rumble Match: Cody Rhodes, GUNTHER, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Damian Priest, Bobby Lashley, Santos Escobar, R-Truth, Carlito, Grayson Waller, Austin Theory, and Drew McIntyre Announced.

Stay tuned to WrestlingAttitude, WA.Com On Twitter and Google News for more.

2024 WWE Royal Rumble Results