The highly anticipated WWE Royal Rumble 2025 kicks off the road to WrestleMania this Saturday, February 1, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This event marks the first of three major WWE events scheduled to be hosted in the city, following a partnership between WWE and Indiana Sports Corp announced last summer.
With an exhilarating lineup, the Royal Rumble will feature a men’s and women’s match each consisting of 30 superstars. Notably, John Cena will participate in the men’s Rumble as part of his farewell tour, and Charlotte Flair makes her comeback in the women’s match after a year-long injury recovery. The standout winners from these matches will earn championship bouts at WrestleMania 41, allowing them to challenge the champions of their choice.
In addition to the Rumble matches, two high-stakes title matches are planned. The WWE Universal Championship match will see Cody Rhodes defend his title against former friend Kevin Owens in a ladder match. Meanwhile, the Tag Team Championship titleholders, #DIY, will face off against the Motor City Machine Guns in a 2-out-of-3 falls match.
The excitement began early with a kickoff rally held the day before the event, hosted by WWE announcers Michael Cole and Pat McAfee. The event featured appearances by multiple WWE stars and also welcomed NBA player Tyrese Haliburton, a noted wrestling fan, who expressed his intent to be in attendance after his game that afternoon. The highlight of the rally was when Haliburton conversed with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, raising speculation about his potential involvement in the Rumble.
For those looking forward to the matches, the preshow will start at 3 p.m. CT, with the main event commencing at 5 p.m. The Royal Rumble will be available for streaming on Peacock, with subscription options starting at $7.99.
With predictions buzzing about potential winners, CM Punk is currently favored to emerge victorious in the men’s match, while Charlotte Flair leads the odds for the women’s match. Fans are in for a thrilling start to WWE’s annual calendar as the Royal Rumble paves the way to WrestleMania.
Overall, the Royal Rumble promises to deliver excitement and memorable moments, continuing a rich tradition of sports entertainment. As fans gather to witness the drama unfold, the engagement between athletes like Haliburton and the WWE stars adds a refreshing layer to the festivities, underscoring the event’s appeal across various sports fans.