The WWE Royal Rumble Kickoff Press Show, airing January 31, 2025, will set the stage for one of WWE’s biggest events of the year, live from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Hosted by Michael Cole and Pat McAfee, the show will feature breaking news and updates from WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H. Top WWE Superstars, including CM Punk, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, Bayley, and Bianca Belair, are set to appear.
The press show kicks off at 5:00 PM ET, streaming live across WWE’s digital platforms. Ringside News will provide live updates, coverage, and key highlights throughout the event. Stay tuned to this page, refresh for the latest updates, and join the conversation in the comments below!
The show opens up with a shot of Indiana and the Lucas Oil Stadium as well as the site of tonight’s SmackDown. We then see the arrivals of Cody Rhodes, The Judgment Day, CM Punk, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Naomi, Drew McIntyre and Rey Mysterio.
Michael Cole then welcomes us to the show and asks the crowd if they are ready for Royal Rumble weekend. Cole then introduces Indiana’s own Pat McAfee. Cole then talks about how loud the crowd in Indiana will be. McAfee the introduces Tyrese Haliburton and Tyrese makes his way out. Tyrese then talks about how excited he is for tonight and this weekend’s Royal Rumble. Tyrese then picks John Cena to win the Men’s Royal Rumble. Tyrese, Cole and McAfee then talk about the announcement of Triple H being revealed for the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame and we see the announcement from a few days back.
Tyrese then introduces Triple H and Triple H makes his way out. The crowd then chants for Triple H. Triple H then starts off by asking the crowd if they are ready for the Royal Rumble because it will be the biggest Royal Rumble of all time. Triple H then talks about the Men’s Royal Rumble Match and biggest stars competing that will be competing. Triple H also talks about the Women’s Royal Rumble Match and how stacked both matches will be. Triple H then says anybody can enter the Royal Rumble as a surprise and asks Tyrese Haliburton if he has a minute and leaves with Tyrese.
Michael Cole then introduces WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio and Mysterio makes his way out. McAfee then asks Mysterio if he can do it again and win the Royal Rumble and Mysterio says he wants to repeat history for Eddie. Mysterio then says he will repeat history tomorrow night and Cole says he will go to WrestleMania.
Michael Cole then says the next guest wasn’t called for the Pat McAfee show, then introduces CM Punk and Punk makes his way out. Punk then asks the crowd how they are doing today. Punk then removes his jacket and shows off his new t-shirt and says they are a wrestling family. Cole then asks Punk why he is so obsessed and why he wants to win the Royal Rumble and headline WrestleMania. Punk then says because this is his dream job and he needs to win. Punk then says this is far beyond him as it is all about them. McAfee then says February 1 is the one year anniversary of his surgery.
Cole then introduces Sami Zayn and Zayn makes his way out. Zayn then talks Indiana for the chants. Cole then asks if Zayn can shock the world and win the Royal Rumble Match and Zayn talks about his relationship with the other stars and how he has the momentum to win the Royal Rumble. McAfee then asks Zayn about the kicks he did to Rollins and Rhodes these past few weeks and where it is going. Zayn then says McAfee is questioning him about his character.
Drew McIntyre’s music then hits and McIntyre makes his way out. McIntyre then tells Zayn that they should have a talk and he will not win the Royal Rumble. McIntyre then tells Zayn to help Kevin Owens and not Roman Reigns. McIntyre then tells Zayn to help himself. McIntyre then says history has a way to repeat itself. McIntyre then says everybody wants Reigns to have the title again and talks about how he will eliminate the other stars. McIntyre then talks about how he still stop Reigns and Cena. Zayn then says he doesn’t care about what McIntyre thinks and that he will go all the way. McIntyre then tells Zayn good luck. Cole then tells McIntyre that he is 11-0 over Zayn.
We then get a video package on the history of the Royal Rumble from the first-ever matchup.
Cole then talks about the rules of the Royal Rumble Match and introduces the winner of last year’s Women’s Royal Rumble Match Bayley and Bayley makes her way out. Bayley then hugs Pat McAfee and calls Michael Cole an idiot. McAfee then asks Bayley if it is possible for her to go back-to-back and win this year’s Royal Rumble Match. Bayley then talks about how she broke the record last year and how her body was hurting the entire time. McAfee then asks Bayley how excited she is to be in the Royal Rumble and to be in Indianapolis and Bayley talks about being in the arena and feeling the atmosphere. Cole then lists the back-to-back winners in the Royal Rumble and how Bayley can join them.
Cole then introduces Naomi and Naomi makes her way out and dances with the fans. Cole then talks about how he beat Naomi in a dance contest before. Cole then introduces Bianca Belair and Belair makes her way out and dances with Naomi and the fans. The fans then chant EST and McAfee welcomes the Women’s Tag Team Champions. McAfee then asks Naomi what she can bring from last year into this year’s Royal Rumble. Belair then talks about what she will do to win the Royal Rumble and how you can’t spell WrestleMania without EST. Cole then asks Naomi and Belair what will happen if it comes down to the both of them in the end and they almost gave a preview of what will happen.
Cole then introduces Nia Jax and Jax makes her way out. Jax then taunts the fans and McAfee asks what was that. The crowd then chants Tiffy Time and Jax says shut up. Cole then tells Jax that she is the favorite to win the Women’s Royal Rumble Match and what she will do to keep the 29 other women away. Jax then says she will do what she has been doing and that is to dominate. Nia Jax then says she is the first one to enter both the Women’s and Men’s Royal Rumble Matches in the same night and she will eliminate everyone. Jax then says I dare you to bet against me because you are going to lose.
Cole then introduces Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez and they make their way out. Morgan then says she is not just Liv Morgan, but the future 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble Match winner. Morgan then leaves and Cole reintroduces her. Cole then asks Morgan if she will finally win this year and Morgan says the third year is the charm and this year will be extra special because she will have some backup. Cole then talks about Raquel being in the main event of WrestleMania after winning the Royal Rumble. Cole then asks what happens if it comes down to them both and Raquel says she is loyal to the Judgment Day and what Morgan wants Morgan will get.
Cole then talks about the start time of the Royal Rumble Countdown show start time and the start time of the PLE itself. Cole and McAfee then talk about the Undisputed WWE Championship Ladder Match. Cole then introduces Cody Rhodes and Rhodes makes his way out. The crowd then sings Rhodes’ entrance music and interacts with the crowd, Cole and McAfee. Rhodes then asks how many people will be in hand tomorrow at the Royal Rumble. Rhodes then says the crowd is ready for WrestleMania. Cole then asks Rhodes how important the Royal Rumble is to him and Rhodes says he won the Royal Rumble twice. Rhodes then says the should do something today as the Ladder Match is still tomorrow. Rhodes then reads some fan signs and talks about bringing back the Winged Eagle Championship. Rhodes then says Yeet was born in the city of Indianapolis. Rhodes then says he wants to do something with Michael Cole and Pat McAfee and talks about how they will crowd surf. Cole and McAfee then reminds the fans of the start time of Royal Rumble. Michael Cole and Cody Rhodes then crowd surfs and Pat McAfee says this is Indiana and let’s have a weekend as the show comes to a close.