1988- The first ever Royal Rumble debuts on USA on a Monday Night. The first entrant is Bret Hart and the match is won by "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. In NWA Dusty Rhodes wins a steel cage Bunkhouse Stampede.

1993- At the Royal Rumble WWF Champion Bret Hart successfully defends his title against Razor Ramon. Yokozuna won the Royal Rumble match, last eliminating Macho Man Randy Savage when Savage attempted to pin Yoko.

1999- Royal Rumble was won by Vince McMahon. The Rock beat Mankind for the WWF championship in an I Quit match. During the match The Rock hit Mankind in the head with a steel chair 11 times. Mankind never actually said I Quit. Instead an excerpt from an earlier interview was played over the intercom system.

2000- Sid Vicious pinned Kevin Nash for the WCW WHC on Nitro

2016- Roman Reigns defended the WWE Championship in the Royal Rumble match. Triple H won the match and the championship. This is also the event where AJ Styles made his long awaited WWE debut.

2020- NWA Hard Times features 3/5 title changes with Eli Drake (LA Knight) and James Storm winning the NWA Tag Team Championship, Thunder Rosa winning the NWA Womens Championship and Ricky Starks winning the NWA World Television Championship.

1995- On Monday Night Raw, Smoking Gunns defeated Bob Holly and 123 Kid for the tag titles one night after Holly and Kid won a tournament to crown the new champions.

1997- Clash of the Champions XXXII. Sting and Lex Luger defeated the Blue Bloods for the WCW Tag Team Championship. Later in the night, Ric Flair and the Giant beat Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.

2000- Royal Rumble 2000 features Taz making his debut beating an undefeated Kurt Angle. The Hardy Boyz defeating the Dudley Boys in the first ever tag team tables match. Triple H successfully defending his WWF Championship against Cactus Jack in a brutal Street Fight. The 30 man Royal Rumble was won by The Rock in controversial fashion due to his feet hitting the floor before the Big Show.

2023-WWE RAW turns 30

Courtesy of wrestleview.com

WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan defeated Paul Orndorff (w/Bobby Heenan) in a steel cage match at 10:42 by exiting over the top after hitting the legdrop on the challenger and sending an interfering Heenan into the cage; both men simultaneously left the cage from opposite sides of the ring earlier in the bout and the winner was inconclusive so the match continued (Hulkamania 2, Saturday Night’s Main Event: The Greatest Hits, The History of the WWE Heavyweight Championship) (Saturday Night’s Main Event – 12/14/86; Hartford, CT; Civic Center)

1991 Royal Rumble is won by Hulk Hogan, who becomes the first man to win the match in back to back years. Earlier in the night, Sgt. Slaughter pinned WWF World Champion the Ultimate Warrior at 12:46 to win the title with an elbow drop after Randy Savage and Sensational Sherri interfered, with Savage smashing his scepter over Warrior’s head

1992 Royal Rumble is won by the earliest entrant up to this point, Ric Flair (#3). Due to Flair winning he was awarded the vacant WWF Championship

1997 Royal Rumble. Stone Cold Steve Austin wins his first of three Rumble matches after a controversial ending. Shawn Michaels returned to beat Sid for the WWF Championship.

2000 WWF New York opens in Times Square

2003 Royal Rumble is won by Brock Lesnar in his first appearance at the event. Chris Benoit comes up short in challenging Kurt Angle for the World Title in an epic match. Triple H and Scott Steiner compete in possibly the worst WWE Championship match of all time.

2007 Rest in Peace Bam Bam Bigelow

Happy Birthday shouts to R-Truth, Tyler Breeze, Wardlow and Pat Patterson.

WWE Hall Of Famer Scott Steiner Assesses Nephew Bron Breakker (wrestlinginc.com)

WWE RAW

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Braun Strowman: Braun confirmed on 6/2/23 in an Instagram post that he had neck fusion surgery on his C4/C5 Vertebrae. He last wrestled on May 1st, 2023.

Dexter Lumis: Inactive since May 29th, 2023.

Erik of The Viking Raiders: In an Instagram post on November 1st, Erik announced that he had C6/C7 neck fusion surgery. He will be out for the foreseeable future.

Giovanni Vinci: On the 1/8/24 Raw. Michael Cole announced Vinci will be out of action for a number of weeks after sustaining an injury on the 1/1/24 Raw.

Liv Morgan: Fightful Select reported that Liv worked the 7/24/23 Raw with an injured shoulder. Liv confirmed the injury in an interview with Muscle and Health.

Raquel Rodriguez: Raquel announced that she is missing time because of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. There is no timetable for her return at this time.

Sonya Deville: Torn ACL on July 28, 2023.

WWE SMACKDOWN

Charlotte Flair: On the 12/15/23 SmackDown, WWE Commentator Kevin Patrick said Flair will miss at least nine months after tearing her ACL, MCL, and Meniscus. Per PWInsider, Charlotte will have surgery as soon as scheduled.

Dakota Kai: Dakota had a knee injury on the May 12th episode of SmackDown. She had surgery on May 23rd. She has started the rehab process. She regularly appears on WWE programming with Damage CTRL.

Rey Mysterio: Rey posted on his Facebook account on 11/14/23 that he had successful surgery on his right knee. He is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

Sheamus: Sheamus is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury. Sheamus last wrestled on the August 18th edition of SmackDown.

WWE Unassigned:

Alexa Bliss: Announced her pregnancy on May 30th, 2023.

Big E: Broken neck on March 11, 2022. He says he feels 100%, though he has no estimated return date.

Carmella: Carmella is out for the remainder of 2023 and at least part of 2024. She and her husband, Corey Graves, recently announced the birth of their child.

Robert Roode: Robert has not wrestled on TV since June 2022 due to a neck injury. Robert underwent fusion surgery in December and C4-C5 cervical fusion on May 11, 2023. He has been working as a producer.

Tamina: Inactive since February 2023. Has been backstage at multiple events.

Titus O'Neil: Titus has not wrestled since November 2020. He says he's not retired and healing from a knee injury. Has been backstage at several shows of late.

Xyon Quinn: Inactive since May. Quinn last wrestled on May 15th.

WWE NXT:

Cora Jade: It's been reported that Cora will be out because of a torn ACL on January 12th.

Meiko Satomura: Inactive

Sol Ruca: Torn ACL in April 2023

Wendy Choo: Undisclosed injury; Last wrestled on May 19th. Shawn Michaels said on the NXT Great American Bash Media Call on 7/27/23 that Choo is rehabbing her injuries.

Wes Lee: Vic Joseph announced on the 12/05/23 edition of NXT that Lee will require back surgery and would be out of action for 8-12 months.

AEW

Adam Cole: Announced on the 9/27/23 AEW Dynamite that he broke his ankle in three places and will need surgery. Adam appeared at AEW Worlds End on 12/30. He is still in a walking boot.

Bandido: An update was provided by Bandido on December 1st. He says he does not know how long he will be out of action with his injured wrist.

Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.: On the December 28th Media Call for AEW's Worlds End PPV. AEW President Tony Khan said that Baked is on the injured list. Fightful Select reported she was backstage visiting at the 12/27 AEW Dynamite in Orlando.

Chuck Taylor: It was stated on the 1/17/24 Dynamite that Taylor is dealing with an injured ankle. There is no timetable set for his return.

CJ Perry: Inactive

Jamie Hayter: Hayter has been out of action since late May of 2023. Fightful Select confirmed that she would be out for the foreseeable future and will likely return in 2024.

Juice Robinson: Fightful Select confirmed that Juice will be out for the foreseeable future due to a back injury. There is no known return date.

Keith Lee: Tony Khan announced that Keith Lee is injured and was not cleared to participate against Swerve Strickland at Worlds End. There is no timetable for his return.

Kenny Omega: On December 15th, Omega posted on X that he would be out indefinitely. The reason Omega was hospitalized was because he was diagnosed with diverticulitis.

Kota Ibushi: Kota wrestled Naomichi Marufuji at NOAH's The New Year Show. NOAH announced Kota had been diagnosed with a right tibiofibular ligament tear and a right ankle lateral ligament complex injury. There is no timetable set for his return.

Kyle O'Reilly: Neck fusion surgery in 2022. O'Reilly is not expected back in 2023. Fightful Select reported on 12/6 that O'Reilly has been backstage at shows.

Mark Davis: On October 2nd, 2023, Davis tweeted that he snapped his wrist, and it has not been determined how long he will be out due to injury. Davis is booked for a match on the Jericho Cruise in late January.

MJF: In a social media post, which has since been deleted, MJF stated that he has a torn labrum. Fightful Select was told it was a legitimate injury.

PAC: Undisclosed Injury, was injured on the 8/4/23 Rampage taping.

Parker Boudreaux: Undisclosed injury

Rey Fenix: Undisclosed injury; however, in an interview with Denise Salcedo, he said he would return to the ring soon**.** There is no timetable set for his return.

RUSH: RUSH said in an X post that he tore his hamstring during his second Continental Classic match. There is no timetable set for his return.

Sammy Guevara: Sammy was injured during his Battle of the Belts match on 1/13/24. There is no timetable for how long he will be out of action.

Serena Deeb: Vignette aired during AEW Worlds End Zero, stating Deeb would return soon.

Stu Grayson: Grayson last wrestled in AEW on the August 30th, 2023 edition of Dynamite.

Tay Melo: Maternity leave. Recently gave birth.

IMPACT WRESTLING

Joe Doering: Inactive; announced in August of 2022 that he had brain cancer.

Mark Andrews: Announced in a social media post on December 8th that he will miss at least 12 weeks due to a calf injury. Andrews says it is a Grade 3 C tendon tear.

NJPW

None

MLW:

None

OTHERS:

Ashley Vox: Delmi Exo said on Fightful's Into The Weeds that her sister and tag team partner Ashley Vox is dealing with a shoulder injury and does not have an ETA on return.

Cara Noir: Shared an injury update via Twitter on July 14th. He believes he could be out for 12 months or longer. Noir suffered multiple injuries in his foot at Progress 151 on April 23, 2023.

Cassie Lee: Maternity LEAVE.

Davienne: "Not accepting bookings for the foreseeable future" while sidelined

Kidd Bandit: Kidd Bandit stated in a Social Media post on 9/13 that they will be out for two months with an undisclosed injury.

Maki Itoh: Itoh and TJPW announced that she had been experiencing numbness in her arm since her January 4 bout against Rina Yamashita. She did have an MRI and will take some time off to rest and get treatment.

Mercedes Mone: Right leg injury at NJPW Resurgence on 5/21/23.

Sanely: CMLL announced in a Press Release that Sanely tore her right MCL, damaged her ACL, and will miss 6-8 months.

Shayne Hawke: Announced in a tweet on July 12th, 2023, that he has a broken neck and back. He will be out for the foreseeable future.

Tam Nakano: Tan is currently sidelined with a knee injury. She has not wrestled since October 9th.

Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

BY SAM PALMER/JAN. 17, 2024 11:30 PM EST

Former WWE Superstar Lio Rush has looked back on his time with the company and revealed who his favorite rival was. Rush was part of World Wrestling Entertainment between 2017 and 2020 before eventually being released during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a recent appearance on the "Unscriptify" podcast, he opened up about the rivalry that gave him the most creative fulfilment.

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"My favorite storyline for sure was me and Angel Garza," Rush said. "I highly enjoyed it, a lot of in-depth character work, a lot of promos, good storyline...everything was there. The matches like you said, it was a fun time [we] definitely tore it up."

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Rush and Garza feuded over the NXT Cruiserweight Championship in late 2019. Their first bout ended with Rush successfully defending his championship against Garza, but was eventually defeated in the rematch the two men had on the December 11th edition of NXT. Rush and Garza would compete against each other at various house shows towards the end of 2019, before eventually having their final match against each other in February 2020 where Rush picked up the victory.

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Since his release, Rush has had stints in a variety of promotions all over the world including AEW, Impact Wrestling (now TNA Wrestling), and New Japan Pro Wrestling. At the time of writing, Rush has not agreed a full-time deal with any company and is currently traveling across the independent scene. Garza, now known as Angel, is still a member of the WWE roster and currently competes alongside his cousin Humberto as part of the Latino World Order.

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Please credit the "Unscriptify" podcast when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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Read More: https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1493576/lio-rush-reveals-favorite-storyline-time-in-wwe/

article courtesy of ROSS W BERMAN IV/JAN. 18, 2024 1:06 AM EST (wrestlinginc.com)

With the non-compete clauses from this September's WWE releases expiring, free agents are flooding the wrestling world, and former WWE Superstars are getting a character refresh. The character makeover was a bit literal with the former Dana Brooke, who appeared at TNA's Hard To Kill as Ash By Elegance.

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TNA announced on Twitter that the former 15-time WWE 24/7 Champion has signed with the promotion following her appearance at Hard To Kill. 

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BREAKING: Ash By Elegance has signed with TNA Wrestling! pic.twitter.com/VBvhuP7xOj

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— TNA Wrestling (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 18, 2024

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The new character that she debuted over the weekend is a complete departure from her former WWE persona. She recently explained that fans can expect to see a new side of her as she feels she barely scratched the surface of her intensity and her ferocity in WWE. Ash was released by WWE in September following the finalization of the merger between WWE and UFC into TKO Group Holdings, after which she said that she was excited about her future away from WWE. Ash had been with WWE for 10 years, signing with the company in 2013.

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The former WWE Women's Tag Champion wasn't the only former WWE Superstar to debut at Hard To Kill, as former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Nic Nemeth, formerly known as Dolph Ziggler, appeared at the end of the pay-per-view to confront the new TNA World Champion, Moose. The signings and appearances take on an extra weight following the promotion's decision to revert from "Impact Wrestling" to its original TNA Wrestling name, as the promotion looks to define its new/old image going forward in 2024.

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Read More: https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1495790/ash-elegance-formerly-wwe-dana-brooke-officially-signs-tna-wrestling/

Ted Dibiase

Karl Anderson

Wendy Choo

Mark Briscoe

Batista

Perry Aguayo

THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 18

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Ivan Koloff defeats Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship

1998 Royal Rumble marks the first stop on the Road to the Austin Era. Also WWF Champion Shawn Michaels defeats the Undertaker in a Casket Match. During the match, HBK sustained a back injury that would cost him 4 and a half years of his career. This is also the year that 3 faces of Foley appeared in one Royal Rumble Match.

2003 Hardcore Legend Ed "The Sheik" Farhat passes away.