WWE United States Champion Rusev (with Lana) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Rusev had early control over Nakamura, nailing several suplexes. Rusev clotheslined him over the top to the floor. Nakamura was grabbed on the floor and whipped towards the stairs but leapt over them and landed on his feet, then leapt off with a kick on argue U.S Champion.

Nakamura tossed Rusev back into the ring and nailed several knees to the chest. Nakamura placed Rusev atop the turnbuckles and nailed a knee strike to them mid-section. He drilled Rusev in the mouth and cinched in a front facelock. Rusev made a comeback with a Fall Away Slam and a spinkick for a two count.

Nakamura fought back but Rusev caught him with a kick to the head for a two count. Rusev went for the Accolade but Nakamura slipped out and nailed a kick to the side of the head, then another to the side of the face for a two count. Nakamura went for a running kick but was nailed with a lariat that sent him upside down. Rusev nailed a Machka Kick. He went for another but was caught in a cross armbreaker. Rusev was trapped in a triangle choke but powered up. He was caught deeper in the choke. Rusev finally powered him up but was caught in a hanging front guillotine.

Rusev finally turned it into Jackhammer and scored a two count. They battled to the ropes. Rusev was knocked off. Nakamura nailed a Landslide for a two count. Nakamura was frustrated he couldn’t get the job done. Nakamura channeled George Steele and began working over one of the turnbuckle pads, trying to remove it. Lana got on the apron and argued with Nakamura over his attempt to cheat. Rusev charged Nakamura, but he sidestepped, and Lana was bumped off the apron. She immediately grabbed at her ankle.

Rusev got distracted and went to check on her, but Nakamura nailed the Kinshasa from behind and scored the pin.

Your winner and new WWE United States Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura

30 Man Royal Rumble Match

Number one was Elias, who did his guitar and mic work.

Number two was WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett, who came out in his complete old 1990s Double J gimmick. The fact Jerry Lawler was calling this cracked me up. Jarrett did his old mic work. Elias said he gets interrupted all the time, but rarely through someone who has something to bring to the table. Elias said it is fate they are together. He suggested Jarrett do a duet with Elias. Jarrett asked if the crowd wanted a duet to kick off the Rumble. Phoenix was into it and chanted “Yes!” Elias said the people have spoken. Oh man, I hope Honkytonk Man is number 3.

He asked Jeff to spell his name. Jeff started but Elias nailed him. Elias stomped the heck out of him and complained he’s been compared to Jarrett his entire career. Jarrett made a comeback with a series of rights. Elias nailed him with the guitar and tossed Jarrett out.

Jeff Jarrett has been eliminated.

Number three was Shinsuke Nakamura, doing double duty. Elias went right after him but was nailed with a leaping kick. Nakamura looked good. Elias walked the ropes and nailed Nakamura. He clotheslined the United States Champion over the top but he landed on the apron.

Number four was WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle. He whipped out German suplexes on Elias and Nakaura. He tossed Elias over the top and stomped him. Elias returned to the ring and battled with Angle.

Number five was New Day’s Big E. He nailed Nakamura with a big overhead belly to belly suplex. He nailed a big splash on Nakamura. Angle and Elias battled in the corner. E sent Nakamura over the top but Kurt grabbed him for an Angleslam. Nakamura sent Angle into the ringpost shoulder-first. He sent Kurt over the top and drilled him with a knee to knock Angle off the apron to the floor.

Kurt Angle has been eliminated.

Number six was NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano. He nailed a rana on Elias and drilled Big E with a tornado DDT. He nailed a slingshot spear into the ring on Elias. The crowd chanted NXT. Everyone battled.

Number seven was Jinder Mahal. He was quickly dispatched by Gargano.

Jinder Mahal has been eliminated.

The Singhs tried to get involved but were beaten off by Elias and Big E. Gargano, Big E and Elias sized up Nakamura as the countdown for the next competitor came down.

Number eight was Samoa Joe, who was making his Rumble debut. The crowd chanted his name. He attacked everyone. Gargano tried to come off the ropes but Joe stepped out of the way. Big E went after Joe but Joe overpowered him and tossed E to the floor.

Big E has been eliminated.

Number nine was Curt Hawkins. He didn’t last long as Joe choked him out. Elias nailed Joe from behind. Hawkins rolled to the floor to catch his breath. He went underneath the ring like Zelina did earlier.

Number ten was Seth Rollins. He hit the ring and cleaned house on everyone. Elias was sent over the top and run into the ringpost. He held onto the post but Seth smashed his hands and Elias crashed to the floor.

Elias has been eliminated.

Number eleven was Titus O’Neill. He played up his entrance for laughs and made it to the ring without fail. Hawkins looked up at him from under the ring. Titus gave chase under the ring. He chased Hawkins into the ring but Hawkins ducked down and held the ropes. Titus crashed over the ropes to the floor. Joe then dumped Hawkins.’

Hawkins and O’Neill have been eliminated.

Number 12 was New Day’s Kofi Kingston. Everyone battled. Joe tried to toss Kofi, but he scrambled back into the ring. Joe drilled him with a knee. Rollins and Nakamura battled in a corner.

Number 13 was Mustafa Ali. He went right after Joe and nailed a Facebuster. Everyone battled. Ali and Nakamura battled. Ali dropkicked him off the ropes and Nakamura crashed to the floor.

Shinsuke Nakamura has been eliminated.

United States Champion Rusev is in the ring and he has something to say.

He says last week, Lana, his wife, his love, his heart, got hurt because of the selfish actions of one man, Shinsuke Nakamura. Lana is at home resting, but he stands before you, not as a United States Champion. He stands before not as the Bulgarian Brute with the body of a thousand Hemsworth brothers. He stands before you as a husband. You can mess with him all you want, but Shinsuke, once you mess with his wife, you cross a line. You cross a line you cannot come back from. He tells Shinsuke to come out and he will break every bone in your fragile body. Rusev vows to crush Nakamura.

We see Shinsuke Nakamura in the production truck and he tells Rusev you want people to believe it was his fault that Lana got hurt. You are the one seeking sympathy. Nakamura is going to prove that this is not his fault, but it is Rusev’s fault.

We see the footage from last week.

Rusev, you crushed Lana.

Rusev says that if you don’t come to him, he will come to you.

Rusev looks for the TV Truck but it is a trap and Nakamura attacks Rusev and uses a production case. Nakamura kicks Rusev and then he is asked to leave by agents and officials.

Nakamura with a running boot to the head and he leaves.

We go to Kayla Braxton in the ring and she introduces the new United States Champion Rusev who is joined by Lana.

Rusev is asked about his victory last week. Rusev says it was the greatest Rusev Day of them all. Rusev is asked how will his reign as champion differ from Nakamura’s. Rusev says he takes pride in the US Championship and his title reign will be long and luscious, like his beard. Rusev says he will defend his title against any opponent with honor and strength, along with his animal magnetism. He will do it while smelling like a bacon flavored cinnamon bun. This is his pledge and he pledges allegiance to the United States Championship.

Nakamura attacks Rusev from behind with a thrust kick and then he connects with forearms in the corner. Lana gets on Rusev’s back to stop him. Rusev with a Machka Kick and Nakamura falls back and lands on Lana.

Rusev checks on Lana and Nakamura kicks Rusev. Nakamura with a jumping knee to Rusev. Nakamura picks up the title belt and then drops it on top of Rusev before leaving the ring.

Match Number Four: Rusev (with Lana) versus Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship

They lock up and Rusev backs Nakamura into the ropes but Nakamura backs Rusev into the corner and leans his head against Rusev’s chest and Rusev pushes Nakamura away and connects with punches. Nakamura with a boot but Rusev with a running shoulder tackle for a near fall. Rusev with clotheslines to the head followed by punches. Nakamura with a triangle but Rusev goes to the floor.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Nakamura chokes Rusev in the corner with his boot and then he applies a cravate. Nakamura with a snap mare but he misses a knee drop when Rusev moves. Rusev with a suplex. Rusev with a front face lock suplex followed by a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Rusev with boots to the back. Rusev with shoulders in the corner. Nakamura puts Rusev on the turnbuckles and connects with a running knee but Nakamura can only get a near fall. Nakamura with another near fall. Nakamura with a knee to the midsection and then he chokes Rusev in the ropes.

Rusev with punches but Nakamura with a knee to the chest followed by a kick. Nakamura chokes Rusev with the boot and the referee warns Nakamura. Nakamura with a choke and he gets Rusev down to a knee. Nakamura with a triangle but Rusev gets a near fall. Rusev is sent to the apron by Nakamura but Rusev with a forearm. Rusev tries to suplex Nakamura to the floor but Nakamura blocks it and Nakamura with a jumping side kick that sends Rusev off the apron to the floor.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Nakamura with knees to the head. Nakamura with a jumping knee drop for a near fall. Nakamura kicks Rusev in the head and applies a front face lock. Nakamura with a knee to the midsection and he gets Rusev back to the mat. Rusev powers out of the hold and sends Nakamura to the mat. Nakamura with kicks to the chest until Rusev blocks a kick and he hits a short arm clothesline and another clothesline. Rusev with a body block and then he connects with knees and hits a fallaway slam. Rusev with a running hip strike and running heel kick for a near fall.

Nakamura with a forearm but Rusev with a knee and round kick to the temple for a near fall. Nakamura escapes the set up for the Accolade and goes to the floor. Rusev sends Nakamura into the ringside barrier. Nakamura with a kick on the apron and then he sends Rusev into the ring steps. Nakamura sends Rusev into the announce table and then Nakamura with a knee drop to the back of the head with Rusev hanging over the apron. Nakamura goes to the turnbuckles and hits a jumping knee. Nakamura sets for Kinshasa but Rusev with a Machka Kick for a near fall.

Rusev stomps on the back and goes for the Accolade but Nakamura escapes and he applies the triangle on Rusev. Nakamura with forearms. Rusev picks up Nakamura for a one arm power bomb. Nakamura side steps Rusev when Rusev charges into the corner. Nakamura with a rollup for a near fall. Nakamura with a running knee to the head for a near fall. Nakamura sets for Kinshasa and Rusev misses a Machka Kick. Rusev with a clothesline. Rusev with a Machka Kick for the three count.

Winner: Rusev (new Champion)

After the match, Rusev celebrates in the ring with Lana.