January 15, 2024 Observer Newsletter: 2023 business year in review
With two weeks away from the Royal Rumble, there are four matches announced, but with two one-hour-long Rumbles, you are probably talking about a five or six-match show.
This year’s show is from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL, and with the company at its hottest in more than 21 years, at least one key business record is almost sure to be broken.
All that has been announced are the two Rumbles as well as Roman Reigns vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles for the Universal title and Logan Paul vs. Kevin Owens for the U.S. title.
Names announced for the men’s Rumble at this point are Cody Rhodes, C.M. Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, and Drew McIntyre. Punk is the favorite to win and then challenge Seth Rollins at WrestleMania.
On the women’s side, announced are Nia Jax, Bayley, Becky Lynch (the favorite to cash in against Rhea Ripley), and Bianca Belair.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.