WWE Royal Rumble 2024 Notes Part II: Pat McAfee, Andrade, & Omos Makes Surprise Returns, Cody Rhodes Wins Men’s Royal Rumble for 2nd Year in a Row

Pat McAfee Makes Surprise WWE Commentary Return at Royal Rumble 2024

Saturday’s WWE Royal Rumble show in St. Petersburg, Florida featured Pat McAfee making his surprise return to WWE.

At the start of the show, McAfee’s entrance song played and walked out to the commentary table joining Michael Cole and Corey Graves as the commentary team for tonight’s show.

Welcome back, Pat!@PatMcAfeeShow is here at #RoyalRumble! pic.twitter.com/T5Wr2UH8de

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

During the Men’s Royal Rumble match, the clock counted down for the #22 entrant in the match. After the clock hit zero, McAfee’s music played revealing him as the surprise entrant. McAfee ran into the ring and looked in awe over Omos towering height and proceeded to quickly eliminate himself.

LET'S GO! 🗣️@PatMcAfeeShow competes in the Men's #RoyalRumble Match! pic.twitter.com/WhdUFk8ssV

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

This was McAfee’s first appearance in WWE since this past September.

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Andrade Makes Surprise WWE Return at Royal Rumble 2024

Saturday’s Royal Rumble 2024 event also featured Andrade making his official return to WWE.

Andrade, former Andrade El Idolo in AEW, made his surprise return during the Men’s Royal Rumble match as the #3 entrant.

Andrade’s return featured him coming out to the ring under a new entrance theme song, mask, and attire.

ANDRADE!@AndradeElIdolo is back and competing in the Men's #RoyalRumble Match! pic.twitter.com/MmL2jJHARv

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

This was Andrade’s first appearance in WWE since October of 2020.

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Surprise NXT Entrants for Men’s Royal Rumble Match

Saturday’s Royal Rumble 2024 event also featured two NXT talents making surprise appearances during the Men’s Royal Rumble matches.

These were Carmelo Hayes and Bron Breakker.

This was Hayes and Breakker’s debut Men’s Rumble appearances.

Here comes @Carmelo_WWE!#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/qnjQXzrhHa

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨@bronbreakkerwwe makes an immediate impact in the Men's #RoyalRumble Match! pic.twitter.com/V4kcSs5cQH

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

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Omos Makes Surprise Return at Royal Rumble 2024

Saturday’s Royal Rumble 2024 event also featured Omos making his surprise return.

Omos made his surprise return during the Men’s Royal Rumble match as the #21 entrant.

This was Omos’ first televised appearance in WWE since this past August’s SummerSlam 2023 event.

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Cody Rhodes Wins 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match

Saturday’s Royal Rumble 2024 event featured Cody Rhodes

Rhodes entered as the fifteenth entrant and eliminated CM Punk to win the match. The final four in the match were Rhodes, Punk, Drew McIntyre, and Gunther.

DO THE WORK.
FINISH THE STORY.@CodyRhodes just won the Men's #RoyalRumble Match for the second year in a row! The American Nightmare has his sights set on @WWERomanReigns as the Road to #WrestleMania is underway! pic.twitter.com/RkHT2oAsLT

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

2️⃣ YEARS IN A ROW!

RHODES TO WRESTLEMANIA!!! pic.twitter.com/YYwGa6MT11

— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024

Following the match, Rhodes pointed to Roman Reigns, who was sitting in a press box, revealing his choice for a rematch against Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40.

As a result of his victory, Rhodes became the first person to win a back-to-back Men’s Royal Rumble match since Stone Cold Steve Austin, who won in 1997 and 1998.