Since the last update a lot has changed with the upcoming Royal Rumble card including more names being added to the Royal Rumble match. I pulled Cody from the triple threat match and placed him in the Royal Rumble instead as Cody has defeated both McIntyre and Edge. However, Edge and McIntyre still haven't met one on one which brings us to the Royal Rumble with the high stakes attached to this match-up. 

The other major change comes with the Intercontinental Championship after The Miz took advantage of Dolph Ziggler interfering against Rey Mysterio allowing Miz to capture the Intercontinental Title. Though I was looking forward to Mysterio defending against Shelton Benjamin after the classic they had last year. The rematch will still happen, but with recent events it made more sense to include everyone and make it a fatal four way including Miz, Benjamin, Ziggler, and Mysterio. 

Though the event is around the corner I might add other matches to the card for example, Matt Riddle defending the US Championship or the Brawling Brutes defending the World Tag Titles. However, the major focus is the Royal Rumble and the matches already listed. In the world of WWE 2k23 the "Road to Wrestlemania" is about to begin. 

Royal Rumble Match (Men's)
Kane, Cody Rhodes, Ken Shamrock, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, Seth "Freakin" Rollins, CM Punk, and Rey Mysterio

Royal Rumble Match (Women's) 
Becky Lynch, Charlotte, Aliyah, Natalya, Various WWE Hall of Famers

Smackdown Women's Championship: 
(c) Ronda Rousey vs Candice LeRae

Undisputed Universal Championship 
(c) Roman Reigns vs "Main Event" Jey Uso 
All for one and one for all four way match saw the "Tribal Chief" regain the Undisputed Universal Championship. Now Reigns will have the tall order to defend his championship against his cousin Jey Uso with "Mr. Money in the Bank" Sami Zayn lurking in the shadows. 

Grudge Match:
Ricky Steamboat  vs Jake Roberts 
Jake Roberts attempted to end the career of Ricky Steamboat with a DDT on the floor and thus far has struggled to get revenge. Now everything is on the line as Steamboat declared if he loses to Roberts again he will leave WWE. 

WWE Intercontinental Championship: 
Rey Mysterio vs Shelton Benjamin vs (c) The Miz vs Dolph Ziggler
The last time these two were in the ring they defied my expectations and delivered a classic for the IC Title and now they get a second chance to deliver another classic. However, with Dolph Ziggler screwing Mysterio out of the title against The Miz everything has changed as now we have a fatal four way.

Loser is Banned from the Rumble Match:
Drew McIntyre vs Edge 
Back at Money in Bank, Edge was blamed by Cody & Drew for letting Sami Zayn escape with the briefcase by blocking Cody from stopping Sami. Following hard fought victories over both Drew and Edge, Cody found himself in the Rumble. Now though there is still unfinished business between Edge and McIntyre. They need to settle the score with high stakes being whoever loses this match will not be allowed in the Royal Rumble!! 

Every year we start the calendar with one of my favorite PPV's on the year that being the Royal Rumble. Though I'm not talking about the real Royal Rumble, I'm just excited to put one together in the world of WWE 2k23. As I mentioned based on the success of Survivor Series and Money in the Bank last year I will be expanding the Royal Rumble card this year to include more then just the Rumble match. 

After winning a triple threat match including Rhea Ripley and Asuka we have the next challenger for Ronda Rousey in the underdog Candice LeRae. Candice defied odds defeating both former champions to gain the opportunity to challenge the "Baddest Women on the Planet" for the Smackdown women's championship at the Royal Rumble. 

Royal Rumble Match (Men's)
Kane (only official entrant so far)

Royal Rumble Match (Women's) 

Smackdown Women's Championship: 
(c) Ronda Rousey vs Candice LeRae

Undisputed Universal Championship 

Grudge Match:
Ricky Steamboat  vs Jake Roberts 
Jake Roberts attempted to end the career of Ricky Steamboat with a DDT on the floor and thus far has struggled to get revenge. Now everything is on the line as Steamboat declared if he loses to Roberts again he will leave WWE. 

WWE Intercontinental Championship: 
(c) Rey Mysterio vs Shelton Benjamin 
The last time these two were in the ring they defied my expectations and delivered a classic for the IC Title and now they get a second chance to deliver another classic. 

Triple Threat Match: 
Drew McIntyre vs Edge vs Cody Rhodes
Back at Money in Bank, Edge was blamed by Cody & Drew for letting Sami Zayn escape with the briefcase by blocking Cody from stopping Sami. Unfinished business is the name of the game and now whoever loses this match will not be allowed in the Royal Rumble!!