Edge won the 2021 Royal Rumble Match

Published Jan. 31, 2021 10:55 p.m. ET

WWE

WWE THUNDERDOME AT TROPICANA FIELD – Eleven years to the day after winning the 2010 Royal Rumble Match, Edge once again returned to the mountaintop, prevailing in the 2021 Royal Rumble Match and writing a remarkable new chapter in the most improbable of comeback stories.

That The Rated-R Superstar was the last Superstar standing wasn’t only impressive — it was practically unfathomable. Not only was it the WWE Hall of Famer’s first match since tearing his triceps against Randy Orton seven months ago, but Edge was also operating from the extreme disadvantage of entering at No. 1.

Intent on settling score with The Viper, Edge walloped Orton with a steel chair during the match’s chaotic opening minutes. The attack left Orton limping and seemingly unable to continue, as referees assisted him to the locker room, where he was tended to by WWE’s medical team.

With The Apex Predator thought to be out of the picture, the carnage continued inside the ring. Surprise entrants included former NXT North American Champion Damian Priest and the most dominant competitor in Royal Rumble Match history, Kane. Perhaps the biggest shocker of all was the arrival of former World Heavyweight Champion Christian at No. 24. Competing in his first true match since 2014, Christian was greeted with a hug by Edge, his best friend and longtime teammate. Seth Rollins, meanwhile, returned to action for the first time since Survivor Series, entering second to last.

Although not an official entrant, Bad Bunny, who performed his hit song “Booker T” earlier in the night, also made his presence felt, distracting The Miz and John Morrison long enough for Damian Priest to eliminate them, a bit of payback for The Miz having destroyed Bad Bunny’s turntables.

AJ Styles benefited from the presence of Omos at ringside, as the gigantic Superstar not only helped eliminate Superstars like Big E and Rey Mysterio, but also kept The Phenomenal One from being tossed. That is, until Braun Strowman finally tossed Styles out of the ring, away from Omos’ long reach.

The field eventually boiled down to Rollins and Edge — at least, seemingly. The Messiah tried to Stomp Edge, but The Rated-R Superstar sidestepped the attack and threw out Rollins. Still, Edge evidently had one more obstacle to overcome, as Orton reappeared out of the blue to deliver an RKO. Ever the ring veteran, Edge reversed Orton’s subsequent elimination attempt and sent The Legend Killer tumbling to the floor.

Now, only one question remains: Which champion will Edge choose to challenge at The Showcase of the Immortals?

Full list of Royal Rumble Match participants and eliminations

No.

Superstar

Eliminated

Eliminated By

Time

Edge

Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman

Winner