WWE Royal Rumble 2019: Live stream, start time, match card

A look at the match card, start time and live stream information for the 2019 edition of the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view event.

The WWE pay-per-view schedule kicks off in a big way on Sunday evening as one of the longest-running events in company history, the Royal Rumble, takes place from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

For the second straight year, there are two Royal Rumble matches on the card as 30 men and 30 women will vie for a headlining spot at WrestleMania 35 this April. Outside of the Rumble matches, there are also seven title matches on the docket, including both the WWE and Universal titles as well as both the RAW and SmackDown women’s titles.

As per usual, this event can be seen on the WWE Network and if you don’t have this by now…well, that’s on you. The kickoff show begins promptly at 5:00 Eastern with the main show starting a couple of hours later.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know as the Road to WrestleMania begins with the 2019 edition of the WWE Royal Rumble.

Event info

Event: WWE Royal Rumble 2019
Date: Sunday, Jan. 27
Venue: Chase Field – Phoenix, Arizona
Start time: 7 p.m. Eastern/4:00 p.m. Pacific (kickoff show two hours prior)
Live stream: WWE Network

Let’s take a look at the full match card for the 2019 WWE Royal Rumble.

2019 WWE Royal Rumble match card

United States Champion Rusev vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

In a match that unsurprisingly found its way to the kickoff show, Rusev puts his United States Championship on the line against former champion Shinsuke Nakamura. This one has gotten a little personal with the “injury” to Lana. Perhaps that’s the reason this match is happening again. Can’t be because of the automatic rematch, right?

WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Kalisto vs. Hideo Itami

It’s extremely unfortunate that this match will also be featured on the kickoff show as WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy defends his title against three of the best in the business in Akira Tozawa, Hideo Itami and Kalisto.

SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar vs. The Miz & Shane McMahon

Yep, this thing with The Miz and Shane McMahon is actually moving forward.

SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka vs. Becky Lynch

After losing her SmackDown Women’s Championship to Asuka in the Triple Threat at TLC last month, Becky Lynch earned the right at a rematch with The Empress of Tomorrow in a different Triple Threat with Charlotte Flair and Carmella. Becky is still one of the hottest commodities in the industry right now and whether she wins here or not, her spot in one of the biggest matches at WrestleMania should still be secure.

RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Sasha Banks

What started out as a friendly rivalry between Ronda Rousey and Sasha Banks has gotten much more heated since The Boss earned her shot at the RAW Women’s Championship by tapping out Nia Jax. This has been one of the matchups many in the WWE Universe have wanted to see since Rousey made her debut at the Royal Rumble one year ago.

WWE Champion Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles

Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles will battle for the WWE Championship one more time on Sunday at the Royal Rumble, the very event at which Styles made his WWE debut three years ago. The Phenomenal One earned this next shot by winning a Fatal 5-Way on the New Year’s Day episode of SmackDown Live and this more aggressive version has been fun to watch. Expect another quality outing here from these two.

WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Finn Balor

After being taken out of the Universal Championship Match a year ago, Finn Balor finds himself in one of the biggest spots of his WWE career as he challenges Brock Lesnar. Balor held this title for one day after becoming the first-ever Universal Champion in 2016 at SummerSlam before having to relinquish it due to injury. Naturally, they’re playing up the David vs. Goliath story and it certainly will be an interesting matchup to watch but has a great chance of being one of the best bouts of the night.

Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Confirmed entrants: Natalya, Bayley, Ember Moon, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Alicia Fox, Mandy Rose, Sonya DeVille, Zelina Vega, Charlotte Flair, Naomi, Tamina, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Dana Brooke, Lana, Nia Jax, Nikki Cross, Alexa Bliss, Lacey Evans, Carmella (No. 30)

Following the success of last year’s first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match, something that was long overdue, we’re guaranteed a new winner in the second edition as Asuka will be defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Becky Lynch. Of course, the loser of that match (both women’s title matches actually) could end up participating here but the likelihood of Asuka losing and then winning this is highly unlikely. There aren’t too many open spots left but there are a few so we could still see some of the women from NXT or some legends thrown in the mix. The winner, of course, gets a title shot at WrestleMania 35.

Men’s Royal Rumble Match

Confirmed entrants: John Cena, Randy Orton, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods, Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin, Elias, Jinder Mahal, Jeff Hardy, Bobby Lashley, Titus O’Neil, Andrade, Rey Mysterio, Mustafa Ali, R-Truth (No. 30)

Braun Strowman almost certainly finds his way into this match, perhaps at the expense of R-Truth’s coveted number 30 spot. Perhaps he also takes John Cena’s spot if the 16-time world champ can’t go. Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre have to be looked at as two of the top favorites here as well. There are still some spots open for those surprise entrants, either some old-school guys or some NXT favorites and, of course, we’ll be looking forward to what Kofi has in store for us this year. As in the Women’s Rumble, the victor here goes on to a world title match at WrestleMania.

Which match are you most looking forward to at the 2019 WWE Royal Rumble? Please feel free to join in the conversation in the comments section below.