If you’re sitting there scratching your head trying to remember exactly when is the 2025 Royal Rumble, you aren't alone. It was actually a history-making date for WWE. For the first time ever, the company decided to ditch the traditional January slot.
The 2025 Royal Rumble took place on Saturday, February 1, 2025.
It went down at the massive Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Honestly, the atmosphere was electric. We’re talking about a record-shattering crowd of 70,347 fans packed into the home of the Colts. It wasn’t just a wrestling show; it felt like a massive cultural shift for the brand.
Why the Date Change for the 2025 Royal Rumble Matters
Usually, we’re used to the Rumble happening late in January. It's basically the unofficial start of the sports year for wrestling nerds. But WWE shook things up because of a huge partnership with the Indiana Sports Corp. They basically turned Indy into a WWE hub for the next few years.
Another reason for the February 1st date? Streaming. This was the first major PLE to air on Netflix for most fans outside the United States. In the States, it stayed on Peacock, but the international move to Netflix changed the game for how people watched.
The show started early, too. Because there was a massive UFC event later that night (remember, they're both under the TKO umbrella now), the main card kicked off at 6:00 p.m. ET. If you tuned in at the "normal" time, you probably missed the first few eliminations.
Who Won the Big Matches?
If you missed the actual results while searching for the date, here’s the scoop. The 2025 Royal Rumble was basically the "Year of Jey Uso."
Jey Uso won the Men’s Royal Rumble match. He entered at number 20 and ended up eliminating none other than John Cena to punch his ticket to WrestleMania 41. It was a huge, emotional moment for him, especially since he had to outlast guys like Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins.
On the women’s side, Charlotte Flair made a massive return. She had been out for over a year with a knee injury, but she came back at number 27 and dominated. She eliminated Roxanne Perez last to win her second career Rumble.
Surprises That Actually Happened
Every year we hear rumors about The Rock or Stone Cold, but the 2025 surprises were actually pretty grounded and cool.
- AJ Styles made a shock return at number 21.
- Joe Hendry from TNA appeared at number 15 and the crowd went absolutely nuts singing his theme song.
- Alexa Bliss finally returned to the ring after a long hiatus.
- IShowSpeed even showed up as a celebrity entrant, though Bron Breakker basically folded him in half with a spear pretty quickly.
The Rest of the Match Card
It wasn't just the 30-person brawls. We had some high-stakes title matches that honestly stole the show.
Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens was a brutal Ladder Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship. They actually had two belts hanging above the ring—the current title and the old "Winged Eagle" belt that Owens had stolen. Cody managed to grab them both to keep his run alive.
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#DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) defended the Tag Team Titles against the Motor City Machine Guns in a 2-out-of-3 falls match. It was a technical masterpiece, even if Montez Ford interfered and turned the whole tag division on its head.
What’s Next for the Winners?
With the 2025 Royal Rumble in the rearview, the road to WrestleMania 41 is basically a sprint. Jey Uso is heading toward a world title shot, and Charlotte Flair is looking to reclaim her throne as the top woman in the industry.
If you're looking to rewatch the event or catch the highlights, here are your best bets:
- Peacock (US): You can find the full replay in the WWE section.
- Netflix (International): This is where the Rumble lives now for most of the world.
- WWE YouTube: They’ve got the "Top 10 Moments" and the full return of Charlotte Flair if you just want the highlights.
If you’re planning your calendar for next year, remember that WWE is leaning into these stadium deals. The partnership with Indianapolis means we'll be seeing a lot more of Lucas Oil Stadium in the future, including a two-night SummerSlam and eventually a WrestleMania.
Check your local listings or the WWE app for the upcoming "Road to WrestleMania" tour dates. Now that you know the date and what happened, you’re all set to jump into the current storylines.