WWE Royal Rumble 2015: Roman Reigns won, Bray Wyatt flourished

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns will be hunting back-to-back Royal Rumble victories on Sunday night.

The Juggernaut won the 30-man bout in 2015 to earn a world-title fight against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania - but must now emerge victorious again in Orlando, from the No 1 position to boot, to retain sports entertainment's richest prize, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

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Reigns was in inspired form in Philadelphia a year ago, eliminating six of his rivals en route to securing a main-event match at 'Mania for the first time, though he did receive a helping hand.

Read on to see how he prevailed and which WWE legend helped him, as well as who else shone in the Rumble and why Lesnar's Triple Threat Match with John Cena and Seth Rollins was a belter…

Reigns profits from family connection

The former Shield grappler could probably have won the Rumble himself - hurling 12 Superstars over the top rope before finishing runner-up to Batista in 2014 proved he was made for the match - but he prospered thanks to his cousin, The Rock, in 2015.

Having removed sparkling siblings Stardust and Goldust and teamed up with close pal Dean Ambrose to dispose of Titus O'Neil, Reigns reached the final four, alongside The Authority's muscle, Kane and Big Show, and Bulgarian bad boy Rusev.

The Juggernaut propelled Kane and Show over the ropes but before he could set to work on Rusev, the Big Red Monster and The World's Largest Athlete returned to the ring to assault him. Cue The Great One. The Rock hit a People's Elbow on Kane and dropped Show with a Rock Bottom, leaving Reigns to Spear Rusev and hurl him to the floor. The Authority were seething and so were the crowd, the latter booing the victor out of the building.

Rusev and Wyatt make their mark

Reigns' six eliminations were matched by Rusev and the bout's 'Iron Man', Bray Wyatt. Rusev banished WCW veteran Diamond Dallas Page, the dance-loving Adam Rose and Fandango, The New Day's Kofi Kingston - who had avoided elimination earlier in the piece after being caught by Rose's Rosebuds - Kingston's pal Big E, and Damien Sandow (or Mizdow as he was known back then).

Wyatt, meanwhile, lasted over 47 minutes after entering the contest at No 5, dumping out The Boogeyman, Bubba Ray Dudley, Zack Ryder and his then former but now very much current Wyatt Family comrade Luke Harper, before causing shock and horror among the WWE Universe by eliminating the fans' darling, Daniel Bryan. You could have heard a pin drop at that moment.

The Eater of Worlds eventually fell foul of Big Show and Kane but with Harper, Erick Rowan and latest recruit, the gigantic Braun Strowman, willing to lay down their lives for Wyatt, he must be a real contender to win the match in Orlando on Sunday night.

Look who showed up!

Surprise entrants are always a highlight of the Rumble and a few reared their head in Philly 12 months ago, with Bubba Ray Dudley, now back on the full-time roster, receiving a raucous reception after choosing to make his first WWE appearance in 10 years in ECW's heartland.

Diamond Dallas Page proved that DDP Yoga - something Chris Jericho swears by - pays off by going on a Diamond Cutter rampage prior to running into Rusev, while the worm-eating, clock smashing, staff-holding Boogeyman also made a brief cameo. Boy, is that guy weird!

That trio's hopes of winning the thing went up in smoke, but at least Dudley, Page and Boogeyman got to compete - Curtis Axel was denied that opportunity when Erick Rowan jumped him before he could set foot in the ring. The Axe Man is still maintaining that he hasn't been eliminated!

Titanic title tussle

The 30-man Royal Rumble Match was the star attraction on the card but the WWE World Heavyweight Title encounter between Messrs Lesnar, Cena and Rollins almost stole its thunder. Many will argue that it did.

Lesnar took Cena and Rollins to the painful destination of Suplex City before he was struck on the head by the steel steps courtesy of Cena and sent thundering through the announce desk by a Rollins elbow drop and forced to spend a healthy chunk of the match laying stricken.

In Lesnar's absence, Rollins' goons, J&J Security, interfered and received Attitude Adjustments from Cena as punishment, but when Lesnar did return to the fray, he shrugged off being clocked twice by The Architect's Money in the Bank briefcase, to F5 and pin Rollins and win a classic.

You can watch the 2016 Royal Rumble pay-per-view live on Sky Sports Box Office from 1am on Sunday, January 24 (Monday morning). We will also be running a live blog of the event on skysports.com/wwe. CLICK HERE TO ORDER WWE ROYAL RUMBLE

Royal Rumble booking details

WWE Royal Rumble will be shown on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) and Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) at 1am, on Sunday, January 24 (Mon morning).

WWE Royal Rumble will be repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) but NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 492) between 9am, Monday, January 25 and 9pm, Thursday, January 28.

Repeat showings will last for three hours, with the final showing STARTING at 9pm on Thursday, January 28.

The event is priced at £19.95 for UK customers, €24.95 for viewers in the Republic of Ireland.

Viewers can call 03442 410 888 to book WWE Royal Rumble. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).

You can also book WWE Royal Rumble online by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/?DCMP=bac-SS.com_RoyalRumble

Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus.

Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. 

Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.