WWE Royal Rumble 2020 results: Underdogs fight hard, favorites win on Kickoff

With two matches that take up the better part of two hours set for the main card, WWE had to move some of Royal Rumble 2020’s eight announced bouts to the Kickoff show. As most observers expected, it was the last matches added to the line-up that had to go on while fans were still finding their seats at Houston’s Minute Maid Park on Sun., Jan. 26.

SmackDown’s Sheamus & Shorty G were first. As expected, the Celtic Warrior won his return match. Chad Gable fought hard and made things entertaining. They added some suspense via psychology, with Sheamus selling a leg injury which made it challenging for him to hit the Brougue Kick and a wounded hand preventing Gable for really locking in his submissions. But in the end, the former multi-time WWE World champ did turn Shorty inside out with a boot.

Next up was the United States championship match set-up after Andrade’s epic ladder match victory over Rey Mysterio this past Monday on Raw. Humberto Carrillo returned for the first time since El Idolo DDT-ed him into the concrete, and earned himself a title shot.

Carrillo is an exciting young performer, but let’s be honest. This one was never in doubt. Because Andrade brought his secret weapon, Zelina Vega...

WWE cameras made sure to catch Vega frequently throughout the match (because look at her! also, she’s getting to be nearly as good as Paul Heyman at reacting to what happens to her client in the ring). But she actually didn’t factor into the finish. This was another exciting showcase for two talented wrestlers...

... but after a flash pin, the red, white, and blue belt left with the man Vega walked into and out of H-town.

Get complete Royal Rumble results and coverage of every match on the card by clicking here.