WWE Royal Rumble 2012 Results: Who Won the Royal Rumble Match?

The WWE Royal Rumble 2012 results are now official from the 25th anniversary of the major wrestling event. Who won the big Royal Rumble match and will be headlining Wrestlemania 28?



This year's Royal Rumble results saw all championships stay put heading towards the Elimination Chamber. However, the winner of the Royal Rumble 2012 match would be granted their choice of a championship match at Wrestlemania 28. This year's match carried the stipulation that all competitors from the Rumble PPV card could enter the match as well, with 30 total superstars competing in the event. That's 10 less than last year's event in Boston.

Among the surprises on the night were the return of Great Khali to the ring at the 15th spot in the match, where he eliminated former mentor Jinder Mahal. Kharma returned to action, becoming the third ever diva to enter a Rumble match (Chyna, Beth Phoenix). Also, all three commentators from the event entered the match with Booker, Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole all getting involved. Cole was eliminated by Kharma with the help of the two other commentators on the outside.

Other surprises featured the first-ever Royal Rumble winner, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, entering the match. The Road Dogg Jesse James made a surprise return to the ring and drew chants of "you still got it" from the crowd. Of the wrestlers who competed during the event, Big Show and Dolph Ziggler were the only two who also entered the Rumble match. Show was previously in the steel cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship, while Ziggler came up short against CM Punk for the WWE title.

It came down to a final four of several top stars with Big Show, Chris Jericho, Sheamus and the hometown hero Randy Orton. However, Big Show got hit by the RKO, then eliminated by Orton. Jericho quickly eliminated Orton, leaving himself against The Celtic Warrior, Sheamus. Many fans and pro wrestling analysts predicted Chris Jericho would win the event prior to the match.

So does this mean the WWE is just too plain predictable? Jericho returned several weeks ago after mysterious video promo pieces, then started his antics on Raw without saying much at all. Finally last week, he claimed he would change the world at the Rumble. However, after several near eliminations between he and Sheamus, it was in fact The Celtic Warrior emerging victorious. Jericho went for a Codebreaker but Sheamus caught him and dumped him over the top rope. Despite Jericho hanging on and getting back on the apron, Sheamus ran and booted him out with the Brogue Kick to win the Rumble!

This means Sheamus will now headline Wrestlemania 28, which is a bit of a surprise considering the predictions that Jericho or Randy Orton might win. Sheamus was among the favorites, and now fans will wonder which star he'll face at Wrestlemania. Will Daniel Bryan continue to hold the World Heavyweight Championship, or will someone else have it by April 1st, such as Mark Henry? It's going to be one interesting Road to Wrestlemania!