WWE Royal Rumble rules: How many competitors take part in showpiece event, how often do wrestlers enter and how do they get eliminated?

The 2022 Royal Rumble is coming up tonight as the WWE puts on two of it’s most highly anticipated matches of the year.

The annual gimmick based PPV has been one of Vince McMahon’s companies big four events since it’s 1988 inception.

The pay-per-view is named after the Royal Rumble, a modified battle royal in which competitors enter at timed intervals rather than all at once.

The road to WrestleMania starts now but what do you need to know before the over-the-top-rope extravaganza? talkSPORT.com has you covered…

WWE Royal Rumble rules

30 superstars will compete in each of the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches which usually both open and main-event the PPV.

The winner of each match will get a world title shot at ‘The Showcase Of The Immortals’ while there will be a host of exciting matches on the bill too.

The Royal Rumble is always a special occasion with surprise returns and crossovers and ‘Jackass’ star Johnny Knoxville will be involved this year.

Edge and Bianca Belair claimed glory in the classic battle royal in 2021 with the latter bidding to become the first two-time women’s winner.

The rules of the Rumble are:

• Two superstars will kick-start the Rumble in the ring with a new competitor entering the match every 90 seconds
• A wrestler can only be eliminated by going over the top rope with BOTH feet touching the floor outside
• The winner of each Royal Rumble gets to choose the champion of their choice to face at WrestleMania

Royal Rumble 2022: Date and start time

This year’s Royal Rumble will take place on Saturday, January 29 and is being held at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

The card will begin from 1am in the UK and continue into the early hours of Sunday morning.

There will be a pre-show on for two hours first from 11pm which will be shown for FREE on WWE’s YouTube channel.

Royal Rumble 2022: Full card

Subject to change

• 30-man Royal Rumble match (announced so far): Angelo Dawkins, Montez Ford, Rey Mysterio Dominik Mysterio, Austin Theory, Sheamus, Damian Priest, AJ Styles, Big E, Happy Corbin, Madcap Moss, Sami Zayn, Kofi Kingston, Kevin Owens, Johnny Knoxville (special guest entrant)
• 30-woman Royal Rumble match (announced so far): Rhea Ripley, Nikki ASH, Dana Brooke, Carmella, Queen Zelina, Tamina, Shotzi, Natalya, Aliyah, Naomi, Shayna Baszler, Charlotte Flair, Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Lita, Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly, Summer Rae, Mickie James, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan
• Brock Lesnar (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs Bobby Lashley (with MVP) – Singles match for the WWE Championship
• Becky Lynch (c) vs Doudrop – Singles match for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship
• Edge and Beth Phoenix vs The Miz and Maryse
• Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins – Singles match for the WWE Universal Championship