WWE World Champion Randy Orton pinned WWE IC Champion Jeff Hardy at 14:06 by reversing the Twist of Fate into the RKO
John Cena won the 30-man Royal Rumble match at 51:30 by last eliminating Triple H; due to pre-match stipulations, Cena earned a world title match at WrestleMania 24; Michael Buffer was the guest ring announcer for the match; Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Jonathan Coachman, Joey Styles, & Tazz did commentary for the bout (Cena’s surprise return after a 3-month absence)
Order of entry: The Undertaker (0:00); Shawn Michaels (0:00); Santino Marella (1:39); the Great Khali (w/ Runjin Singh) (3:34); upon Khali’s appearance, the crowd chanted “You can’t wrestle;” WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Hardcore Holly (5:06); WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champion John Morrison (6:42); Tommy Dreamer (8:00); Dreamer received several chants of his name upon his appearance; Batista (9:36); Hornswoggle (36:49); Hornswoggle hid under the ring upon his entrance where he remained until much later; Chuck Palumbo (12:34); Jamie Noble, with his ribs taped (14:04); CM Punk (15:27); WWE Raw Tag Team Champion Cody Rhodes (17:00); Umaga (18:35); Snitsky (20:04); Mike Mizanin (21:32); Shelton Benjamin (22:49); Jimmy Snuka (24:17); Roddy Piper (25:59); Kane (26:53); Carlito Caribbean Cool (28:11); Mick Foley (29:28); Ken Kennedy (30:56); Big Daddy V (32:46) (not shown on camera); Mark Henry (34:13); ECW World Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. (35:47); Finlay (36:59); Finlay appeared before his number to save Hornswoggle from Henry & Big Daddy V, with Finlay laying out several men with the shillalagh before leading Hornswoggle backstage; Elijah Burke (38:47); Triple H (40:08); John Cena (43:02)
Order of elimination: Marella by Taker following Michaels’ superkick (2:05); Khali by Taker (4:43); Dreamer by Batista after fighting off a DDT attempt (10:10); Noble by Palumbo via a kick as Noble was on the apron (14:32); after the elimination, Noble was helped backstage by referees; Palumbo by Punk via a running knee to the head as Palumbo stood on the apron (16:34); Holly by Umaga via the thumb strike to the throat (18:52); Benjamin by Michaels via the superkick (23:07); Piper by Kane (27:00); Snuka by Kane (27:02); Snitsky by Taker via a clothesline (32:31); Taker by Michaels via the superkick (32:36); Michaels by Kennedy (32:42); after Taker’s elimination, Taker hit a legdrop onto Snitsky while he was laid atop the commentary table; Mizanin by Hornswoggle by pulling him down from the floor as Mizanin tried to keep himself on the top rope (34:39); Morrison by Kane via a boot to the face (36:06); Hornswoggle left ringside (38 minute mark); Finlay was disqualified for using a weapon (38 minute mark); Punk by Guerrero via a suplex (39:20); Rhodes by Triple H (40:16); Big Daddy V by Triple H following a kneelift (40:33); Foley & Burke by Triple H (40:58); Carlito by Cena (43:19); Guerrero by Cena (43:22); Henry by Cena (43:26); Kennedy by Batista via a clothesline (44:28); Umaga by Batista via a clothesline (44:41); Kane by Batista & Triple H (44:53); Batista by Triple H via a clothesline (47:18); Triple H by Cena via an FU to the floor