SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – JANUARY 28: Roman Reigns celebrates after winning the WWE and Universal Championship match during the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome on January 28, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
Today WWE announced that the Royal Rumble will be held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Saturday, January 27, 2024. Pro wrestling has a long history in Tampa going back all the way to the days of Dusty Rhodes at the Armory. Even now, many top WWE superstars you see on TV today got their start at a little gym on Dale Mabry in Tampa. And now St. Pete will get a chance to be in the spotlight.
WWE says this marks the first time that Royal Rumble will be held in Tampa Bay in front of fans since 1995. The wrestlers will be in the area for an entire weekend of events across St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa. Following the Rumble event on Saturday, January 27, WWE's big weekly TV show Monday Night Raw will come from Amalie Arena in Tampa on January 29.
WWE held its biggest annual event WrestleMania at Raymond James Stadium in 2021. There have been several live events since at Amalie Arena. Plus WWE's developmental wrestling league NXT continues to showcase up and coming talent in small venues like The Minnreg Hall in Largo.
The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble will be headlined by the 30-man and 30-woman Royal Rumble matches. The winners of both receive a Championship match opportunity at WrestleMania 40. More information on the ticket on-sale will be announced in the coming weeks.
Wow what a night. I was a huge pro wrestling fan as a kid. In college I was a ring announcer but that career was cut short because I was too tall. My last WrestleMania was back in 1988. I’m gonna keep the tradition going and go every 33 years. Looking forward to WrestleMania 70.
Entering Ray J... for the day Tom Brady's photos were replaced by some interesting WWE characters.
A wet day in Tampa Bay... tarps kept the ring dry during the Sunday downpours.
Even as show time approached, it looked sketchy. Night 1 had a delay. Was looking like it might happen again.
If you've ever been to a live wrestling show, you know the real show isn't in the ring.
LOL this dude's ready. For what I have no idea.
Geno at WrestleMania in Tampa
Pretty sure it's not the real Hulk Hogan.
Happy Halloween. Or WrestleMania.
Time for the preshow.
Jerry "The King" Lawler makes his way to the desk.
Preshow wrapping up!
Time to go find our seats!
Heading to Floor Section 2!
OK... I lucked out big time. Ticket prices plummeted the week of the show so we got 4th row ringside behind the announcers! My producer Chuck and I are ready to rumble! Or drink beer and watch pro wrestling.
Jeez these seats! The pirate ship looked great!
Randy Orton opens the night.
This Bray Wyatt guy kills me. Love his character. Longtime 80s wrestling fans probably remember his father "IRS" or Mike Rotundo.
Ray J looked great!
Randy Orton
Bray Wyatt vs Randy Orton.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
Bray Wyatt as The Fiend
Creepy.
I almost wore the same thing.
Chuck using the binoculars for the ladies match... even though we're in the 4th row. Kind of an invasion of privacy if ya ask me.
If you watch the replay, you can see us making fools of ourselves behind the announcers.
Logan Paul about to get his.
Kevin Owens
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
Seeing a YouTuber get knocked out was awesome. Even if it was fiction.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
Sitting next to us was 90s pop music star Ryan Cabrera.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
Jump!
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
Shaemus vs former UFC fighter Matt Riddle.
This guy was tossing out $1 bills like it was a gentleman's club.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
Tampa Bay's own Big E.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
WWE productions are always over the top with lights, laser and pyro.
The champ.
New ladies champ!
Daniel Bryan.
Edge.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
Showtime.
Edge
When the wrestlers destroy the announcers table, they have a guy with a backup TV monitor. Convenient.
Edge
Roman and Paul E admire their work.
Roman in control.
Daniel Bryan
Roman Reigns had enough of the ringside fans boos.
Give up?
Roman Reigns
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
Edge goes for the pin.
Edge at ringside taunts fans.
In pro wrestling, there's always an available steel chair.
The big finale with Roman Reigns and Paul E Dangerously.
Roman Reigns
.
Roman Reigns
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
WrestleMania 37 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Chuck Schafer.
