- Streamer was backstage livestreaming the event
- IShowSpeed replaced the injured Akira Tozawa
- Speed was brutally eliminated within a minute of entering
IShowSpeed was never going to be able to remain backstage at the Royal Rumble, was he?
The divisive streamer, who was attending the marquee WWE event at the request of the company’s chief content officer, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, has been providing backstage content before and during the Royal Rumble, but then found himself being thrust through the curtain and into the squared circle.
As Akira Tozawa was making his entrance into the 30-man men’s Royal Rumble match, he was attacked by a recently eliminated Carmelo Hayes. Hayes knocked Tozawa to the ground and medical staff attended to the Japanese superstar before Triple H appeared during the examination, deciding that a replacement was needed.
However, with no other WWE talents to hand in the moment, the 14-time world champion instructed Speed to head into the middle of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, in front of 70,000 people, and attempt to secure a title shot in the main event of WrestleMania 41.
Instead, Speed found himself being brutally ejected from the match, thanks to a typically explosive spear from Intercontinental champion Bron Breakker, who then gorilla pressed Speed over his head and over the top rope. The YouTuber was then caught by Otis, who promptly threw him over his head and onto the announce table.
OH MY JESUS BRON BREAKKER JUAT KILLED ISHOWSPEED pic.twitter.com/mkmYqCngqO
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) February 2, 2025
While Speed’s cameo in one of the biggest WWE matches of the year was brief, it was memorable and no doubt garnered a lot of attention. During WWE’s busiest period of the year, no less. We would not be surprised if this was a signifier of things to come on the road to WrestleMania for Speed, who is also close friends with former WWE United States champion and fellow streamer, Logan Paul.
