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WWE Star Thankful Despite Aborted Royal Rumble Entry

By John Canton • Published 2nd February 2025
WWE Logo blur akira tozawa

A WWE veteran had an unexpected role in the Royal Rumble, yet he’s still expressing gratitude after what happened.

During the Men’s Royal Rumble match at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Carmelo Hayes was the third man in the match and was eliminated after 6:59 by his former NXT rival Bron Breakker.

When Hayes was going to the backstage area, he saw Raw’s Akira Tozawa entering as the eighth man in the match. As Tozawa excitedly appeared before the crowd, Hayes hit him from behind with a forearm.

Tozawa sold it like he was injured, Raw GM Adam Pearce checked on him, took him backstage and WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque was there as well. It was quickly ruled that Tozawa was too hurt to compete, so popular streamer IShowSpeed was told that he would be in the Royal Rumble match.

The Rumble match appearance didn’t go that well for Speed, who was destroyed by a massive Spear from Breakker. After Speed was sent off the apron, Otis caught him on the floor and gave Speed a fallaway slam on the commentary table to eliminate the streamer.

Akira Tozawa Determined To Enter WWE Royal Rumble Next Year

After being attacked before entering the WWE Royal Rumble match, Akira Toza posted on social media about he is determined to go even further in next year’s Royal Rumble match.

8 years since I came to WWE.
This was my first time making an entrance at the #ROYALRUMBLE

Next year, I want to take even one step closer to the ring!!

Thank you!!!!

Akira Tozawa remains a member of the Raw roster as part of the Alpha Academy group with Otis and Maxxine Dupri. Otis was in the Men’s Rumble and Dupri was in the Women’s Rumble, but neither one of them was able to make it far in their Rumble matches.

Jey Uso went on to win the WWE Royal Rumble and is already leaning toward challenging Gunther for the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 41.