Tons of Royal Rumble Weekend News

Sean Ross Sapp learned the following scoops regarding the Royal Rumble and Smackdown

• Becky Lynch was not planned for the WWE Royal Rumble and was not in town for the show.

• As of last week, Charlotte was already planned to win the WWE Royal Rumble and was slated to challenge Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania.

• Angelo Dawkins is hilarious and was walking around on his crutches all day.

• AJ Styles, Nikki Bella were all around town throughout the week. People were even taking pictures of them around town.

• Jordynne Grace had been in town by Thursday, she was planned for the Royal Rumble almost immediately after her TNA contract expiring.

• AJ Lee was not expected at the show. As we reported, she knows she can come back if she wants.

• Nia Jax was actually supposed to eliminate more people, per Corey Brennan.

• We're told WWE's integration with COSM went very well.

• The IShowSpeed spear from Bron Breakker gained an audible reaction backstage.

• Though they weren't used on the show, New Day, Omos, Gigi Dolin, Carlito, Blair Davenport, Trick Williams were all in town. New Day and Carlito did WWE 2K media.

• Shawn Michaels, Terry Taylor, Steve Corino and Matt Bloom were in town.

• For those asking about how Alexa Bliss' merch was ready if it was a late call to have her in the Rumble -- WWE had hoped she would be back sooner. She was always under contract.

• Women had extensive rehearsals across Friday and Saturday. We haven't heard that the men's side of things did.

• Roxanne Perez, Liv Morgan and IYO Sky got a lot of praise to Fightful from WWE staff for their iron woman performances.

• We heard there was not strict timing of the entrance, largely because of the ramp and some relaxed production.

• Michael Hayes was backstage and working the show.

• Petey Williams, TJ Wilson, and Kenny Dykstra helped produce the women's Rumble.

• Shane Helms helped produce the men's Royal Rumble

• Michael Kirshenbaum was listed as the writer for the CM Punk/Kevin Owens segment on Smackdown

• Cristian Scovell wrote Damian Priest's Smackdown promo

• Devyn Prieto was credited as the writer on Tiffany Stratton's promo

SMACKDOWN PRODUCERS:

• WWE Speed: Kayden Carter vs. Zoey Stark: Nick Aldis

• WWE Speed: Dragon Lee vs. Chad Gable: Nick Aldis

• Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes: Jason Jordan

• Michin vs. Chelsea Green: Kenny Dykstra

• Damian Priest promo: Michael Hayes & Bobby Roode

• MCMG & Los Garza vs. DIY & Pretty Deadly: Jamie Noble

• Naomi vs. Liv Morgan: TJ Wilson

• Andrade vs. The Miz: Shawn Daivari

• Tiffany Stratton promo: TJ Wilson

• LA Knight & Damian Priest vs. Bloodline: Michael Hayes & Bobby Roode