10 Best Behind The Scenes Pictures From Royal Rumble 2023

The 2023 Royal Rumble was WWE's first premium live event of the year, and the company certainly kicked it off in style. It was a fantastic show that brought a lot of quality wrestling, with surprise appearances and plenty of big moments to kickstart the Road to WrestleMania 39.

However, while fans got to see everything in front of the camera, behind the scenes a lot was going on as well due to the sheer number of talent that were at the event from legends to celebrities and everything in between. It provided some great photographs as the wrestlers were getting ready and celebrating the night as the show went on.

10 Birthday Celebrations

Sheamus spent a long period inside the Royal Rumble, putting on a brilliant performance throughout the night with his hard-hitting style being a key part of the match itself. However, while his focus was on entertaining the WWE Universe, the Rumble was also his birthday.

In traditional birthday fashion, Sheamus was able to celebrate his big day post-Rumble as his fellow Brawling Brutes, Butch, and Ridge Holland was on hand to smash some birthday cake into him as he enjoyed some relaxation after his in-ring efforts.

9 Deadman Talking

There were a few legends that turned up during the Royal Rumble match as a surprise, but there were also some big names backstage that never appeared on camera. One of those was The Undertaker, who was present to watch his wife Michelle McCool be part of the women's Royal Rumble.

Of course, the Deadman took the time to hang around with many of the roster members to catch up, and one of those conversations was caught on camera as he spent time talking to The New Day.

8 Old Friends Reunite

Something that fans love about the Royal Rumble is seeing legends make their returns and two men who surprised people this year were Booker T and Edge. However, while it creates a great moment for the audience and some great audio pops, it is also exciting for the talent themselves.

They spend years hanging out daily when they're on a full-time roster and then drift apart as they go in different directions. That is why shows like this are special as old friends get to reunite, which is what was going down here.

7 Pat McAfee Is Welcomed Back

Pat McAfee and Triple H at the Royal Rumble

One of the big shocks at the Royal Rumble was when Pat McAfee made his return to the company to be part of the commentary team throughout the night. It was a fun addition that nobody saw coming, and it was news that was even kept from Michael Cole and Corey Graves themselves.

However, one person who was well aware of this situation was Triple H, and he was on hand in Gorilla Position to welcome him back the moment he stepped into the arena. This image shows how genuinely happy Triple H appeared to be to have him back, which is a sign of how well-liked he is.

6 A Hardcore Guest

Mick Foley backstage at the Royal Rumble

Someone who many fans didn't know was backstage at the Royal Rumble this year was WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley. He never appeared on the show, not even for a backstage segment, but he was around to watch the event and encourage the current talent.

The fact that he wants to be part of the environment still showcases that he has a genuine passion and love for the industry, simply being able to hang out backstage and be part of the fun.

5 Encouragement From The Boss

Triple H is known for being hands-on with the talent nowadays, which is quite a different situation from how Vince McMahon handled the roster. Here he is shown giving a fist bump to Logan Paul, who was a big part of the men's Royal Rumble as he eliminated Seth Rollins.

The fact Paul isn't a full-time wrestler likely created plenty of nerves for the celebrity, therefore a moment of encouragement like this from Triple H is something that could have played a big impact on him at the time.

4 Grooming Time

The Royal Rumble was a big night for Sami Zayn in his storyline with The Bloodline, as he finally attacked Roman Reigns by hitting him with a chair. It led to a huge reaction on the night which was great to see, but Zayn was ultimately left laying after a beatdown from the group.

While he might have ended the evening looking battered and bruised, this photo showcases that Zayn worked hard to look as good as possible beforehand with a little beard grooming, which is a small detail people likely overlook.

3 Liv Morgan's Efforts Appreciated

Liv Morgan had an incredible performance in the women's Royal Rumble, lasting for over an hour in the match as she entered second and was the final person to be eliminated as Rhea Ripley got the win. While she might get overlooked because of that, this photograph is evidence that backstage her efforts were appreciated.

Triple H gave her his seal of approval with a big handshake, showcasing that he was impressed by the performance she put on, and that is something that appeared to mean a lot to Morgan as well.

2 Post Victory Celebration

Cody Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble was a huge moment for him, booking himself into the main event of WrestleMania this year. He certainly enjoyed it at the moment inside the ring, but he also soaked it all in backstage as well with someone who means a lot to him, DDP.

The WWE Hall Of Famer has been something of a mentor for the American Nightmare over the years, and the love can be seen on his face in this picture. He was very close friends with Dusty Rhodes, and that connection has continued to this day, which is great to see.

1 Brock Lesnar Chats With Friends

When people think about Brock Lesnar they typically think of him in character as the hard-hitting wrestler that normally thinks about himself. He is notorious for not being a people person, as he lives a long way from anyone else and photographs of him with others are extremely rare.

That is what makes this such a brilliant image as Lesnar was able to just hang out and chat with Finn Balor backstage. They're not two people that most fans would put together as friends, but they have created a connection over the years.