Roman Reigns to defend his World Championship inside 30-man Royal Rumble match

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The Authority, which includes Mr. McMahon, his daughter Stephanie McMahon and her husband Triple H, is doing everything in their power to make sure Roman Reigns is no longer the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

In a shocking moment on Raw Monday, the boss, Mr. McMahon announced that Reigns would next have to defend his title as part of the upcoming 30-man Royal Rumble match after he defeated number one contender Sheamus in which McMahon was the special guest referee.

Normally, the annual Royal Rumble match features 30 WWE superstars fighting for a chance to meet the champion at the main event of WrestleMania. A victor is crowned after all other combatants have been eliminated by being tossed out of the ring and over the top rope.

The last time the WWE Championship was on the line as part of the Rumble match was in 1992 when Ric Flair took home the vacated title after eliminating Sid Justice.

The Authority have been trying to take away the gold from Reigns after he refused Triple H's offer to work with the Authority and after he attacked the COO in frustration at WWE's December pay-per-view event TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs).

Reigns will have to overcome the odds when the Royal Rumble airs on pay-per-view and the WWE Network on Jan. 24.