Rousey, Lesnar win at underwhelming event
It was a wonderful night time to be a former UFC winner at a extremely predictable and typically underwhelming Royal Rumble that felt like the opposite of every thing the function was intended to be.
Ronda Rousey returned from a virtually a few-12 months hiatus to earn the women’s Royal Rumble and Brock Lesnar, who missing the WWE championship earlier in the evening, entered the men’s match at No. 30 and punched his ticket to WrestleMania at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis on Saturday night.
The Royal Rumble employed to be about new stars ascending to get their WrestleMania probability and or more mature talent finishing journeys to mountain best for the first time. On Saturday evening, WWE had two established major eventers — and most likely portion-timers — get Royal Rumbles they actually didn’t will need to in get to get their respective match at WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in April. It was all component of a evening that just seemed to be missing its usual charm. At the very least the doorway is nonetheless open for Bianca Belair and Huge E to be in title matches at Mania.
Right here are five takeaways from the 2022 Royal Rumble:
Angry Beast
Lesnar is no longer the WWE winner, but he’s a now a two-time Royal Rumble winner and on a collision program with Universal champ Roman Reigns at Mania.
The minute the previous UFC heavyweight winner entered the match it felt like a forgone conclusion he’d be the winner. WWE did give us Lesnar and a returning Drew McIntyre as the remaining two in a callback to the 2019 rumble and the Beast hit Terrible Bunny with an F5. It was element of a sound complete to a largely anti-climatic match — the most important shock entrant was Shane McMahon.
Omos looked extraordinary, removing 3 people today and delivering a chop to Ricochet that sounded like it would caved his chest. It took 6 guys, which includes a flying Types – his previous tag staff husband or wife – to get rid of the enormous 7-footer.
Johnny Knoxville’s visual appearance in the Royal Rumble was much less ha-ha than anticipated. The ridiculously dressed “Jackass Forever” star took down Sami Zayn, took a flurry of strikes from A.J. Kinds and a Frog Splash from Montez Ford. It was his storyline nemesis Zayn who removed him in a fast, fun segment. He wasn’t the only movie star entrant has Poor Bunny entered at No. 27 and eliminated Sheamus and hit a Canadian destroyer on Riddle. He continues to search like a practical wrestler when he’s in the ring.
WWE didn’t give us Rey and Dominik Mysterio in the ring jointly after creating up some probable father-son drama in the leadup. A person of the largest shockers may have been Mad Cap Moss reducing No. 1 entrant Variations. They finally got theirs as McIntyre — who has a legit neck personal injury — eradicated both Moss and Delighted Corbin, who took him out in storyline at Working day 1. Perhaps the most important surprise of all was Kofi Kingston was not able to nail his yearly keep-in the Rumble spot as his toes hit the ground when he was pushed from the prime rope. It was symbolic of a match that just appeared to skip the mark. In which was Finn Balor?
The women’s Royal Rumble match felt very rushed — but it was even now far better than the men’s outing mainly because it did notify some stories. It did supply one particular of the winners men and women had been hoping for when Rousey returned at No. 28 to in the long run do away with SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Flair to punch her ticket to a very likely match between the two at WrestleMania.
Effortless times had been in no way supplied a opportunity and some others weren’t provided a time to breathe. Sasha Banking companies entered as No. 1 in total Sailor Moon garb, but was eliminated pretty, very, rapidly by Queen Zelina right right before Belair entered the match at No. 8 – a lot to the chagrin of the crowd. The two former WrestleMania headliners have been denied a minute in the ring.
Sonya Deville arrived down at No. 11 in her jacket so she could not be attacked, but went to the commentary table and not into the ring until she came in to eradicate a returning Cameron, Naomi’s previous Funkadactyls mate. Naomi, who has had her difficulties with Deville considering that August, was upcoming and speedily eliminated her. Deville did occur again to pull Naomi off the arpon to get her out of the match, but everything transpired so speedy.
The group was not invested in this match for lengthy stretches, especially after Banking companies was removed. Outside of a few moments from Belair and Rhea Ripley, it felt like few performers were being seriously showcased or offered storylines to establish off of.
Impression Knockouts champion Mickie James did occur as a result of the “forbidden door” with the belt around her midsection and her “Hardcore Country” topic to a major pop. Nikki A.S.H. arrived from the other facet of the ring to check out to eliminate former tag lover Ripley, who had a couple preference terms for her under her breath. Nikki later attacked Mighty Molly before she entered the ring since there can only be one particular superhero and quickly eliminated her. The Bellas spoiled a Riott Squad reunion right after Sarah Logan returned immediately after a prolonged hiatus from WWE.
One neat instant was the return of Ivory in her Appropriate to Censor apparel, speaking about seeking to cleanse things up in WWE right before currently being rapidly removed by Ripley. Lita and Charlotte Flair had a strong face-to-confront trade. Even though it was exciting to see a quantity of the legends, getting not just one performer arrive up from NXT feels egregious.
Even with all that, WWE obtained the instant it hoped for with Rousey, who came out in all black with “Baddest” throughout her upper body as an alternative of her standard “Rowdy Roddy” Piper inspired equipment. The former Uncooked women’s champion looked great, pulling off a quite wild arm bar in excess of the top rope with Belair and even acquired to team up with buddy Shayna Baszler, who was in the closing 4 with her and Flair.
Like all the things in this match, Rousey and Flair’s interaction for the end consisted of The Queen lacking a kick and Rousey flipping her above the major rope to a roar from the group. Expect these two to possible satisfy yet again at WrestleMania, even with Becky Lynch retaining the Raw women’s title towards Doudrop in a incredibly stable match. They instructed the tale of Large Time Becky wanted to pull out just about every halt to defeat Doudrop, utilizing a Manhandle Slam from the 2nd rope to secure the 1-2-3.
Un-ending Touch
Seth Rollins compared to Roman Reigns had every little thing but a excellent finish
Rollins beautifully ongoing the brain video games, entering the ring to The Shield’s new music and dressed in whole Defend garb and even delivered a Shield bomb to Reigns via the announce desk. He and most of the audience considered he had Reigns beat just after a Buckle Bomb and then a Stomp, but the Tribal Main was just in a position to get his arm up in time. The frantic paces turned methodical in Reigns’ favor till Rollins countered a spear with a Pedigree top to an additional late kickout from the Head of the Desk. There was a small bit of a Batman-Joker emotion to this tale with Rollins laughing at Reigns each and every time he should have been overwhelmed down.
This incredible match was booked to an incredibly uncomfortable and anti-climactic end. Reigns place Rollins in the guillotine choke. The challenger was able to get in the vicinity of the ropes and appeared to have handed out ahead of totally reaching them. Referee Charles Robinson lifted Rollins’ hand and it grabbed the robe as it fell again down. Reigns refused to crack the keep and lost the match through disqualification, but held his title.
The Common winner then snapped, beating Rollins down with chair shot soon after chair shot – such as a symbolic one particular to the back – as he was seriously booed. I fully grasp the tale WWE is seeking to convey to listed here, Reigns’ “God Mode” is not as robust as it the moment was and Rollins deserved the beating for his conceitedness and past actions. Reigns blamed Rollins for not allowing him choose the maintain off. Still, WWE’s inability and reluctance to book thoroughly clean or decisive finishes in significant pay-per–view matches is brain boggling and the crowd there let them hear it.
Heyman Hustled
Bobby Lashley 1, Brock Lesnar — thanks to Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman.
Lesnar and Lashley’s long-awaited clash started with a German suplex contest which brought out a excellent appear of appreciation from The Beast following he went traveling the to start with time. Lashley, who skipped Lesnar heading by way of the barricade in a get in touch with back again to Working day 1, hit his opponent with two spears just before Lesnar turned the tide to consider him to Suplex Town. When Lesnar went for the F5 the initially time, Lashley countered with the Damage Lock – but backed his opponent into the referee. He then strike the official even though providing an F5. Lesnar experienced Lashley pinned but no one to count to three, so WWE guarded him a bit.
Then it happened. Reigns sent a spear to Lesnar out of nowhere and was provided the WWE championship by Heyman. He smashed Lesnar over the head with it and remaining with his Distinctive Counsel back again at his aspect. Lashley crawled onto Lesnar and pinned him to be reunited with the WWE championship after getting rid of it to Large E in September. The Heyman flip was probable the end to the match Reigns and Lesnar were meant to have at Working day 1 just before the Tribal Chief contracted COVID-19. Lashley is likely headed to defending his title inside of Elimination Chamber or facing its winner next. WWE has some time now to determine it out.
Grit beats It
This combined tag match was mainly everything we considered it would be. Maryse operating from Beth Phoenix and The Miz accomplishing anything he could to shield her. They even had Maryse hit Phoenix with the brick she applied on Uncooked, so there was some story continuity right here.
What wasn’t envisioned and was refreshed was allowing the males and women of all ages get physical with each and every other as normally as they did. Phoenix power bombed The Miz and a person point and Maryese strike a major-rope hurricanrana on Edge. There was even a place the place it looked like the It Couple could get following Miz strike Edge with a Cranium Crushing Finale. As a substitute it finished with Edge and Phoenix hitting a double spear to Miz and then the two offering simultaneous Glam Slams and pins for the 1-2-3. Let us hope this is not the previous we have witnessed more than Phoenix for a even though.
Major Winner: Roman Reigns
Largest Loser: Sasha Financial institutions
Greatest Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Predictions: 5-1
Grade: C-
