It was a terrific evening to be a previous UFC champion at a quite predictable and mainly underwhelming Royal Rumble that felt like the reverse of all the things the function was meant to be.
Ronda Rousey returned from a nearly 3-calendar year hiatus to acquire the women’s Royal Rumble and Brock Lesnar, who dropped the WWE championship previously in the night, entered the men’s match at No. 30 and punched his ticket to WrestleMania at The Dome at America’s Middle in St. Louis on Saturday evening.
The Royal Rumble used to be about new stars ascending to get their WrestleMania probability and or older talent finishing journeys to mountain best for the initial time. On Saturday night time, WWE had two founded most important eventers — and potentially part-timers — get Royal Rumbles they truly did not will need to in get to get their respective match at WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in April. It was all aspect of a night time that just seemed to be lacking its usual appeal. At the very least the doorway is nevertheless open for Bianca Belair and Huge E to be in title matches at Mania.
In this article are five takeaways from the 2022 Royal Rumble:
Indignant Beast
Lesnar is no extended the WWE winner, but he’s a now a two-time Royal Rumble winner and on a collision study course with Common champ Roman Reigns at Mania.
The moment the former UFC heavyweight winner entered the match it felt like a forgone summary he’d be the winner. WWE did give us Lesnar and a returning Drew McIntyre as the final two in a callback to the 2019 rumble and the Beast strike Terrible Bunny with an F5. It was section of a stable end to a mostly anti-climatic match — the greatest surprise entrant was Shane McMahon.
Omos seemed amazing, reducing a few individuals and providing a chop to Ricochet that sounded like it would caved his chest. It took 6 guys, such as a traveling Styles – his previous tag team companion – to get rid of the significant 7-footer.
Johnny Knoxville’s visual appearance in the Royal Rumble was fewer ha-ha than envisioned. The ridiculously dressed “Jackass Forever” star took down Sami Zayn, took a flurry of strikes from A.J. Variations and a Frog Splash from Montez Ford. It was his storyline nemesis Zayn who removed him in a quick, exciting segment. He wasn’t the only celeb entrant has Bad Bunny entered at No. 27 and eliminated Sheamus and hit a Canadian destroyer on Riddle. He continues to look like a viable wrestler when he’s in the ring.
WWE did not give us Rey and Dominik Mysterio in the ring with each other following making up some opportunity father-son drama in the leadup. One particular of the most important shockers may well have been Mad Cap Moss doing away with No. 1 entrant Models. They sooner or later obtained theirs as McIntyre — who has a legit neck injuries — eradicated each Moss and Pleased Corbin, who took him out in storyline at Working day 1. Probably the major surprise of all was Kofi Kingston wasn’t able to nail his yearly stay-in the Rumble spot as his feet hit the flooring when he was pushed from the top rope. It was symbolic of a match that just seemed to miss the mark. Where by was Finn Balor?
The women’s Royal Rumble match felt particularly rushed — but it was however better than the men’s outing mainly because it did notify some tales. It did produce one of the winners people today were hoping for when Rousey returned at No. 28 to ultimately eliminate SmackDown women’s winner Charlotte Aptitude to punch her ticket to a most likely match amongst the two at WrestleMania.
Easy moments have been by no means given a probability and many others weren’t supplied a time to breathe. Sasha Banks entered as No. 1 in full Sailor Moon garb, but was eradicated extremely, really, speedily by Queen Zelina suitable just before Belair entered the match at No. 8 – considerably to the chagrin of the crowd. The two previous WrestleMania headliners had been denied a instant in the ring.
Sonya Deville came down at No. 11 in her jacket so she couldn’t be attacked, but went to the commentary table and not into the ring until eventually she came in to remove a returning Cameron, Naomi’s previous Funkadactyls mate. Naomi, who has experienced her challenges with Deville considering the fact that August, was following and rapidly eradicated her. Deville did arrive back to pull Naomi off the arpon to get her out of the match, but almost everything happened so rapid.
The crowd was not invested in this match for extensive stretches, in particular after Banks was removed. Outdoors of a several times from Belair and Rhea Ripley, it felt like couple of performers were truly showcased or offered storylines to construct off of.
Impact Knockouts winner Mickie James did occur through the “forbidden door” with the belt about her waist and her “Hardcore Country” concept to a major pop. Nikki A.S.H. came from the other side of the ring to attempt to remove former tag associate Ripley, who experienced a couple of preference words for her underneath her breath. Nikki later on attacked Mighty Molly just before she entered the ring since there can only be a person superhero and swiftly eliminated her. The Bellas spoiled a Riott Squad reunion soon after Sarah Logan returned following a extended hiatus from WWE.
1 interesting second was the return of Ivory in her Suitable to Censor apparel, talking about seeking to clean up things up in WWE prior to becoming immediately eliminated by Ripley. Lita and Charlotte Aptitude experienced a reliable experience-to-deal with exchange. Even though it was enjoyable to see a number of the legends, getting not a person performer occur up from NXT feels egregious.
Even with all that, WWE bought the instant it hoped for with Rousey, who arrived out in all black with “Baddest” throughout her upper body alternatively of her typical “Rowdy Roddy” Piper impressed equipment. The previous Raw women’s champion looked good, pulling off a rather wild arm bar in excess of the top rated rope with Belair and even obtained to group up with buddy Shayna Baszler, who was in the last four with her and Aptitude.
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 prime rope to a roar from the group. Expect these two to probably satisfy yet again at WrestleMania, even with Becky Lynch retaining the Raw women’s title towards Doudrop in a incredibly strong match. They told the story of Big Time Becky required to pull out each individual halt to beat Doudrop, applying a Manhandle Slam from the next rope to secure the 1-2-3.
Un-ending Contact
Seth Rollins vs . Roman Reigns experienced anything but a excellent finish
Rollins beautifully ongoing the brain game titles, moving into the ring to The Shield’s music and dressed in full Shield garb and even shipped a Defend bomb to Reigns by means of the announce table. He and most of the audience assumed he had Reigns conquer right after a Buckle Bomb and then a Stomp, but the Tribal Chief was just capable to get his arm up in time. The frantic paces turned methodical in Reigns’ favor until eventually Rollins countered a spear with a Pedigree primary to a different late kickout from the Head of the Table. There was a small little bit of a Batman-Joker feeling to this story with Rollins laughing at Reigns every single time he should really have been crushed down.
This remarkable match was booked to an incredibly uncomfortable and anti-climactic finish. Reigns place Rollins in the guillotine choke. The challenger was equipped to get close to the ropes and appeared to have handed out ahead of entirely reaching them. Referee Charles Robinson lifted Rollins’ hand and it grabbed the robe as it fell back down. Reigns refused to split the keep and missing the match by means of disqualification, but retained his title.
The Common champion then snapped, beating Rollins down with chair shot following chair shot – which include a symbolic 1 to the back again – as he was closely booed. I realize the tale WWE is attempting to explain to right here, Reigns’ “God Mode” is not as potent as it at the time was and Rollins deserved the beating for his vanity and earlier actions. Reigns blamed Rollins for not allowing him get the hold off. Nevertheless, WWE’s incapacity and reluctance to ebook clean or decisive finishes in big pay out-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 lengthy-awaited clash began with a German suplex contest which brought out a good glimpse of appreciation from The Beast after he went flying the initial time. Lashley, who skipped Lesnar heading through the barricade in a get in touch with again to Day 1, strike his opponent with two spears just before Lesnar turned the tide to get him to Suplex City. When Lesnar went for the F5 the initially time, Lashley countered with the Hurt Lock – but backed his opponent into the referee. He then strike the formal though providing an F5. Lesnar experienced Lashley pinned but no a person to depend to three, so WWE shielded him a bit.
Then it transpired. Reigns delivered a spear to Lesnar out of nowhere and was presented the WWE championship by Heyman. He smashed Lesnar about the head with it and remaining with his Special Counsel again at his side. Lashley crawled on to Lesnar and pinned him to be reunited with the WWE championship after shedding it to Major E in September. The Heyman flip was very likely the finish to the match Reigns and Lesnar were intended to have at Day 1 prior to the Tribal Chief contracted COVID-19. Lashley is most likely headed to defending his title inside Elimination Chamber or experiencing its winner up coming. WWE has some time now to figure it out.
Grit beats It
This mixed tag match was mainly almost everything we considered it would be. Maryse functioning from Beth Phoenix and The Miz undertaking everything he could to shield her. They even experienced Maryse hit Phoenix with the brick she employed on Uncooked, so there was some tale continuity below.
What was not anticipated and was refreshed was letting the males and women of all ages get actual physical with every single other as typically as they did. Phoenix power bombed The Miz and a person stage and Maryese strike a top rated-rope hurricanrana on Edge. There was even a issue wherever it looked like the It Few could earn right after Miz hit Edge with a Skull Crushing Finale. As an alternative it ended with Edge and Phoenix hitting a double spear to Miz and then equally providing simultaneous Glam Slams and pins for the 1-2-3. Let us hope this is not the past we have witnessed more than Phoenix for a whilst.
Most significant Winner: Roman Reigns
Major Loser: Sasha Banking institutions
Very best Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Predictions: 5-1
Grade: C-
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