It was a fantastic evening to be a previous UFC winner at a extremely predictable and primarily underwhelming Royal Rumble that felt like the opposite of all the things the celebration was intended to be.
Ronda Rousey returned from a almost three-calendar year hiatus to acquire the women’s Royal Rumble and Brock Lesnar, who lost the WWE championship earlier in the night time, 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 utilised to be about new stars ascending to get their WrestleMania opportunity and or more mature expertise completing journeys to mountain prime for the 1st time. On Saturday night, WWE had two proven major eventers — and perhaps section-timers — gain Royal Rumbles they genuinely didn’t want to in buy 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 regular appeal. At least the doorway is continue to open for Bianca Belair and Huge E to be in title matches at Mania.
Here are 5 takeaways from the 2022 Royal Rumble:
Indignant Beast
Lesnar is no lengthier the WWE winner, but he’s a now a two-time Royal Rumble winner and on a collision training course with Common champ Roman Reigns at Mania.
The minute the former UFC heavyweight champion 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 final two in a callback to the 2019 rumble and the Beast strike Terrible Bunny with an F5. It was element of a reliable finish to a largely anti-climatic match — the biggest surprise entrant was Shane McMahon.
Omos seemed unbelievable, eradicating a few folks and offering a chop to Ricochet that sounded like it would caved his upper body. It took 6 guys, together with a traveling Kinds – his former tag team spouse – to get rid of the enormous 7-footer.
Johnny Knoxville’s look in the Royal Rumble was considerably less ha-ha than expected. The ridiculously dressed “Jackass Forever” star took down Sami Zayn, took a flurry of strikes from A.J. Models and a Frog Splash from Montez Ford. It was his storyline nemesis Zayn who eliminated him in a fast, entertaining section. He wasn’t the only celeb entrant has Bad Bunny entered at No. 27 and eliminated Sheamus and strike a Canadian destroyer on Riddle. He continues to search like a practical wrestler when he’s in the ring.
WWE did not give us Rey and Dominik Mysterio in the ring together following making up some opportunity father-son drama in the leadup. A person of the major shockers might have been Mad Cap Moss doing away with No. 1 entrant Kinds. They eventually obtained theirs as McIntyre — who has a legit neck injury — eliminated both Moss and Content Corbin, who took him out in storyline at Working day 1. Maybe the most important surprise of all was Kofi Kingston was not able to nail his yearly continue to be-in the Rumble spot as his feet hit the ground when he was pushed from the major rope. It was symbolic of a match that just appeared to miss the mark. Where by was Finn Balor?
The women’s Royal Rumble match felt really rushed — but it was nonetheless improved than the men’s outing since it did tell some stories. It did provide one of the winners people today were hoping for when Rousey returned at No. 28 to ultimately remove SmackDown women’s winner Charlotte Aptitude to punch her ticket to a likely match amongst the two at WrestleMania.
Simple times were being under no circumstances specified a probability and others weren’t provided a time to breathe. Sasha Financial institutions entered as No. 1 in comprehensive Sailor Moon garb, but was removed very, very, rapidly by Queen Zelina suitable prior to Belair entered the match at No. 8 – a lot to the chagrin of the group. The two former WrestleMania headliners have been denied a moment in the ring.
Sonya Deville arrived 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 finally she arrived in to reduce a returning Cameron, Naomi’s former Funkadactyls mate. Naomi, who has had her problems with Deville since August, was next and speedily removed her. Deville did appear back again to pull Naomi off the arpon to get her out of the match, but anything took place so quickly.
The crowd was not invested in this match for lengthy stretches, primarily after Banks was eliminated. Exterior of a number of times from Belair and Rhea Ripley, it felt like handful of performers have been seriously showcased or presented storylines to create off of.
Affect Knockouts winner Mickie James did appear through the “forbidden door” with the belt close to her waist and her “Hardcore Country” theme to a large pop. Nikki A.S.H. arrived from the other facet of the ring to attempt to eliminate former tag partner Ripley, who had a couple of selection text for her less than her breath. Nikki afterwards attacked Mighty Molly right before she entered the ring mainly because there can only be one superhero and speedily removed her. The Bellas spoiled a Riott Squad reunion immediately after Sarah Logan returned just after a extensive hiatus from WWE.
A single cool minute was the return of Ivory in her Ideal to Censor apparel, chatting about wanting to clean issues up in WWE before becoming quickly eradicated by Ripley. Lita and Charlotte Aptitude experienced a solid deal with-to-facial area trade. Whilst it was entertaining to see a range of the legends, owning not 1 performer appear up from NXT feels egregious.
Even with all that, WWE acquired the minute it hoped for with Rousey, who arrived out in all black with “Baddest” throughout her upper body in its place of her standard “Rowdy Roddy” Piper motivated gear. The former Raw women’s champion appeared superior, pulling off a quite wild arm bar over the best rope with Belair and even acquired to group up with buddy Shayna Baszler, who was in the last 4 with her and Flair.
Like every thing in this match, Rousey and Flair’s conversation for the complete consisted of The Queen lacking a kick and Rousey flipping her in excess of the best rope to a roar from the crowd. Be expecting these two to possible fulfill once again at WrestleMania, even with Becky Lynch retaining the Uncooked women’s title versus Doudrop in a incredibly reliable match. They instructed the story of Huge Time Becky desired to pull out just about every end to conquer Doudrop, applying a Manhandle Slam from the next rope to safe the 1-2-3.
Un-ending Touch
Seth Rollins compared to Roman Reigns had almost everything but a high quality finish
Rollins wonderfully continued the mind game titles, getting into the ring to The Shield’s new music and dressed in complete Protect garb and even delivered a Shield bomb to Reigns through the announce desk. He and most of the viewers considered he had Reigns defeat soon after a Buckle Bomb and then a Stomp, but the Tribal Main was just capable to get his arm up in time. The frantic paces turned methodical in Reigns’ favor right until Rollins countered a spear with a Pedigree main to a further late kickout from the Head of the Table. There was a tiny bit of a Batman-Joker experience to this tale with Rollins laughing at Reigns just about every time he ought to have been overwhelmed down.
This incredible match was booked to an very awkward and anti-climactic finish. Reigns place Rollins in the guillotine choke. The challenger was in a position to get in close proximity to the ropes and appeared to have passed out ahead of fully reaching them. Referee Charles Robinson lifted Rollins’ hand and it grabbed the gown as it fell again down. Reigns refused to split the keep and missing the match via disqualification, but retained his title.
The Universal champion then snapped, beating Rollins down with chair shot following chair shot – such as a symbolic a person to the back – as he was greatly booed. I have an understanding of the tale WWE is hoping to convey to below, Reigns’ “God Mode” isn’t as solid as it at the time was and Rollins deserved the beating for his arrogance and past steps. Reigns blamed Rollins for not allowing him acquire the hold off. Even now, WWE’s lack of ability and reluctance to e-book clear or decisive finishes in large pay-per–view matches is intellect boggling and the crowd there let them hear it.
Heyman Hustled
Bobby Lashley 1, Brock Lesnar — many thanks to Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman.
Lesnar and Lashley’s long-awaited clash began with a German suplex contest which brought out a good glimpse of appreciation from The Beast right after he went traveling the very first time. Lashley, who skipped Lesnar going by way of the barricade in a contact back again to Working day 1, hit his opponent with two spears in advance of Lesnar turned the tide to acquire him to Suplex Metropolis. When Lesnar went for the F5 the initial time, Lashley countered with the Damage Lock – but backed his opponent into the referee. He then strike the formal although offering an F5. Lesnar experienced Lashley pinned but no one to count to three, so WWE secured him a bit.
Then it transpired. Reigns delivered a spear to Lesnar out of nowhere and was supplied the WWE championship by Heyman. He smashed Lesnar around the head with it and remaining with his Specific Counsel again at his side. Lashley crawled onto Lesnar and pinned him to be reunited with the WWE championship following losing it to Major E in September. The Heyman change was very likely the finish to the match Reigns and Lesnar ended up meant to have at Day 1 before the Tribal Main contracted COVID-19. Lashley is possible headed to defending his title inside of Elimination Chamber or experiencing its winner following. WWE has some time now to determine it out.
Grit beats It
This mixed tag match was mainly all the things we thought it would be. Maryse running from Beth Phoenix and The Miz performing every little thing he could to secure her. They even experienced Maryse hit Phoenix with the brick she applied on Uncooked, so there was some story continuity here.
What was not envisioned and was refreshed was permitting the adult males and women of all ages get physical with every other as normally as they did. Phoenix energy bombed The Miz and 1 place and Maryese hit a major-rope hurricanrana on Edge. There was even a position where it seemed like the It Few could acquire following Miz strike Edge with a Cranium Crushing Finale. In its place it ended with Edge and Phoenix hitting a double spear to Miz and then the two providing simultaneous Glam Slams and pins for the 1-2-3. Let’s hope this is not the final we have observed about Phoenix for a though.
Major Winner: Roman Reigns
Major Loser: Sasha Banking companies
Most effective Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Predictions: 5-1
Grade: C-
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