It was a terrific night to be a previous UFC winner at a pretty predictable and mostly underwhelming Royal Rumble that felt like the opposite of everything the celebration was intended to be.
Ronda Rousey returned from a virtually three-year hiatus to win the women’s Royal Rumble and Brock Lesnar, who missing the WWE championship before in the evening, entered the men’s match at No. 30 and punched his ticket to WrestleMania at The Dome at America’s Heart in St. Louis on Saturday night.
The Royal Rumble utilized to be about new stars ascending to get their WrestleMania possibility and or more mature talent finishing journeys to mountain prime for the initially time. On Saturday night, WWE experienced two founded key eventers — and perhaps section-timers — earn Royal Rumbles they definitely did not need to have to in buy 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 lacking its standard appeal. At the very least the door is even now open for Bianca Belair and Significant E to be in title matches at Mania.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the 2022 Royal Rumble:
Angry Beast
Lesnar is no more time the WWE winner, but he’s a now a two-time Royal Rumble winner and on a collision program 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 closing two in a callback to the 2019 rumble and the Beast hit Lousy Bunny with an F5. It was element of a sound finish to a mainly anti-climatic match — the largest shock entrant was Shane McMahon.
Omos seemed unbelievable, eradicating three men and women and delivering a chop to Ricochet that sounded like it would caved his upper body. It took six adult men, like a traveling Styles – his previous tag workforce associate – to eradicate the large 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. Kinds and a Frog Splash from Montez Ford. It was his storyline nemesis Zayn who eliminated him in a quick, pleasurable section. He wasn’t the only celeb entrant has Bad Bunny entered at No. 27 and eradicated Sheamus and strike a Canadian destroyer on Riddle. He proceeds to appear like a feasible wrestler when he’s in the ring.
WWE didn’t give us Rey and Dominik Mysterio in the ring together soon after constructing up some potential father-son drama in the leadup. A person of the most important shockers may well have been Mad Cap Moss reducing No. 1 entrant Designs. They at some point got theirs as McIntyre — who has a legit neck harm — eliminated both Moss and Pleased Corbin, who took him out in storyline at Working day 1. Maybe the biggest surprise of all was Kofi Kingston wasn’t capable to nail his yearly continue to be-in the Rumble spot as his toes strike the flooring when he was pushed from the leading rope. It was symbolic of a match that just seemed to miss out on the mark. The place was Finn Balor?
The women’s Royal Rumble match felt exceptionally rushed — but it was nonetheless far better than the men’s outing because it did tell some tales. It did supply one of the winners men and women were hoping for when Rousey returned at No. 28 to in the long run eliminate SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Flair to punch her ticket to a probable match amongst the two at WrestleMania.
Easy times were in no way given a likelihood and others weren’t offered a time to breathe. Sasha Banking companies entered as No. 1 in whole Sailor Moon garb, but was eliminated incredibly, really, speedily by Queen Zelina suitable before Belair entered the match at No. 8 – significantly to the chagrin of the crowd. The two previous WrestleMania headliners were 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 desk and not into the ring until finally she arrived in to eliminate a returning Cameron, Naomi’s previous Funkadactyls mate. Naomi, who has had her problems with Deville considering that August, was up coming and rapidly eliminated her. Deville did occur back to pull Naomi off the arpon to get her out of the match, but everything transpired so rapid.
The group was not invested in this match for extended stretches, particularly soon after Financial institutions was eradicated. Outdoors of a number of times from Belair and Rhea Ripley, it felt like number of performers ended up truly showcased or provided storylines to make off of.
Affect Knockouts champion Mickie James did occur through the “forbidden door” with the belt close to her waist and her “Hardcore Country” topic to a major pop. Nikki A.S.H. came from the other aspect of the ring to test to do away with previous tag partner Ripley, who had a several decision phrases for her beneath her breath. Nikki later on attacked Mighty Molly right before she entered the ring mainly because there can only be a person superhero and promptly eliminated her. The Bellas spoiled a Riott Squad reunion after Sarah Logan returned following a very long hiatus from WWE.
1 neat moment was the return of Ivory in her Proper to Censor attire, speaking about seeking to clean up things up in WWE prior to becoming rapidly eliminated by Ripley. Lita and Charlotte Aptitude had a stable experience-to-encounter exchange. Although it was fun to see a quantity of the legends, obtaining not just one performer appear up from NXT feels egregious.
Even with all that, WWE bought the moment it hoped for with Rousey, who came out in all black with “Baddest” throughout her upper body in its place of her normal “Rowdy Roddy” Piper impressed equipment. The previous Raw women’s champion appeared very good, pulling off a fairly wild arm bar above the top rope with Belair and even bought to staff up with buddy Shayna Baszler, who was in the remaining four with her and Aptitude.
Like everything in this match, Rousey and Flair’s conversation for the end consisted of The Queen lacking a kick and Rousey flipping her around the leading rope to a roar from the crowd. Expect these two to probably fulfill all over again at WrestleMania, even with Becky Lynch retaining the Raw women’s title from Doudrop in a pretty stable match. They instructed the story of Major Time Becky needed to pull out every stop to beat Doudrop, employing a Manhandle Slam from the next rope to protected the 1-2-3.
Un-finishing Contact
Seth Rollins vs . Roman Reigns experienced every little thing but a good quality finish
Rollins superbly ongoing the brain video games, moving into the ring to The Shield’s tunes and dressed in entire Defend garb and even sent a Defend bomb to Reigns through the announce table. He and most of the viewers assumed he had Reigns defeat just after a Buckle Bomb and then a Stomp, but the Tribal Main was just equipped to get his arm up in time. The frantic paces turned methodical in Reigns’ favor right until Rollins countered a spear with a Pedigree top to another late kickout from the Head of the Table. There was a little little bit of a Batman-Joker sensation to this story with Rollins laughing at Reigns every single time he really should have been overwhelmed down.
This remarkable match was booked to an exceptionally uncomfortable and anti-climactic finish. Reigns put Rollins in the guillotine choke. The challenger was able to get in the vicinity of the ropes and appeared to have passed out just before totally reaching them. Referee Charles Robinson lifted Rollins’ hand and it grabbed the robe as it fell again down. Reigns refused to split the keep and shed the match by means of disqualification, but saved his title.
The Common winner then snapped, beating Rollins down with chair shot immediately after chair shot – which include a symbolic a person to the back again – as he was intensely booed. I recognize the tale WWE is attempting to notify in this article, Reigns’ “God Mode” is not as potent as it the moment was and Rollins deserved the beating for his arrogance and past actions. Reigns blamed Rollins for not permitting him choose the hold off. Nonetheless, WWE’s incapability and reluctance to book cleanse or decisive finishes in huge pay out-per–view matches is head boggling and the group there permit them listen to it.
Heyman Hustled
Bobby Lashley 1, Brock Lesnar — many thanks to Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman.
Lesnar and Lashley’s extended-awaited clash started with a German suplex contest which brought out a excellent search of appreciation from The Beast immediately after he went traveling the initially time. Lashley, who skipped Lesnar going via the barricade in a get in touch with back again to Working day 1, strike his opponent with two spears prior to Lesnar turned the tide to just take him to Suplex Metropolis. When Lesnar went for the F5 the very first time, Lashley countered with the Damage Lock – but backed his opponent into the referee. He then strike the formal though offering an F5. Lesnar experienced Lashley pinned but no one particular to rely to 3, so WWE shielded him a little bit.
Then it took place. Reigns shipped a spear to Lesnar out of nowhere and was presented the WWE championship by Heyman. He smashed Lesnar in excess of the head with it and still left with his Specific Counsel back at his facet. Lashley crawled on to Lesnar and pinned him to be reunited with the WWE championship just after getting rid of it to Huge E in September. The Heyman change was probably the complete to the match Reigns and Lesnar ended up meant to have at Working day 1 in advance of the Tribal Chief contracted COVID-19. Lashley is possible headed to defending his title within Elimination Chamber or going through its winner next. WWE has some time now to figure it out.
Grit beats It
This combined tag match was mostly all the things we thought it would be. Maryse working from Beth Phoenix and The Miz executing every little thing he could to safeguard her. They even experienced Maryse hit Phoenix with the brick she applied on Uncooked, so there was some story continuity below.
What was not anticipated and was refreshed was letting the men and gals get actual physical with each individual other as typically as they did. Phoenix ability bombed The Miz and a single point and Maryese hit a top-rope hurricanrana on Edge. There was even a stage the place it looked like the It Few could earn soon after Miz hit Edge with a Cranium Crushing Finale. As an alternative it finished with Edge and Phoenix hitting a double spear to Miz and then the two delivering simultaneous Glam Slams and pins for the 1-2-3. Let’s hope this is not the last we have witnessed in excess of Phoenix for a even though.
Biggest Winner: Roman Reigns
Major Loser: Sasha Banking companies
Finest Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Predictions: 5-1
Grade: C-