It was a great evening to be a previous UFC champion at a extremely predictable and largely underwhelming Royal Rumble that felt like the reverse of every little thing the event was meant to be.
Ronda Rousey returned from a virtually 3-yr hiatus to gain the women’s Royal Rumble and Brock Lesnar, who misplaced 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 Centre in St. Louis on Saturday night time.
The Royal Rumble made use of to be about new stars ascending to get their WrestleMania prospect and or older expertise finishing journeys to mountain leading for the to start with time. On Saturday evening, WWE experienced two set up main eventers — and perhaps section-timers — win Royal Rumbles they actually didn’t want to in buy to get their respective match at WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in April. It was all element of a evening that just appeared to be lacking its normal charm. At least the door is even now open for Bianca Belair and Massive E to be in title matches at Mania.
In this article are 5 takeaways from the 2022 Royal Rumble:
Angry Beast
Lesnar is no for a longer period the WWE champion, 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 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 ultimate two in a callback to the 2019 rumble and the Beast strike Bad Bunny with an F5. It was aspect of a stable finish to a largely anti-climatic match — the major shock entrant was Shane McMahon.
Omos looked amazing, eliminating 3 individuals and delivering a chop to Ricochet that sounded like it would caved his chest. It took six gentlemen, which include a flying Models – his former tag team husband or wife – to reduce the substantial 7-footer.
Johnny Knoxville’s physical appearance in the Royal Rumble was fewer ha-ha than anticipated. 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 eliminated him in a quick, pleasurable section. He wasn’t the only movie star entrant has Terrible Bunny entered at No. 27 and eradicated Sheamus and hit a Canadian destroyer on Riddle. He continues to glance like a viable wrestler when he’s in the ring.
WWE did not give us Rey and Dominik Mysterio in the ring alongside one another immediately after making up some opportunity father-son drama in the leadup. Just one of the biggest shockers may have been Mad Cap Moss getting rid of No. 1 entrant Kinds. They at some point bought theirs as McIntyre — who has a legit neck injury — eliminated the two Moss and Pleased Corbin, who took him out in storyline at Day 1. Possibly the most significant surprise of all was Kofi Kingston was not capable to nail his annual keep-in the Rumble location as his feet strike the floor when he was pushed from the best rope. It was symbolic of a match that just seemed to pass up the mark. Where was Finn Balor?
The women’s Royal Rumble match felt extremely rushed — but it was however superior than the men’s outing because it did convey to some tales. It did produce 1 of the winners folks were hoping for when Rousey returned at No. 28 to in the long run get rid of SmackDown women’s winner Charlotte Flair to punch her ticket to a probably match amongst the two at WrestleMania.
Effortless moments were being hardly ever offered a likelihood and many others weren’t presented a time to breathe. Sasha Banking institutions entered as No. 1 in entire Sailor Moon garb, but was eliminated quite, extremely, rapidly by Queen Zelina correct ahead of Belair entered the match at No. 8 – a lot to the chagrin of the group. The two former WrestleMania headliners were 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 she came in to remove a returning Cameron, Naomi’s previous Funkadactyls mate. Naomi, who has had her issues with Deville considering that August, was following and rapidly eliminated her. Deville did occur again to pull Naomi off the arpon to get her out of the match, but almost everything happened so quick.
The crowd was not invested in this match for lengthy stretches, primarily right after Banking institutions was eradicated. Outdoors of a few moments from Belair and Rhea Ripley, it felt like couple of performers were really showcased or presented storylines to make off of.
Effects Knockouts winner Mickie James did occur through the “forbidden door” with the belt close to her midsection and her “Hardcore Country” concept to a massive pop. Nikki A.S.H. arrived from the other facet of the ring to try out to get rid of former tag lover Ripley, who experienced a few alternative words and phrases for her underneath her breath. Nikki later on attacked Mighty Molly just before she entered the ring since there can only be one particular superhero and promptly eliminated her. The Bellas spoiled a Riott Squad reunion following Sarah Logan returned right after a extensive hiatus from WWE.
Just one interesting minute was the return of Ivory in her Ideal to Censor apparel, speaking about wanting to clean matters up in WWE right before remaining speedily removed by Ripley. Lita and Charlotte Flair had a solid experience-to-confront trade. Though it was enjoyment to see a amount of the legends, obtaining not 1 performer occur up from NXT feels egregious.
Even with all that, WWE received the minute it hoped for with Rousey, who came out in all black with “Baddest” across her upper body rather of her standard “Rowdy Roddy” Piper inspired gear. The former Raw women’s champion looked superior, pulling off a rather wild arm bar above the top rope with Belair and even got 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 conversation for the end consisted of The Queen lacking a kick and Rousey flipping her more than the best rope to a roar from the group. Anticipate these two to likely satisfy again at WrestleMania, even with Becky Lynch retaining the Raw women’s title versus Doudrop in a quite sound match. They instructed the tale of Massive Time Becky required to pull out every prevent to conquer Doudrop, applying a Manhandle Slam from the next rope to protected the 1-2-3.
Un-finishing Touch
Seth Rollins compared to Roman Reigns had every thing but a excellent finish
Rollins wonderfully ongoing the brain game titles, getting into the ring to The Shield’s new music and dressed in comprehensive Defend garb and even shipped a Shield bomb to Reigns as a result of the announce table. He and most of the viewers considered he had Reigns beat 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 right until Rollins countered a spear with a Pedigree main to yet another late kickout from the Head of the Table. There was a tiny bit of a Batman-Joker feeling to this story with Rollins laughing at Reigns each time he should have been crushed down.
This amazing match was booked to an exceptionally awkward and anti-climactic finish. Reigns place Rollins in the guillotine choke. The challenger was capable to get near the ropes and appeared to have passed out in advance of fully achieving them. Referee Charles Robinson lifted Rollins’ hand and it grabbed the gown as it fell back again down. Reigns refused to split the maintain and shed the match through disqualification, but stored his title.
The Common winner then snapped, beating Rollins down with chair shot immediately after chair shot – like a symbolic 1 to the back – as he was closely booed. I comprehend the tale WWE is striving to convey to right here, Reigns’ “God Mode” isn’t as powerful as it the moment was and Rollins deserved the beating for his conceitedness and earlier steps. Reigns blamed Rollins for not permitting him consider the maintain off. Nonetheless, WWE’s inability and reluctance to e-book clear or decisive finishes in major pay back-per–view matches is head boggling and the group there let them hear it.
Heyman Hustled
Bobby Lashley 1, Brock Lesnar — many thanks to Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman.
Lesnar and Lashley’s extensive-awaited clash started with a German suplex contest which brought out a fantastic search of appreciation from The Beast soon after he went flying the 1st time. Lashley, who skipped Lesnar heading through the barricade in a connect with again to Day 1, strike his opponent with two spears before Lesnar turned the tide to 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 hit the official while providing an F5. Lesnar had Lashley pinned but no 1 to depend to 3, so WWE secured him a bit.
Then it took place. Reigns shipped a spear to Lesnar out of nowhere and was specified the WWE championship by Heyman. He smashed Lesnar more than the head with it and still left with his Special Counsel back again at his side. Lashley crawled on to Lesnar and pinned him to be reunited with the WWE championship following losing it to Significant E in September. The Heyman flip was probable the end to the match Reigns and Lesnar were being meant to have at Day 1 right before the Tribal Main contracted COVID-19. Lashley is probably headed to defending his title within Elimination Chamber or experiencing its winner subsequent. WWE has some time now to determine it out.
Grit beats It
This blended tag match was mostly everything we considered it would be. Maryse running from Beth Phoenix and The Miz carrying out everything he could to guard her. They even experienced Maryse hit Phoenix with the brick she utilized on Raw, so there was some tale continuity listed here.
What was not envisioned and was refreshed was permitting the gentlemen and ladies get actual physical with each other as normally as they did. Phoenix energy bombed The Miz and one level and Maryese strike a major-rope hurricanrana on Edge. There was even a point exactly where it seemed like the It Pair could get following Miz strike Edge with a Skull Crushing Finale. Instead it ended with Edge and Phoenix hitting a double spear to Miz and then each providing simultaneous Glam Slams and pins for the 1-2-3. Let us hope this is not the past we have seen about Phoenix for a whilst.
Largest Winner: Roman Reigns
Greatest Loser: Sasha Financial institutions
Very best Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Predictions: 5-1
Grade: C-
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