Rousey, Lesnar win at underwhelming event
It was a terrific evening to be a previous UFC champion at a really predictable and primarily underwhelming Royal Rumble that felt like the reverse of anything the function was meant to be.
Ronda Rousey returned from a just about 3-yr hiatus to earn the women’s Royal Rumble and Brock Lesnar, who dropped the WWE championship before in the night time, 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 night.
The Royal Rumble made use of to be about new stars ascending to get their WrestleMania prospect and or older expertise completing journeys to mountain major for the initial time. On Saturday night, WWE had two recognized principal eventers — and possibly component-timers — acquire Royal Rumbles they actually did not require to in purchase to get their respective match at WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in April. It was all section of a evening that just appeared to be lacking its common attraction. At the very least the door is nonetheless open for Bianca Belair and Major E to be in title matches at Mania.
Right here are 5 takeaways from the 2022 Royal Rumble:
Offended Beast
Lesnar is no longer 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 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 remaining two in a callback to the 2019 rumble and the Beast hit Negative Bunny with an F5. It was element of a solid finish to a typically anti-climatic match — the biggest shock entrant was Shane McMahon.
Omos looked incredible, eliminating three people today and delivering a chop to Ricochet that sounded like it would caved his upper body. It took 6 gentlemen, such as a flying Models – his previous tag workforce spouse – to reduce the significant 7-footer.
Johnny Knoxville’s visual appearance in the Royal Rumble was considerably 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 eliminated him in a brief, entertaining segment. He wasn’t the only superstar entrant has Terrible Bunny entered at No. 27 and eradicated Sheamus and hit a Canadian destroyer on Riddle. He continues to seem like a feasible wrestler when he’s in the ring.
WWE did not give us Rey and Dominik Mysterio in the ring alongside one another following developing up some prospective father-son drama in the leadup. Just one of the most important shockers may perhaps have been Mad Cap Moss removing No. 1 entrant Models. They at some point received theirs as McIntyre — who has a legit neck damage — eradicated the two Moss and Satisfied Corbin, who took him out in storyline at Working day 1. Perhaps the largest surprise of all was Kofi Kingston wasn’t capable to nail his yearly continue to be-in the Rumble location as his ft strike the ground when he was pushed from the leading 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 extremely rushed — but it was still better than the men’s outing simply because it did convey to some stories. It did produce a person of the winners individuals have been hoping for when Rousey returned at No. 28 to in the end eradicate SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Aptitude to punch her ticket to a very likely match amongst the two at WrestleMania.
Uncomplicated times ended up under no circumstances provided a possibility and other folks weren’t provided a time to breathe. Sasha Financial institutions entered as No. 1 in whole Sailor Moon garb, but was eliminated pretty, quite, immediately by Queen Zelina proper prior to Belair entered the match at No. 8 – considerably to the chagrin of the crowd. The two previous WrestleMania headliners were denied a instant 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 right up until she came in to do away with a returning Cameron, Naomi’s previous Funkadactyls mate. Naomi, who has had her problems with Deville due to the fact August, was upcoming and immediately eradicated her. Deville did come back to pull Naomi off the arpon to get her out of the match, but everything occurred so rapid.
The crowd was not invested in this match for very long stretches, specifically soon after Banking companies was eradicated. Exterior of a couple of times from Belair and Rhea Ripley, it felt like handful of performers were being actually showcased or specified storylines to construct off of.
Impression Knockouts champion Mickie James did come by the “forbidden door” with the belt all around her midsection and her “Hardcore Country” theme to a significant pop. Nikki A.S.H. arrived from the other facet of the ring to try out to eradicate previous tag partner Ripley, who experienced a couple choice terms for her under her breath. Nikki later attacked Mighty Molly before she entered the ring simply because there can only be 1 superhero and immediately eliminated her. The Bellas spoiled a Riott Squad reunion just after Sarah Logan returned soon after a extended hiatus from WWE.
One awesome instant was the return of Ivory in her Ideal to Censor apparel, speaking about wanting to thoroughly clean points up in WWE before currently being rapidly eradicated by Ripley. Lita and Charlotte Aptitude had a reliable confront-to-confront trade. Even though it was entertaining to see a amount of the legends, getting not a single performer occur up from NXT feels egregious.
Even with all that, WWE received the instant it hoped for with Rousey, who arrived out in all black with “Baddest” across her chest in its place of her typical “Rowdy Roddy” Piper inspired gear. The former Uncooked women’s winner seemed superior, pulling off a pretty wild arm bar over the top rope with Belair and even bought to workforce up with buddy Shayna Baszler, who was in the final four with her and Aptitude.
Like every little thing in this match, Rousey and Flair’s conversation for the finish consisted of The Queen lacking a kick and Rousey flipping her over the best rope to a roar from the group. Anticipate these two to probable fulfill once again at WrestleMania, even with Becky Lynch retaining the Raw women’s title versus Doudrop in a pretty strong match. They told the story of Huge Time Becky required to pull out each individual prevent to beat Doudrop, making use of a Manhandle Slam from the 2nd rope to protected the 1-2-3.
Un-ending Contact
Seth Rollins vs . Roman Reigns experienced all the things but a high-quality finish
Rollins wonderfully continued the mind game titles, entering the ring to The Shield’s music and dressed in comprehensive Protect garb and even shipped a Protect bomb to Reigns via the announce table. He and most of the audience believed he experienced Reigns conquer just after a Buckle Bomb and then a Stomp, but the Tribal Chief was just ready to get his arm up in time. The frantic paces turned methodical in Reigns’ favor until eventually Rollins countered a spear with a Pedigree top to a different late kickout from the Head of the Desk. There was a small bit of a Batman-Joker sensation to this tale with Rollins laughing at Reigns every time he ought to have been beaten down.
This extraordinary match was booked to an incredibly uncomfortable and anti-climactic complete. Reigns place Rollins in the guillotine choke. The challenger was able to get in close proximity to the ropes and appeared to have handed out prior to fully reaching them. Referee Charles Robinson lifted Rollins’ hand and it grabbed the robe as it fell back again down. Reigns refused to break the keep and dropped the match by using disqualification, but held his title.
The Universal winner then snapped, beating Rollins down with chair shot following chair shot – such as a symbolic just one to the again – as he was intensely booed. I have an understanding of the tale WWE is attempting to convey to right here, Reigns’ “God Mode” isn’t as robust as it once was and Rollins deserved the beating for his vanity and previous steps. Reigns blamed Rollins for not letting him just take the keep off. Nonetheless, WWE’s lack of ability and reluctance to e-book clear or decisive finishes in major shell out-per–view matches is head boggling and the group there allow them hear it.
Heyman Hustled
Bobby Lashley 1, Brock Lesnar — many thanks to Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman.
Lesnar and Lashley’s lengthy-awaited clash commenced with a German suplex contest which brought out a wonderful appear of appreciation from The Beast soon after he went flying the initial time. Lashley, who skipped Lesnar likely by way of the barricade in a simply call again to Working day 1, strike his opponent with two spears right before Lesnar turned the tide to consider him to Suplex City. When Lesnar went for the F5 the first time, Lashley countered with the Damage Lock – but backed his opponent into the referee. He then strike the official whilst delivering an F5. Lesnar had Lashley pinned but no a person to rely to a few, so WWE shielded him a little bit.
Then it transpired. Reigns sent 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 remaining with his Specific Counsel back again at his aspect. Lashley crawled on to Lesnar and pinned him to be reunited with the WWE championship following losing it to Huge E in September. The Heyman change was most likely the finish to the match Reigns and Lesnar were meant to have at Working day 1 before the Tribal Chief contracted COVID-19. Lashley is possible headed to defending his title within Elimination Chamber or experiencing its winner up coming. WWE has some time now to determine it out.
Grit beats It
This combined tag match was generally everything we assumed it would be. Maryse running from Beth Phoenix and The Miz undertaking everything he could to protect her. They even experienced Maryse strike Phoenix with the brick she employed on Uncooked, so there was some story continuity here.
What was not expected and was refreshed was letting the gentlemen and ladies get bodily with each individual other as usually as they did. Phoenix energy bombed The Miz and one particular issue and Maryese strike a top-rope hurricanrana on Edge. There was even a stage where it appeared like the It Few could win following Miz strike Edge with a Skull Crushing Finale. As a substitute it finished 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’s hope this isn’t the previous we have seen about Phoenix for a though.
Most significant Winner: Roman Reigns
Most significant Loser: Sasha Banking companies
Best Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Predictions: 5-1
Quality: C-
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