Rousey, Lesnar win at underwhelming event
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It was a excellent night to be a former UFC winner at a very predictable and generally underwhelming Royal Rumble that felt like the opposite of almost everything the party was intended to be.
Ronda Rousey returned from a virtually 3-calendar year hiatus to earn the women’s Royal Rumble and Brock Lesnar, who lost the WWE championship previously 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 evening.
The Royal Rumble utilised to be about new stars ascending to get their WrestleMania prospect and or more mature expertise completing journeys to mountain top for the initially time. On Saturday evening, WWE experienced two recognized key eventers — and perhaps section-timers — gain Royal Rumbles they genuinely did not want to in buy to get their respective match at WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in April. It was all portion of a night that just seemed to be missing its typical charm. At least the doorway is nevertheless open for Bianca Belair and Major E to be in title matches at Mania.
Below are 5 takeaways from the 2022 Royal Rumble:
Offended Beast
Lesnar is no extended the WWE champion, but he’s a now a two-time Royal Rumble winner and on a collision system with Universal champ Roman Reigns at Mania.
The minute the previous 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 strike Undesirable Bunny with an F5. It was portion of a good complete to a typically anti-climatic match — the most important surprise entrant was Shane McMahon.
Omos seemed unbelievable, eradicating 3 men and women and delivering a chop to Ricochet that sounded like it would caved his chest. It took 6 gentlemen, which include a traveling Styles – his previous tag team associate – to eliminate the enormous 7-footer.
Johnny Knoxville’s visual appearance in the Royal Rumble was a lot less ha-ha than expected. The ridiculously dressed “Jackass Forever” star took down Sami Zayn, took a flurry of strikes from A.J. Types and a Frog Splash from Montez Ford. It was his storyline nemesis Zayn who removed him in a swift, pleasurable phase. He wasn’t the only celebrity entrant has Poor Bunny entered at No. 27 and eradicated Sheamus and strike a Canadian destroyer on Riddle. He proceeds to glance like a practical wrestler when he’s in the ring.
WWE did not give us Rey and Dominik Mysterio in the ring collectively after making up some potential father-son drama in the leadup. Just one of the most significant shockers may well have been Mad Cap Moss getting rid of No. 1 entrant Designs. They eventually bought theirs as McIntyre — who has a legit neck harm — removed equally Moss and Satisfied Corbin, who took him out in storyline at Working day 1. Maybe the most significant shock of all was Kofi Kingston was not equipped to nail his annual stay-in the Rumble spot as his toes hit the floor when he was pushed from the major rope. It was symbolic of a match that just appeared to miss out on the mark. Wherever was Finn Balor?
The women’s Royal Rumble match felt incredibly rushed — but it was nonetheless better than the men’s outing due to the fact it did inform some tales. It did supply one of the winners individuals ended up hoping for when Rousey returned at No. 28 to eventually remove SmackDown women’s champion Charlotte Flair to punch her ticket to a most likely match among the two at WrestleMania.
Straightforward moments ended up by no means specified a probability and other individuals weren’t provided a time to breathe. Sasha Banking companies entered as No. 1 in entire Sailor Moon garb, but was eliminated really, very, speedily by Queen Zelina correct before Belair entered the match at No. 8 – considerably to the chagrin of the group. The two former WrestleMania headliners have been denied a minute in the ring.
Sonya Deville came 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 eliminate a returning Cameron, Naomi’s former Funkadactyls mate. Naomi, who has had her problems with Deville considering that August, was subsequent and immediately eradicated her. Deville did occur again to pull Naomi off the arpon to get her out of the match, but almost everything occurred so quick.
The crowd was not invested in this match for very long stretches, primarily following Financial institutions was eliminated. Exterior of a several times from Belair and Rhea Ripley, it felt like couple of performers ended up definitely showcased or provided storylines to create off of.
Impact Knockouts winner Mickie James did occur by the “forbidden door” with the belt all-around her midsection and her “Hardcore Country” concept to a large pop. Nikki A.S.H. arrived from the other side of the ring to consider to eliminate previous tag associate Ripley, who experienced a couple of selection words for her under her breath. Nikki afterwards attacked Mighty Molly just before she entered the ring because there can only be a single superhero and quickly eradicated her. The Bellas spoiled a Riott Squad reunion right after Sarah Logan returned following a long hiatus from WWE.
A person neat moment was the return of Ivory in her Correct to Censor apparel, chatting about wanting to cleanse things up in WWE right before remaining rapidly eliminated by Ripley. Lita and Charlotte Aptitude had a sound confront-to-deal with trade. When it was pleasurable to see a number of the legends, obtaining not one particular performer occur up from NXT feels egregious.
Even with all that, WWE obtained the second it hoped for with Rousey, who came out in all black with “Baddest” throughout her upper body instead of her typical “Rowdy Roddy” Piper inspired gear. The former Uncooked women’s winner looked excellent, pulling off a very wild arm bar over the prime rope with Belair and even obtained to group up with buddy Shayna Baszler, who was in the ultimate 4 with her and Aptitude.
Like every little thing in this match, Rousey and Flair’s conversation for the finish consisted of The Queen missing a kick and Rousey flipping her more than the best rope to a roar from the crowd. Count on these two to most likely fulfill once again at WrestleMania, even with Becky Lynch retaining the Uncooked women’s title versus Doudrop in a quite solid match. They explained to the tale of Huge Time Becky required to pull out every single stop to beat Doudrop, working with a Manhandle Slam from the 2nd rope to protected the 1-2-3.
Un-finishing Contact
Seth Rollins versus Roman Reigns had everything but a high-quality finish
Rollins beautifully ongoing the thoughts games, coming into the ring to The Shield’s tunes and dressed in entire Defend garb and even sent a Protect bomb to Reigns as a result of the announce table. He and most of the audience believed he had Reigns defeat following 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 until Rollins countered a spear with a Pedigree main to another late kickout from the Head of the Desk. There was a minimal little bit of a Batman-Joker experience to this story with Rollins laughing at Reigns just about every time he ought to have been crushed down.
This outstanding match was booked to an extremely uncomfortable and anti-climactic end. Reigns place Rollins in the guillotine choke. The challenger was able to get in the vicinity of the ropes and appeared to have handed out prior to totally achieving them. Referee Charles Robinson lifted Rollins’ hand and it grabbed the robe as it fell back again down. Reigns refused to split the hold and shed the match by using disqualification, but saved his title.
The Universal champion then snapped, beating Rollins down with chair shot soon after chair shot – such as a symbolic a person to the back – as he was intensely booed. I recognize the tale WWE is seeking to inform here, Reigns’ “God Mode” is not as potent as it once was and Rollins deserved the beating for his conceitedness and earlier actions. Reigns blamed Rollins for not allowing him just take the keep off. However, WWE’s inability and reluctance to guide clean or decisive finishes in significant pay out-per–view matches is thoughts boggling and the group 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 started with a German suplex contest which introduced out a fantastic search of appreciation from The Beast soon after he went traveling the initial time. Lashley, who skipped Lesnar likely via the barricade in a phone back to Day 1, hit his opponent with two spears in advance of Lesnar turned the tide to acquire him to Suplex Town. 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 when delivering an F5. Lesnar experienced Lashley pinned but no a single to depend to three, so WWE secured him a bit.
Then it transpired. Reigns delivered a spear to Lesnar out of nowhere and was specified the WWE championship by Heyman. He smashed Lesnar around the head with it and still left with his Distinctive Counsel back at his side. Lashley crawled on to Lesnar and pinned him to be reunited with the WWE championship immediately after shedding it to Major E in September. The Heyman turn was possible the end to the match Reigns and Lesnar ended up meant to have at Working day 1 ahead of the Tribal Chief contracted COVID-19. Lashley is very likely headed to defending his title inside Elimination Chamber or struggling with its winner up coming. WWE has some time now to figure it out.
Grit beats It
This combined tag match was mainly almost everything we believed it would be. Maryse running from Beth Phoenix and The Miz carrying out almost everything he could to shield her. They even experienced Maryse strike Phoenix with the brick she utilised on Raw, so there was some tale continuity in this article.
What wasn’t expected and was refreshed was allowing the adult males and girls get actual physical with each and every other as often as they did. Phoenix electric power bombed The Miz and 1 point and Maryese strike a top rated-rope hurricanrana on Edge. There was even a point where by it seemed like the It Pair could gain immediately after Miz hit Edge with a Cranium Crushing Finale. As a substitute it finished with Edge and Phoenix hitting a double spear to Miz and then both of those offering simultaneous Glam Slams and pins for the 1-2-3. Let us hope this isn’t the last we have seen over Phoenix for a even though.
Greatest Winner: Roman Reigns
Biggest Loser: Sasha Banks
Very best Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns
Predictions: 5-1
Grade: C-