Rousey, Lesnar win at underwhelming event

It was a fantastic night time to be a previous UFC champion at a incredibly predictable and typically underwhelming Royal Rumble that felt like the reverse of every little thing the function was intended to be.

Ronda Rousey returned from a nearly three-yr hiatus to acquire the women’s Royal Rumble and Brock Lesnar, who misplaced the WWE championship earlier in the night, 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.

The Royal Rumble applied to be about new stars ascending to get their WrestleMania likelihood and or more mature talent finishing journeys to mountain best for the first time. On Saturday night, WWE experienced two proven most important eventers — and likely section-timers — earn Royal Rumbles they really didn’t will need to in get to get their respective match at WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in April. It was all part of a evening that just seemed to be lacking its typical attraction. At least the door is nonetheless open up for Bianca Belair and Huge E to be in title matches at Mania.

Listed 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 system with Universal champ Roman Reigns at Mania.

The moment the previous UFC heavyweight champion entered the match it felt like a forgone summary 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 Undesirable Bunny with an F5. It was part of a reliable finish to a generally anti-climatic match — the greatest shock entrant was Shane McMahon.

Omos appeared remarkable, eliminating 3 folks and providing a chop to Ricochet that sounded like it would caved his chest. It took 6 men, like a flying Types – his former tag team lover – to remove the huge 7-footer.   

Johnny Knoxville’s physical appearance in the Royal Rumble was considerably less ha-ha than envisioned. The ridiculously dressed  “Jackass Forever” star took down Sami Zayn, took a flurry of strikes from A.J. Designs and a Frog Splash from Montez Ford. It was his storyline nemesis Zayn who eradicated him in a fast, fun segment. He was not the only celeb entrant has Undesirable Bunny entered at No. 27 and eliminated Sheamus and strike a Canadian destroyer on Riddle. He continues to appear like a practical wrestler when he’s in the ring.

WWE did not give us Rey and Dominik Mysterio in the ring with each other immediately after setting up up some potential father-son drama in the leadup. One particular of the greatest shockers may well have been Mad Cap Moss reducing No. 1 entrant Styles. They finally got theirs as McIntyre — who has a legit neck damage — eliminated equally Moss and Satisfied Corbin, who took him out in storyline at Working day 1. It’s possible the major shock of all was Kofi Kingston was not equipped to nail his yearly remain-in the Rumble spot as his ft hit the floor when he was pushed from the leading rope. It was symbolic of a match that just seemed to miss out on the mark. Where was Finn Balor?

The women’s Royal Rumble match felt particularly rushed — but it was nonetheless much better than the men’s outing since it did explain to some stories. It did produce a person of the winners men and women were being hoping for when Rousey returned at No. 28 to ultimately get rid of SmackDown women’s winner Charlotte Aptitude to punch her ticket to a most likely match between the two at WrestleMania.    

Effortless times were being never given a likelihood and other people weren’t provided a time to breathe. Sasha Financial institutions entered as No. 1 in complete Sailor Moon garb, but was eliminated pretty, really, speedily by Queen Zelina correct before Belair entered the match at No. 8 – much to the chagrin of the group. The two former WrestleMania headliners had been denied a second 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 right up until she arrived in to remove a returning Cameron, Naomi’s former Funkadactyls mate. Naomi, who has experienced her concerns with Deville due to the fact August, was up coming and rapidly removed her. Deville did appear back to pull Naomi off the arpon to get her out of the match, but every thing happened so fast.

The crowd was not invested in this match for extended stretches, primarily just after Banks was removed. Outdoors of a number of moments from Belair and Rhea Ripley, it felt like few performers ended up seriously showcased or supplied storylines to develop off of.  

Affect Knockouts winner Mickie James did occur by means of the “forbidden door” with the belt all-around her waistline and her “Hardcore Country” topic to a big pop. Nikki A.S.H. came from the other facet of the ring to try to reduce former tag husband or wife Ripley, who had a couple of option terms for her less than her breath. Nikki later attacked Mighty Molly just before she entered the ring since there can only be one superhero and swiftly removed her. The Bellas spoiled a Riott Squad reunion after Sarah Logan returned immediately after a very long hiatus from WWE. 

One particular cool second was the return of Ivory in her Proper to Censor apparel, speaking about wanting to clean factors up in WWE ahead of being quickly eliminated by Ripley. Lita and Charlotte Aptitude experienced a stable experience-to-confront trade. Though it was fun to see a variety of the legends, having not a person performer arrive 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 upper body as an alternative of her standard “Rowdy Roddy” Piper inspired gear. The previous Uncooked women’s champion appeared fantastic, pulling off a rather wild arm bar more than the best rope with Belair and even bought to team up with buddy Shayna Baszler, who was in the final four with her and Aptitude. 

Like everything in this match, Rousey and Flair’s interaction for the complete consisted of The Queen missing a kick and Rousey flipping her around the top rated rope to a roar from the crowd. Be expecting these two to very likely satisfy once again at WrestleMania, even with Becky Lynch retaining the Raw women’s title towards Doudrop in a quite solid match. They instructed the tale of Huge Time Becky required to pull out each stop to conquer Doudrop, using a Manhandle Slam from the 2nd rope to protected the 1-2-3.

Un-ending Touch

Seth Rollins compared to Roman Reigns experienced every little thing but a high quality finish   

Rollins wonderfully ongoing the brain online games, moving into the ring to The Shield’s songs and dressed in whole Protect garb and even delivered a Protect bomb to Reigns through the announce desk. He and most of the viewers imagined he had Reigns defeat just 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 up until Rollins countered a spear with a Pedigree leading to one more late kickout from the Head of the Table. There was a minor bit of a Batman-Joker feeling to this story with Rollins laughing at Reigns each individual time he really should have been crushed down. 

WWE
Seth Rollins entered his match against Roman Reigns as a result of the crowd.
WWE

This remarkable match was booked to an very uncomfortable and anti-climactic finish. Reigns set Rollins in the guillotine choke. The challenger was able to get close to the ropes and appeared to have passed out right before thoroughly reaching them. Referee Charles Robinson lifted Rollins’ hand and it grabbed the gown as it fell back down. Reigns refused to crack the maintain and misplaced the match by way of disqualification, but held his title. 

The Common champion then snapped, beating Rollins down with chair shot after chair shot – such as a symbolic just one to the back again – as he was greatly booed. I realize the tale WWE is seeking to notify listed here, Reigns’ “God Mode” isn’t as potent as it when was and Rollins deserved the beating for his conceitedness and past steps. Reigns blamed Rollins for not allowing him just take the hold off. Even now, WWE’s lack of ability and reluctance to guide clean or decisive finishes in huge shell out-per–view matches is mind boggling and the group there enable them hear it. 

Heyman Hustled

Bobby Lashley 1, Brock Lesnar — thanks to Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman.

Lesnar and Lashley’s long-awaited clash started with a German suplex contest which introduced out a good appear of appreciation from The Beast following he went traveling the to start with time. Lashley, who missed Lesnar going via the barricade in a call again to Day 1, strike his opponent with two spears prior to Lesnar turned the tide to choose him to Suplex Metropolis. When Lesnar went for the F5 the 1st time, Lashley countered with the Hurt Lock – but backed his opponent into the referee. He then strike the official whilst offering an F5.  Lesnar experienced Lashley pinned but no a person to depend to 3, so WWE shielded him a bit.

Then it took place. Reigns shipped a spear to Lesnar out of nowhere and was given the WWE championship by Heyman. He smashed Lesnar in excess of the head with it and remaining with his Specific Counsel again at his aspect. Lashley crawled on to Lesnar and pinned him to be reunited with the WWE championship just after dropping it to Massive E in September. The Heyman transform was probably the finish to the match Reigns and Lesnar have been intended to have at Working day 1 ahead of the Tribal Main contracted COVID-19. Lashley is probably headed to defending his title inside Elimination Chamber or dealing with its winner subsequent. WWE has some time now to determine it out.

Grit beats It 

This mixed tag match was typically every thing we imagined it would be. Maryse running from Beth Phoenix and The Miz undertaking almost everything he could to secure her. They even experienced Maryse hit Phoenix with the brick she employed on Raw, so there was some tale continuity right here.

What wasn’t expected and was refreshed was letting the males and girls get actual physical with just about every other as often as they did. Phoenix energy bombed The Miz and 1 place and Maryese strike a major-rope hurricanrana on Edge. There was even a point where by it looked like the It Few could earn immediately after Miz hit Edge with a Cranium Crushing Finale. In its place it finished with Edge and Phoenix hitting a double spear to Miz and then both equally providing simultaneous Glam Slams and pins for the 1-2-3. Let us hope this is not the final we’ve noticed around Phoenix for a even though.      

Biggest Winner: Roman Reigns

Major Loser: Sasha Banking institutions

Very best Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns

Predictions: 5-1

Quality: C-