Through the thick and thin of WWE's booking decisions, the Royal Rumble never fails to be a highly anticipated event for me. I do the usual thing of rambling about each match on this year's card below. Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin (Falls Count Anywhere match) - Like most feuds involving Baron Corbin over the past few years (this is simply an observation and not a dig at the guy), this storyline has dragged on for way too long, and viewers are visibly sick or otherwise disinterested in it. There have been some bright spots to this (mostly just the Usos returning, but still), but for the most part, this angle has not been doing anyone involved any favors. Thankfully, the match itself is not at all as bad as the buildup to it, as it starts out hot and the action quickly spills out to various sections of the arena. There were some solid spots (such as multiple table spots and a big dive), a dash of outside interference (Ziggler and Roode ganging up on Reigns, and the Usos swooping in to even the odds), a couple of creative moments (like the use of a metal barricade, the big Port-a-Potty spot at Corbin's expense, and the big finale on top of the baseball stadium's dugout area). It wasn't anything spectacular, but it was enjoyable for what it was and made for a decent opener. I do hope that this is the end of this feud, because I don't want more dog food on my TV. Women's Royal Rumble match - Here's a list of moments from the match that I found noteworthy:
Bayley (c) vs. Lacey Evans (Smackdown Women's Championship match) - Bayley has been a decent heel champion, but I must admit that her current feud with Lacey Evans (who has since turned face and earned this title shot by pinning the champ) hasn't really captured my interest that much. This match overall wasn't much to write home about due to its fairly slow pace and short duration, and it's a shame to say that given the talent involved. It also didn't help that the crowd was kinda dead for this match (which is understandable, given they just witnessed an exciting Rumble match) Bayley spends a lot of the match going for sneaky tactics, while Evans does a decent job being a do-gooder babyface in the ring. There was a neat story moment involving Evans's daughter (who was in the front row), but it was brief and ultimately inconsequential. Bayley retains in heelish fashion, which I suppose is a wise choice. Evans, as talented as she is, isn't quite the caliber of star who can carry a division just yet, and she needs some more time to truly hit her stride. The Fiend (c) vs. Daniel Bryan (Strap Match for the Universal Championship) - Despite the hit-or-miss quality of his matches, The Fiend/Bray Wyatt remains one of the most captivating acts to watch in the entire WWE. This time around, he's set his sights on Daniel Bryan, a man he has quite a bit of history with, and has spent the past number of weeks putting him through his trademark psychological torture. Bryan (who has just turned face and become the Yes Man once more) fights back like the underdog he is, and demanded this stipulation match for the title. This match ended up being pretty great, featuring a different kind of brutality from the Falls Count Anywhere match from earlier in the night. The strap was used liberally as both a weapon and a tool by both wrestlers, both men put on some great character work, and there were some surprising near-falls sprinkled about. The Fiend put on what was easily his best match since adopting the gimmick, as he showcased both his trademark sadistic offense and some impressive wrestling (most notably, he countered Bryan running at him with a twisting, elevated Sister Abigail). Bryan was no slouch either, as he busted out huge strikes, went on high-flying assaults, pulled out slick submission holds, and even threw out a couple of dick kicks for good measure. In spite of Bryan's effort, The Fiend survives the encounter with a cool-looking Mandible Claw/uranage combination that could easily be his new finisher. Bryan gets a big babyface moment after the match where he struggles to leave the ring under his own power, which the audience applauded. Good shit all around, and the best part? The stupid red lighting was nowhere to be seen! Becky Lynch (c) vs. Asuka (Raw Women's Championship match) - This was a simple, yet effective story involving two of WWE's finest wrestlers in the women's division. Asuka has consistently beaten Lynch in every match they've ever been in, and Lynch is looking to right that wrong, risking her title (which she's held for almost a year at this point) for a chance at redemption. In addition, Asuka is now a menacing heel with both Kairi Sane in her corner and the green mist at her disposal, adding to the "insurmountable threat" aura she exudes. As expected, this match was another excellent, back-and-forth contest between the two, filled with big moves and some slick counters. Asuka felt like her old self (you know, back when she felt unbeatable and had that insane win streak), and Lynch carried herself like the fighting champion she is. In particular, they highlight the submission prowess of both wrestlers, with each woman going for various holds (and countering) multiple times throughout the match. There was a spot during the match where Lynch was seemingly knocked out cold, but she ended up bouncing back almost immediately, which I thought was odd (but not really a big deal). The finish came about after an inadvertent ref bump, and as Asuka went for her green mist attack, Lynch managed to counter it and redeemed herself by making Asuka tap out in a decisive victory. WWE's booking of Asuka has been frustratingly hit-or-miss, but even in defeat, this was absolutely in the "hit" column. Street Profits hype up the Men's Rumble match - As much as I enjoy these guys in hilarious backstage segments like this one, I would prefer to see them actually wrestle in the ring as they did on NXT. Men's Royal Rumble match - Like before, I'm gonna list down moments that stood out to me:
This year's Royal Rumble event wasn't perfect, but the things it did well, it did incredibly well. There were some good non-Rumble matches, and when it came to the Rumbles themselves, there were great moments from top to bottom. I think this event will be remembered fondly, and deservedly so.
Now, the Road to WrestleMania begins in full, and I'm excited to be on this ride again (no matter how many times WWE finds a way to make me disinterested). - end -
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June 2024
Derryck
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