Royal Rumble 2018 Review

Kickoff Show

Kalisto, Lince Dorado, & Gran Metalik Defeat Jack Gallagher, TJP, & Drew Gulak
The Revival Defeat Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Bobby Roode Defeats MoJo Rawley & Retains United States Title

PPV Card


2 On 1 Handicap Match For WWE Title

AJ Styles Vs Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens

AJ Styles Wins Via Rollup On Kevin Owens & Retains WWE Title

Rate: 3 Stars

Thoughts: Now, this match was never going to be perfect. The whole stip is an odd one for a title match, but it had some good moments and did keep my attention during the whole match. We saw Owens and Zayn use the advantage a lot during the match, which is very logical, with Styles going for Owens’ previously injured ankle from last Tuesday’s SmachDown Live show. The ending was well executed, as everyone thought Owens tagged in, he went for a pop up Powerbomb on Styles, who reversed for a Rollup. The thing is Owens was never the legal man, so I feel like this feud was created to give these guys something to do until Wrestlemania. Either way, it was a good match. However, I do have an issue with that title being first on the card. It bothers me with its history to be treated like that.



2. 2 Out Of 3 Falls For Smackdown Live Tag Team Titles

The Usos Vs Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable

First Fall : The Usos Win Via Double Superkick On Gable
Second Fall: The Usos Win Via Rollup On Benjamin


The Usos Retain Smackdown Tag Team Titles

Rate: 3 Stars


Thoughts: Now, this match I had very high expectations to be honest. Yes the match was very good but it could have been more. Gable & Benjamin not even getting one fall is disheartening. They have lost to the Usos yet again. Where do they go from here? I feel this match needed about another 5-7 minutes to give it the time it deserved. This was perhaps Benjamin’s best match since returning and the quality in the ring was really great. I was just left feeling underwhelmed and wanting more.

3. Men Royal Rumble Match

Entry Order:

Rusev
Finn Balor
Rhyno
Baron Corbin

Heath Slater
Elias
Andrade “Cien” Almas (NXT Surprise)
Bray Wyatt
Big E
Sami Zayn (Originally Tye Dillinger But Got Attacked)
Sheamus
Xavier Woods
Apollo Crews
Shinsuke Nakamura
Cesaro
Kofi Kingston
Jinder Mahal
Seth Rollins
Matt Hardy
John Cena
The Hurricane (Surprise)
Aiden English
Adam Cole ( NXT Surprise)
Randy Orton
Titus Oneil
The Miz
Rey Mysterio (Surprise)
Roman Reigns
Goldust
Dolph Ziggler (Surprise)



Elimination Order:

Rhyno Eliminated By Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin Eliminated By Finn Balor
Sheamus Eliminated By Heath Slater
Heath Slater Eliminated By Bray Wyatt
Sami Zayn Eliminated By Shinsuke Nakamura
Apollo Crews Eliminated By Cesaro
Xavier Woods Eliminated By Jinder Mahal
Big E Eliminated By Jinder Mahal
Cesaro Eliminated By Seth Rollins
Jinder Mahal Eliminated By Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kingston Eliminated By Andrade Almas
Rusev Eliminated By Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt Eliminated By Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy Eliminated By Bray Wyatt
Elias Eliminated By John Cena
The Hurricane Eliminated By John Cena
Aiden English Eliminated By Finn Balor
Andrade Almas Eliminated By Randy Orton
Adam Cole Eliminated By Rey Mysterio
Titus Oneil Eliminated By Roman Reigns
The Miz Eliminated by Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins Eliminated By Roman Reigns
Goldust Eliminated By Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler Eliminated by Finn Balor
Randy Orton Eliminated  By Roman Reigns
Rey Mysterio Eliminated By Finn Balor
Finn Balor Eliminated By John Cena
John Cena Eliminated By Shinsuke Nakamura
Roman Reigns Eliminated By Shinsuke Nakamura

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

Rate: 5 Stars


Post Match: Shinsuke Nakamura Reveals he will challenge AJ Styles come Wrestlemania


Thoughts: WWE finally pulls the trigger on Nakamura and it seems we will get him vs Styles at Wrestlemania for the WWE Title, unless something drastic changes. In my opinion, this match is the best Rumble match since 2007, as it had everything you could want in it. We saw Midcarders and Upper Tier levels having great showings like Finn Balor, who lasted fifty-seven minutes. We had Elias, who had a great showing as well. I feel he is being groomed to get upper midcard status after Mania. Nakamura lasted over forty minutes and won, which at his age just impressed the hell out of me. We also got proper surprises that were well chosen and done at the right time, like The Hurricane, who we have not seen WWE for years and got a good pop. Almas & Adam Cole was shocking and both guys lasted a long time during the match. They were really star- making performances from both NXT members. Lets not forget about Rey Mysterio, who looked like he was back in WCW with the great shape he is in. The final six was epic and when we got down to the final four, the crowd was so hot. The best thing about the final four is you can argue any of those four guys could have won, but WWE did the right thing: Balor lasted fifty seven minutes and didn’t need the win, Cena will most likely have a special attraction match at Mania, Reigns doesn’t need to win to face Lesnar, Nakamura needed a huge win to ensure his jump to WWE and he did it in one of the most excellent matches we have seen at this event. 


4. Raw Tag Team Title Match

Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan Vs The Bar

The Bar Win Via White Noise/ Diving Elbow Combo & Win Raw Tag Team Titles

Rate: 3 Stars


Thoughts: Now, this match was not awful, but the fans were worn out after the great Rumble match. The match was mainly a handicap match. Jordan was injured due to a kayfabe injury most of the match, and I don’t think he ever even got in the ring. So it was Rollins fighting his heart out against two men, but in the end could not overcome the odds. I see this boiling over tomorrow on Raw maybe where Jordan finally makes the full hell turn as he should of done tonight.



5. Triple Threat Match For Universal Title

Brock Lesnar With Paul Heyman Vs Kane Vs Braun Strowman

Brock Lesnar Wins Via F-5 On Kane & Retains Universal Title

Rate: 3.5 Stars


Thoughts: Before the match, Paul Heyman woke the fans up and hyped them up. This match started off fast and stayed that way for most of it. We saw tables get broken, chairs getting used, and Kane was protected for the match and was made to look better than he has looked in the last 3-5 years. This match was a different pace to the show, as it brought just fast paced carnage from three guys who beat the hell out of each other. This match was way better than anyone expected, as it was paced right. Even though it isn't a long match it, didn’t need to be and I was very happy about this match. But let's not forget, Strowman did not get pinned, which is smart, as he is the next top star in WWE and he needs to be protected as much possible.

6. Womens Royal Rumble Match (Stephanie Mcmahon, Charlotte Flair, & Alexa Bliss at Ringside)



Entry Order:

Sasha Banks
Becky Lynch
Sarah Logan
Mandy Rose
Lita (Surprise)
Kairi Sane (NXT Surprise)
Tamina
Dana Brooke
Torrie Wilson (Surprise)
Sonya Deville
Liv Morgan
Molly Holly (Surprise)
Lana
Michelle McCool
Ruby Riot
Vickie Guerrero (Surprise)
Carmella
Natalya
Kelly Kelly (Surprise)
Naomi
Jacqueline (Surprise)
Nia Jax
Ember Moon (NXT Surprise)
Beth Phoenix (Surprise)
Asuka
Mickie James
Nikki Bella (Surprise)
Brie Bella (Surprise)
Bayley
Trish Stratus (Surprise)





Elimination Order:

Mandy Rose Eliminated By Lita
Tamina Eliminated  By Lita
Lita Eliminated By Becky Lynch
Kairi Sane Eliminated By Dana Brooke
Dana Brooke Eliminated By Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson Eliminated By Sonya Deville
Sarah Logan Eliminated By Molly Holly
Sonya Deville Eliminated By Michelle McCool
Liv Morgan Eliminated By Michelle McCool
Molly Holly Eliminated By Michelle McCool
Lana Eliminated By Michelle McCool
Vickie Guerrero Eliminated By Michelle McCool, Ruby Riot. Sasha Banks, & Becky Lynch
Michelle McCool Eliminated By Natalya
Becky Lynch Eliminated By Ruby Riot
Jacqueline Eliminated By Nia Jax
Kelly Kelly Eliminated By Nia Jax
Ruby Riot Eliminated By Nia Jax
Naomi Eliminated By Nia Jax
Beth Phoenix Eliminated By Natalya
Ember Moon Eliminated By Asuka
Carmella Eliminated By Nikki Bella
Mickie James Eliminated By Trish Stratus
Nia Jax Eliminated By Asuka, Bella Twins, Trish Stratus, Bayley, Natalya, &  Sasha Banks,
Bayley Eliminated By Sasha Banks
 Natalya Eliminated By Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus Eliminated By Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks Eliminated By Bella Twins
Brie Bella Eliminated By Nikki Bella
Nikki Bella Eliminated By Asuka

Winner: Asuka

Rate: 3.5 Stars

Post Match: Bliss & Flair both get in the ring with Asuka. She looks at both of them when they raise the title, then we see Ronda Rousey making her debut as she points to the Wrestlemania sign.

Thoughts: The women’s revolution has come full circle, as they get their own rumble match at the main events at the big four ppv, and boy, did they deliver on this. We see some legends return that we never thought we’d see again like Lita, Trish Stratus, Michelle McCool, and Molly Holly. This was the proper way to do this and using the Bellas to put over Asuka even more was smart because they cause so much heat. Sasha Banks had an incredible performance and eliminating Bayley could plant the seeds to a match at Wrestlemania. These women deserve the credit as they have finally arrived and deserve the respect for it.


Show Grade: B+