Welcome to the Royal Rumble Review for January 28, 2017. For all WWE pay-per-views, I will go over every match, share the highlights and quotes, and look ahead to the next show.
Kalisto, Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik vs. TJP, Jack Gallagher and Drew Gulak (Kalisto, Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik win by pinfall)
The 205 roster is in a little bit of a holding pattern until a new champion and the new general manger are announced. This match was high flying as it was luchador style vs American style. The two styles mashed as Kalisto led his team in some great maneuvers. The small crowd was cheering and gasping as the action moved at a break neck pace. There were little rest periods, just pins and submission moves
Highlights: Triple moonsaults by Kalisto Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik
The luchadors dab on TJP
TJP and Drew Gulak turn a double ankle lock into a slam
Gulak and Jack Gallagher get in an argument about Gallagher jumping from the ropes.
Quotes: “No chanting!” Drew Gulak
Grade: 8 out of 10
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Revival (The Revival wins by pinfall)
This matchup was important due to the fact that it would show if the Revival’s showing on Raw was a trend or just a fluke. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson had control early, but eventually the Revival was able to target a limb and use it to gain a measure of revenge against the Good Brothers. Here’s hoping that this win is the first in a long for the Top Guys
Grade: 7out of 10
US Titile open challenge (Mojo Rawley answers)(Roode wins by pinfall)
In many ways, Mojo Rawley is the perfect opponent for Bobby Roode. His speed and intensity is a contrast to Roode’s better technical skill. This match was hurt by lack of buildup, but it showed both men are ready to move to better things. The crowd was solidly behind Roode, and one can hope that this is a trend with crowds from now on. Also, Roode giving an American fact about where he is should continue.
Highlights: Rowley slams Roode in to the corner.
Grade: 8 out of 10
WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (2-on-1 Handicap Match for the WWE Title)(Styles win by pinfall)
The match proceded exactly how it was supposed to. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens keep ready tags going as AJ Styles had to fight for his life. Eventually, he began to wear down each man. The end of the match had controversy as it seemed that Sami Zayn was the legal man, but Kevin Owens was pinned for the win. The post match yelling by Owens and Zayn showed that this matter is not over
Highlights:Owens and Zayn tag each other in ever ten seconds
Styles hits a moonsault and turns it into a reverse DDT
Owens runs right in a Styles fist on the ring apron
Styles jumps insanely high to his the Phenomenal forearm
Zayn and Styles scream as they trade shots
Quotes: “That’s why it’s my show!” Owens
Grade 9 out of 10
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin (2-out-of-3-Falls Match)(The Usos win 2- 0 falls)
It seems that Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin need to find something different if they are going to succeed in the talented Smackdown tag team division. Becoming more vicious or more arrogant might just be the ticket. The Usos are still one of the best tag teams not only now, but forever. This feud might be over and some new competitors might be on the horizon
Highlights: Usos deliver twin kicks to Chad Gable at the same time
Gable uses a moonsault to take out both Usos
Benjamin and Gable powerbomb one of the Usos on the ring floor
Gable and Benjamin go after one leg of Jay the entire match.
Grade: 9 out of 10
The 2018 30-Man Over-The-Top Royal Rumble Match ( Shinsuke Nakamura wins to face AJ Styles at Wrestlemania)
This was a great Rumble and the right guy won. Below is the order in which wrestlers entered and after the / is who they eliminated.
1.Rusev
2. Finn Balor/ Baron Corbin/Aiden English/Ziggler/ Mysterio
3. Rhyno
4.Baron Corbin / Rhyno
5.Heath Slater / Sheamus
6.Elias
7.Andrade Almas / Kofi Kingston
8.Bray Wyatt / Heath Slater/Rusev/ Matt Hardy
9.Big E
10.Sami Zayn
11.Sheamus
12. Xavier Woods
13. Apollo Crews
14.Shinsuke Nakamura/ Sami Zayn/ John Cena/ Roman Reigns
15.Cesaro/ Apollo Crews
16.Kofi Kingston / Jinder Mahl
17.Jinder Mahal / Xavier Woods/ Big E
18.Seth Rollins / Cesaro
19.Matt Hardy/Rusev/Bray Wyatt
20.John Cena / Elias/The Hurricane/Finn Balor
21.The Hurricane
22.Aiden English
23.Adam Cole
24.Randy Orton/ Andrade Almas
25.Titus O’Neil
26.The Miz
27.Rey Mysterio/Adam Cole
28.Roman Reigns/ Seth Rollins/ The Miz/Titus O’Neil/ Randy Orton
29.Goldust
30.Dolph Ziggler/Goldust
Highlights: Every fighter knocks down Heath Slater at ringside
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt team up and break down quickly.
Cena gets to the ring and is jumped by all the wrestlers
New School (Balor and Nakamura) faces down Old school (Cena and Reigns)
Grade 10 out of 10
Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan vs. Cesaro & Sheamus (Sheamus and Cesaro win by pin fall to become the new Raw Tag Team Champions
This match was hurt by the legitimate injury that Jason Jordan has been dealing with the past few weeks. Seth Rollins tried to go it alone , but it was just a mater of time before Cesaro and Sheamus were able to power him into the ground. The way the match was set up, it might not be Jordan who turns heel, but Rollins after thinking that he partner had abandoned him.
Highlights: Sheamus runs Jordan face first into the ring post
Rollins hits a frog splash on both Cesaro and Sheamus
Jordan tags himself in and immediately tags himself out
Grade 8 out of 10
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane (Triple Threat Match) (No DQ) (Lesnar wins by pin fall)
The match was shorter then expected, but the brutality made up for it. Braun Strowman was the star, as he destroyed everyone in his path. Brock Lesnar was more active then in some of his recent matches. Kane was the veteran, looking for any opportunity. With another Lesnar victory, one has to wonder who will finally be able to tame the Beast?
Highlights: Strowman punches a chair into Lesnar’s face
F-5 through a table for Strowman
Lesnar upends a table onto Strowman
Strowman hits running powerslamsn on Lesnar, rolls him onto his stomach, tells him to get up, and then repeats.
Grade 8 out of 10
The first-ever 30-Woman Over-The-Top Royal Rumble Match (Askua wins, challenger unknown)
Askua won, but the bigger story happened after. Below is the order in which wrestlers entered and after the / is who they eliminated.
1.Sasha Banks/ Bayley/Trish Stratus
2.Becky Lynch/Lita
3.Sarah Logan
4.Mandy Rose
5.Lita / Mandy Rose/ Tamin
6.Kairi sane
7.Tamina
8.Dana Brooke/ Kairi Sane
9.Torrie Wilson/ Dana Brooke
10.Sonya Deville/ Torrie Wilson
11.Liv Morgan
12.Molly Holly/ Sarah Logan
13.Lana
14.Michelle McCool/ Sonya Deville/ Liv Morgan/ Molly Holly/ Lana
15.Ruby Riot/Becky Lynch
16.Vicky Guerrero (eliminated by everyone)
17.Carmella
18.Natalya/Michelle McCool/Beth Pheonix
19.Kelly Kelly
20.Naomi
21.Jacqueline
22.Nia Jax/ Kelly Kelly/ Ruby Riot/Naomi – eliminated by everyone
23.Ember Moon
24.Beth Phoenix
25.Asuka / Ember Moon/Brie Bella
26.Mickie James
27.Nikki Bella/ Carmella/Sasha/Brie
28.Brie Bella/Sasha
29.Bayley
30.Trish Stratus/ Mickie James/Natalya
Highlights: All the storylines (Trish vs Mickie, Ember vs Askua)
Beth Phoenix stares down Nia Jax
Ladies holding there ears after Vickie Gurrero talks
Naomi gets back in the ring Kofi style
Rhonda Rousey is in WWE.
Grade 10 out of 10
Final Thoughts: The two rumble matches were excellent. The rest of the card seemed to give the crowd chances to breath. Aj Styles vs Nakamura should be a dream match for everyone. Askua is still dominate, but Rousey here changes everything. The next Raw should provide some answers in where we are going.
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