WWE Greatest Royal Rumble Review

Jerry WoodmanApril 27, 2018

Welcome to the Greatest Royal Rumble Review for April 27, 2018. For all WWE pay-per-views, I will go over every match, share the highlights and quotes, and look ahead to the next show.

John Cena vs. Triple H (Cena by pinfall)

The crowd was HOT was this one. Ever move got a deafening response. It’s fascinating how another culture reacts to moves. A headlock got people screaming. This was an old school match, with tests of strength and a slow pace. Was it the best match ever? No, but the audience loved it. If you can adjust to a style the audience wants, you know what you are doing. And how weird was it hearing John Cena only getting cheered??

Highlights: Triple H mocks the U Can’t See Me Gesture

Cena jumps across the ring right into a powerbomb

Both men kick out of each other’s finshers

Cena AA’s Triple H, throws him into the ring post, and then hits another AA

Grade: 8 out of 10

WWE Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander vs. Kalisto (Alexander wins by pinfall)

This was fast paced. Kalisto and Cedric Alexander mesh very well togther. This was like a roller coaster, with peaks and valleys. The crowd seemed to be more in Kalistio’s corner. This was one of the best crusierweight matches in a while. They were given time to tell a story and made it count. Give these men a spot on the next pay-per-view.

Highlights: Alexander hits the most devastating drop kick ever. It looked like Kalisto broke his neck

Kalisto hits a swinging DDT after flipping around.

Kalisto hits a sitting swinging Spanish Fly

Grade 9 out of 10

Bray Wyatt & “Woken” Matt Hardy vs. Sheamus & Cesaro (to crown the new Raw Tag Team Champions) (Hardy and Wyatt win by pinfall to become the New Raw Tag Team Champions)

The first strange thing I have noticed is that the crowd is not really booing the bad guys. Sheamus and Cesaro actually got a lot of cheers. The Bar is great at keeping their opponents on one side of the ring. Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt are the right move to carry the belts. The Bar can go to Smackdown and create some new matchups. Hardy and Wyatt can bring a new face to the Raw Tag Team belts.

Highlights: Wyatt stops Sheamus from using the Brogue Kick by doing the spiderwalk.

Grade: 7 out of 10

United States Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Jinder Mahal ( Hardy wins by pin fall)

The crowd did not like Jinder Mahl, receiving the biggest boos of the night so far. Jeff Hardy might have gotten older, but he can still hit the big moves. There was one moment where Hardy missed Mahl and Mahl fell down, but I think it was Mahl trying to hit an elbow and missed. Hardy can now move on to Randy Orton while Mahl can seek out a new challenge on Raw.

Highlights: Hardy runs along the barricade to jump on Mahl

Hardy counters a gutbuster with a kick to the face of Mahl

Hardy hitting the Swanton Bomb is still impressive.

Grade 7 out of 10

SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The Usos ( The Bludgeon Brothers win by pin fall)

The Usos got a lot more offense then usual, but the Bludgeon Brothers were simply too much. These are the types of matches the Brothers need as it shows that they can withstand punishment and still win. Who will be the next ones to try and knock them off. The arrival of SAnity might be the only ones who might stand a chance.

Highlights: The Usos run on the outside of the ring to kick Rowan

Rowan barrels through Jimmy at ringside

Grade 8 out of 10

Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins vs.The Miz vs. Finn Bálor vs. Samoa Joe (Ladder Match) (Rollins wins by taking the title)

This became one of the greatest ladder matches five minutes in. No huge stunts, but using the ladder to inflict damage. Everyone had a moment. Finn Balor was the underdog, who came up just short. The Miz found a mean streak. Seth Rollins looked for the right opportunity. Samoa Joe showed that the time off has not affected him. All four men deserved to win and all four men should be applauded. Just a fantastic match

Highlights: Joe uses the ladder like a madman

Joe hits a tower of doom on Rollins and Balor

Balor hit the Coup de Grace on Joe under a ladder

Rollins jumps from the ring rope onto the ladder

THE WHOLE DAMN MATCH!

Grade 10 out of 10

WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (No Contest)

This was a better match then their one at Wrestlemania. Having Shinsuke Nakamura looking for cheap shots and becoming psychotic gives a little something more to the match. AJ Styles started off calm, but the past few weeks got to him where he just wanted to hurt Nakamuria. The double count out may not please everybody, but it was the right call. This was about betrayal, not about the title.

Highlights: Styles stops mid ring while applying a headlock.

Nakamura hits a low blow while the referee is distracted

Nakamuria runs right into a elbow

Styles runs Nakamuria right over the barrciade

Styles hits Nakamuria with a chair

Grade: 9 out of 10

The Undertaker vs. Rusev (Casket Match)(Undertaker wins by putting Rusev in the casket)

Rusev actually gave the Undertaker more of a fight then John Cena. While the outcome was never in doubt, this match was a lot better then I expected it to. With Aden English providing support, the Undertaker looked like his old self. He might be older and a little slower, but this match showed that maybe the Deadman has more in the tank then we thought

Highlights: Rusev is terrified of the casket. Like Yokozuma back in the day

Undertaker sits up when Rusev opens the casket

English goes full out for the chokeslam

English and Rusev are thrown together into the casket

Grade: 8 out of 10

Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns (Steel Cage Match) (Lesnar wins be escaping)

WOW! This was not their best match, but the last few minutes made up from it. Roman Reigns looked a lot stronger, but the end made him come up short. Brock Lesnar is still the champion and one has to wonder what the plan is. Will Reigns have an argument that he escaped first? Or is it time for someone else to step up

Highlights: Paul Heyman slams the door on Reigns

Reigns wears a chair out on Reigns

Reigns spears Lesnar through the cage.

Grade 8 out of 10

50-Man Greatest Royal Rumble Match (Strowman wins)

Below is the order in which wrestlers entered and after the / is who they eliminated.

1.Daniel Bryan/ Mark Henry/ Victor

2.Dolph Ziggler/ Sin Cara/ Hornswoggle

3.Sin Cara

4.Curtis Axel

5.Mark Henry / Curtis Axel/ Mike Kenalis/ Hiroki Sumi

6.Mike Kenalis

7.Hiroki Sumi

8.Victor

9.Kofi Kingston/

10.Tony Nese/

11.Dash

12.Hornswoggle/ Dash

13.Primo

14.Xavier Woods/ Tony Nese

15.Bo Dallas/Becky Lynch

16.Kurt Angle/Primo/ Do Dallas/ Dolph Ziggler

17.Dawson

18.Goldust/

19.Konnor

20.Elias/ Kingston/Woods/Konnor/ Angle/Elias

21.Luke Gallows

22.Rhyno/

23.Drew Gulak

24.Tucker Knight/ Gulak

25.Bobby Roode / Goldust/ Dawson

26.Fandango

27.Chad Gable/ Carmella/Sasha/Brie

28.Ray Mysterio/Gallows

29.Mojo Rawley/Fandango/ Breeze

30.Tyler Breeze/

31. Big E/ Knight

32.Karl Anderson

33. Apollo Crews/Gable

34. Roderick Strong/ Rhyno

35. Randy Orton/ Anderson/Rawley/Crews/Corbin

36. Heath Slater

37. Babatunde

38. Baron Corbin/Strong/Mysterio

39. Titus O’Neil

40. Dan Matha

41. Braun Strowman/Babatunde/Matha/Big E/Slater/Titus/Dillinger/Hawkins/Corbin/Shane/Lashley/Jericho/Owens/ Cass

42.Ty Dillinger

43. Curt Hawkins

44. Bobby Lashley/Elias/ Khali

45. The Great Khali

46. Kevin Owens

47. Shane McMahon

48. Shelton Benjamin

49. Big Cass/Bryan

50. Chris Jericho/Shelton

Highlights: Kingston jumps from Wood’s back.

Gable puts Knight on his shoulder

Orton hits an RKO on a jumping Crews

Titus slips and slides under the ring

Bryan lasts 1 hour 16 mins

Shane and Bryan Yes kick Owens

Strowman throws Shane from the top rope through a table