Welcome to Royal Rumble for January 27, 2019. For all WWE pay-per-views, I will go over every match, share the highlights and look ahead to the next show.
United States Champion Rusev vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Nakamura wins by pinfall to become the new US Champion)
There is no way that Nakamura could over power Rusev. The Artist would have to out think him and try to gain any advantage he could. Rusev attacked, trying to get revenge for his wife Lana. Nakamura used every chance he got to put on submission moves, but it was Lana who played the biggest part, After she was knocked down, Rusev was blindsided by a Kinshasa to the back of the head. No way this is over.
Highlights Nakamura goes from a triangle to a guillotine.
Rusev brings Nakamura all the way around for a slam
Nakamura puts Rusev on his shoulders and spikes him
God, that Kinshasa looked hard.
8/10
Buddy Murphy vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Kalisto vs. Hideo Itami (Fatal 4-Way Match) (Murphy wins by pinfall)
Buddy Murphy is simply on another level. This is no way a means to disrespect Itami, Kalisto and Tozawa. They were all fantastic. But Murphy is almost perfect every time. Everything he does looks like it hurts and he makes his opponents look like they are inches away from victory. Murphy added to his legacy with this match, perhaps one of the greatest in all of cruiserweight history.
Highlights: THE WHOLE DAMN MATCH!
Grade: 10 out of 10
SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka vs. Becky Lynch (Askua wins by submission)
Askua is in many ways the perfect nemesis for Lynch. Lynch would destroy anyone verbally, but Askua does not give verbal promos. They are evenly matched in terms of skill. Even the crowd who normally boos any of Lynch’s foes do not boo Askua. It came down to the submission moves of each and Askua won the battle. We might not have seen the end of Lynch tonight. H
Highlights: Lynch dodges a kick on the apron and then delivers her own
Lynch delivers a Bexsploder outside the ring.
Both hit their submission moves on the ropes.
Askua hits a neckbreaker from the apron onto the floor.
Both try each other’s submission moves.
10/10
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar vs. The Miz & Shane McMahon (Miz and Shane win by pinfall to become the new Tag Team Champions)
I kept waiting for someone to turn on someone. The story with the Miz and Shane could go a number of directions. Shane moves like a guy half his age, and like he gets in the ring everyday. They might be mostly a comedy act but the two can wrestle. It was a shooting star press by Shane that sealed the deal. No one turned on anyone…yet.
Highlights: Shane jumps from the top rope onto Sheamus on the floo
Cesaro trash talks Miz’s dad at ringside.
Shane tries a coast to coast and Cesaro catches him in a swing. A very long swing.
8/10
Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey vs. Sasha Banks (Rousey wins by pinfall)
For two women who were not enemies until a few weeks ago, this match seemed like these two hated each other. Hard hitting and a brutal match that did not have any extreme stipulation. Banks was on a bit of a swagger trip and Rousey looked human and not the superwoman we usually see. Rousey winning by using Piper’s Pit was the first time she scored a pinfall.
Highlights: Rousey hits a very like Eddie Guerrero series of suplexs
Banks pulled back on the armbar like this was a mixed martial arts match
Banks uses her ring gear for more leverage during a submission move.
Rousey gets out of a submission move and slams Banks
10/10
2019 Women’s Royal Rumble Match (Lynch wins)
A very good Royal Rumble that stepped back from the legends and let the talent from today work. Below is a list of the women as they entered and who they eliminated.
Lacey Evans/ Icconics
Natalya/ Morgan/ Logan
Mandy Rose/Naomi
Liv Morgan
Mickie James
Ember Moon
Billie Kay/ Cross
Nikki Cross
Peyton Royce/Cross
Tamina/Mickie James
Xia Le
Sarah Logan
Charlotte/ Xia/Tamina/Evans/Carmella
Kairi Sane
Maria Kanells
Naomi/Rose
Candice LeRae
Alicia Fox/Kanells
Kacy Catanzaro
Zelina Vega
Ruby Riott/Fox/LeRae/Sane
Dana Brooke
Io Shirai
Rhea Ripley/ Kacy/Brooke/Vega
Sonya Deville
Alexia Bliss/Deville/Moon
Bayley/Riott/Ripley/Bliss
Lana (replaced by Lynch)/Jax/Charlotte
Nia Jax/Io/Natalya/Bayley
Carmella/Bliss
Grade: 10 out of 10
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles (Bryan wins by pinfall)
The match following a rumble is always hard. Bryan and Styles went technical, but still vicious as Styles was busted open early. The story was Bryan’s leg against Styles’s shoulder. Erick Rowan suddenly appeared and attacked Styles when the referee was down. It seems that Bryan has gained a new follower.H
Highlights: Bryan hits a slam into an arm bar
Styles hits a moonsault into a DDT
Styles lands on his feet from a suplex from the top rope.
Bryan stops a Phenomenal Forearm with a big kick.
7/10
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Finn Bálor (Lesnar wins by submission)
The story was masterfully told. By getting Lesnar injured early in the match, it made it seem that Balor might have a chance. This was a fast paced match that might not have the outcome most people wanted, but it set the stage for a rematch between The Beast and The Demon.
Highlights: THE WHOLE DAMN MATCH!
10/10
2019 Men’s Royal Rumble Match (Rollins wins)
Not quite as good as the women, but still just relied on the best on the roster. Below is a list of the men as they entered and who they eliminated.
Elias/Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett
Nakamura/Angle
Kurt Angle
Big E
Johnny Gargano/Mahl
Jinder Mahl
Samoa Joe/Big E/Hawkins/Jose
Curt Hawkins/Titus
Seth Rollins/Elias/LashleyZiggler/Strowman
Titus O’Neil
Kofi Kingston
Mustafa Ali/Nakamura/Joe
Dean Ambrose/Gargano
No Way Jose
Drew Mcintyre/Woods/Kingston/Dunn/Hardy
Xavier Woods
Pete Dunne
Andrade/Orton
Apollo
Aleister Black/Ambrose
Shelton Benjamin
Baron Corbin/Crews/Black
Jeff Hardy
Rey Mysterio/Jax
Bobby Lashley
Braun Strowman/Corbin/Benjamin/Andrade
Dolph Ziggler/Mcintntyre
Randy Orton/Mysterio
Rtruth(Replaced by Nia Jax)/ Ali
The post match beatdown.
Grade 9 out of 10
Final Thoughts: A very good Rumble with only Bryan/Styles put in the wrong spot. Who will the winners challenge at Wrestlemania?
