WWE Royal Rumble 2019 Review: Rollins and Lynch Book Their Wrestlemania Flights, Erick Rowan Returns, MORE
The 32nd annual Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View(PPV) was one for the ages. Superstars from both RAW and Smackdown Live tore the roof off Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, as the road to MetLife Stadium began. The 2019 version of the rumble provided all kinds of moments for all kinds of wrestling fans. From great wrestling to comical segments with legends and hall of famers, it was truly a night for the whole family to enjoy.
To me, the highlight(s) of the night were the rumble matches themselves. Going in, I thought there was only two possible winners of the women’s match: Becky Lynch or Charlotte. Turns out I was right as Becky won the rumble by eliminating Charlotte, but not in the way I was thinking. Lynch lost taped out clean to Auska to kick off the show, losing her rematch for the Smackdown Women’s Championship in the process. Lynch would go on to appear after all the women were in the ring except one; Lana. Lana injured her left ankle after being knocked off the top rope by her husband Rusev on the kickoff show. The 28th entrant in the rumble could not go, so Lynch begged WWE producer Fit Finley, the former United States Champion, to let her in the rumble, and the rest was history. Lynch is now projected to challenge RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey at Wrestlemania after Rousey had an incredible title match with Sasha Banks, the match ending with Rousey delivering Piper’s Pit to Banks, Rousey gaining her first pinfall victory in WWE. Lynch and Rousey have a history as Rousey cost Lynch the Smackdown Women’s Championship at TLC. Lynch eliminated Nia Jax as well in the match, and that would play a big role in the men’s match.
The men’s match started with a historic moment as the first entrant Elias had a hilarious singing segment with the second entrant Jeff Jarrett, the hall of famer who spelled his name it least three times in the time he was in the ring. Elias and Jarrett would tease a duet until Elias smacked Jarrett in the face and through him over the top rope after a guitar shot to the back. The winner, Seth Rollins, entered the match at number 10 and lasted the longest in the rumble, eliminating Braun Strowman with a Curb Stomp on the apron to punch his Wrestlemania ticket. Rollins is expected to target Universal Champion Brock Lesnar after Lesnar retained against a gamed Finn Baylor. Rollins has been the work horse of RAW since 2016 and has in-directly taken shots about Lesnar’s schedule on WWE programming since October.
Erick Rowan interfered in the WWE Championship match to help Daniel Bryan retain the championship against A.J. Styles. Rowan appeared during the end of the match, walking down to ringside slowly while waiting for an opening. Bryan would knock the official down, allowing Styles to hit Bryan with a Styles Clash. After the Styles Clash, Styles rolled Bryan over for the cover, and Rowan slipped into the ring, palming Styles in one hand by the hair and chokeslamming him to the ground. When Bryan and the official came to, Bryan covered Styles for the win, Rowan raising Bryan’s hand in victory afterwards. Rowan being Bryan’s bodyguard for a while will help build Bryan into an unstoppable heal going into Wrestlemania, and they fact they both have large beards makes it even better.
As noted earlier, Brock Lesnar defeated a gamed Finn Baylor to retain the Universal Championship. However, this was not a typical Lesnar match. Baylor did most of the work, injuring Brock Lesnar’s chest by driving him into the point of the announce table, making sure Lesnar could not deliver the F-5. Lesnar fans were getting worried when Baylor would hit a Coup De Grace, but Lesnar had the perfect counter; the Kimura lock. Lesnar would grab Baylor’s arm and yank it until Baylor was forced to submit. Lesnar would deliver three german supplex’s to Baylor after to show his dominance, but the story here is Baylor went toe to toe with the beast, and the beast had to respect Baylor in the end to attack him. Even in defeat, Baylor wins.
Overall, I think both rumble’s did a great job of storytelling, the theme of the entire PPV for me. Every match had great storytelling. There was not a bad match. Every moment of each match had a purpose, and that is rare to see in this day and age of wrestling where ‘A’ PPV’s are close to five hours. This year’s rumbles did not have a lot of legends and instead it focused on a lot of NXT superstars which I think is the way to go. Eventually, the hope is WWE has so much NXT talent to show off that they may not be able to have legends in the rumble. The fact Jax attacked R-Truth and entered in the men’s Royal Rumble was great booking because Jax clearly can be a dominant heel, and she showed her versatility standing toe to toe with the men after being eliminated in the women’s royal rumble earlier. Bobby Lashley destroying Rollins after being eliminated, only for Rollins to conquer Braun Strowman made perfect sense. Everything made sense.
RESULTS:
- Chad Gable and Bobby Roode defeat Rezar and Scott Dawson(W/Drake Maverick)via submission(Kickoff).
- Shinsake Nakamura defeated Rusev(C. W/Lana) via pinfall. New United States Champion(Kickoff).
- Buddy Murphy(C) defeated Akira Tozawa, Hideo Itami, and Kalisto via pinfall. Cruiserweight Championship (Kickoff).
- Auska(C) defeated Becky Lynch via submission. Smackdown Women’s Championship.
- The Miz and Shane McMahon defeated Sheamus and Cesaro(C)via pinfall. New Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions.
- Ronda Rousey(C) defeated Sasha Banks via pinfall. RAW Women’s Championship.
- Becky Lynch wins women’s Royal Rumble.
- Daniel Bryan(C) defeated A.J. Styles via pinfall. WWE Championship.
- Brock Lesnar(C. W/Paul Heyman) defeated Finn Baylor via submission. Universal Championship.
- Seth Rollins wins men’s Royal Rumble.
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