Last night the Royal Rumble went back to historic Alamodome just like it did 20 years ago. 52,020 screaming WWE fans were on the edge of their seats. It was refreshing to have events being held in big stadiums just like back in the day. I will provide a brief breakdown of the Royal Rumble pay-per-view as well as the results.
1) Stole The Show
The 52,020 in attendance just witnessed history in making with the trilogy between AJ Styles and John Cena. A constant for John Cena is that he is known for winning championships. However, after he lost his United States Championship 14 months ago he has not been the same. Not to mention his last World title reign was back in 2014 at Money In The Bank pay-per-view. John Cena looked to get revenge on AJ Styles who has recently had his number he beat Cena twice.
AJ Styles made his debut at Royal Rumble 2016, he had a phenomenal year one of the best in WWE history. Styles wanted to prevent history being made on his behalf. It is difficult to describe this match because words don’t do this match justice people need to go watch this match on the WWE Network to really appreciate it.
The fans were losing their minds as fans were cheering for both men. Both Cena and Styles were countering moves left, right and center. The Phenomenal One hit Cena with the Styles Clash but only for a near fall. Cena fought back, he connected with an Attitude Adjustment Styles would kick out at two. AJ Styles managed to hit Cena with another Styles Clash. Cena was a possessed man and he hit Styles with two straight Attitude Adjustment’s to make history. This win ties Cena with Ric Flair in elite company with sixteen world title reigns.
2) Exceeded expectations
Going into the match for the WWE Universal Championship my expectations were set extremely low. Due to the fact that fans have seen this match so many times before. Both men blew me away with their performances. In the beginning of the match, the best friends had a plan up their sleeve. The plan was to attack “The Big Dog” Roman Reigns before Chris Jericho got locked up in Shark cage. The rules of the match were simple Jericho is locked inside the cage it was lifted twenty feet in the air and it no disqualification.
Therefore were so many highlights that stood out during the match. Kevin Owens connected with a running Cannonball on the outside to Roman Reigns. Owens showed off his athletism when he hit a Frogsplash on the outside to Reigns through a table. Jericho as a best friend tossed Owens the brass knuckles and Owens pulled off his own version of the Superman Punch.
There was an ultimate Superman Punch from Reigns to Owens on a bunch of steel chairs on the outside off the second rope. As it looked as Reigns would get the win via a spear, Owens countered with a Stunner only for a near fall. Reigns seemed to have the advantage as soon as he gave a Powerbomb to Owens through the announcer’s table. All of a sudden the monster Bruan Strowman came out and he destroyed Reigns. Strowman hit a running Powerslam through a table that was set up in the corner of the ring, Owens barely survived but he is WWE Universal Champion.
Royal Rumble Winner
Randy Orton’s career was in a downward spiral until he aligned himself with the Wyatt Family in late 2016. Orton was entrant number 23 in the Royal Rumble he lasted 20:52. The last four-man in the Rumble match were Jericho, Reigns, Wyatt and finally Orton. Orton eliminated Reigns as he has the last man standing he booked his ticket to Wrestlemania 33.
Overall the Royal Rumble was an excellent card but the Royal Rumble match itself was absolutely terrible.
Orton winning the Royal Rumble is fine with me, but it would have been better suited if Bray Wyatt or The Undertaker won instead. It is always great when the WWE can surprise all the wrestling fans because nobody expected Orton to win the Rumble. The only issue with this year’s Royal Rumble match it had no surprises. The surprises are the main reason why it makes this match so special. An honorable mention goes out to Jericho who was an ironman he lasted an hour. I would rate this Royal Rumble pay-per-view an 8/10.
Royal Rumble results
Naomi, Nikki Bella, and Becky Lynch defeated SmackDown Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, and Natalya Naomi hit a Moonsault on Bliss to pick up a win.
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson defeated Cesaro and Sheamus to win the Raw Tag Team Championships Anderson via a roll up Cesaro for the win.
Nia Jax defeated Sasha Banks via a Samoan drop.
Raw Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defeated Bayley via a Natural Selection on the apron. Charlotte is now an unbelievable 16-0 when she defends her Women’s title on pay-per-view.
Neville defeated Rich Swann via The Rings of Saturn submission and he became the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
All the photos and the Royal Rumble stats were provided courtesy of WWE
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