Th e Royal Rumble 2020 was awesome. And the event, while not perfect, may be one of the greatest Royal Rumbles we’ve seen in a very long time.
Here’s why.
Heading into the show, I mentioned in my NXT review, and on the Bob Culture Podcast, that the WWE as a whole was ice cold heading into one of WWE’s tentpole events. The only match on this card that had any juice behind it, and rightfully so, was Becky Lynch versus Asuka. Outside of the nonstop bombardment of the Liv/Rusev, Lana/Lashley feud, WWE has not put too much creativity into any feuds, or any characters. Smackdown felt like they were resuscitating feuds (Corbin/Roman, Bryan/Fiend, Bayley/Lacey) in order to have a show every week. RAW was relying on a weekly great match (Andrade/Rey in the Ladder Match, Buddy Murphy/Aleister Black) and a decently built Seth Rollins stable feud with the Super Team of KO/Joe (which we all know could end tomorrow) to keep things going.
WWE didn’t seem to have a plan for Wrestlemania, and the breadcrumbs we saw were leading us to feud retreads (Becky/Charlotte), celebrities (Cain Velasquez, Tyson Fury), and predictability (Roman winning the Rumble).
Royal Rumble 2020 proved that WWE does have a direction, and that direction has the potential to be very exciting. And that’s not something I often find myself saying about WWE.
Let’s get the few negatives of this show out of the way first:
- Lacey Evans vs. Bayley: This wasn’t good. Lacey is getting over (I think) as a face, but in the ring, she still hasn’t pieced it together. I don’t blame her, as much as I blame WWE for pushing her too hard, too fast this year. I still believe that Lacey gets the eventual win over Bayley and we get the “daughter in the ring” moment to celebrate her win.
- Matt Riddle: Bro. Bro? Bro! I do not understand why on earth Matt Riddle came out, did a couple of kicks then got tossed by Baron Corbin. According to Dave Meltzer, and this makes complete sense in WWE logic, that Riddle came out to pop the hardcore fans, and then Corbin tossed him to “get heat.” Stop it, WWE. You had Corbin pin him fast at Survivor Series. Corbin does not need “more heat.” Like Meltzer, I do not think (main roster) WWE knows what to do with Riddle at all. They could’ve done something special here but did not.
- Braun Strowman & Keith Lee Looked Dumb: So, I’ll get to Brock’s run in a bit. However, you had a moment to really do something special with either Braun or Lee. And I know Drew was the guy they wanted to win, and it was the right call. However, that pop Lee got, and to have him not get one move in on a Brock (double clothesline doesn’t count), and stand over him was a missed moment. I get it though. But to have Braun and Keith look at Brock multiple times, and opt to fight each other, that is Surfer Sting stupid. I mean that’s really it on the bad.
- Santina: That was just stupid.
Let’s look at what worked…
- The Fiend is Back: The Fiend cooled off so bad by the end of 2019. Remember how he was literally the best thing in wrestling? Now, not so much. However, this absolutely brutal strap match with…I’ll say it…the best bout machine Daniel Bryan. Bryan and Fiend knocked the living shit out of each other, and it was a viciously good match to watch. Despite his loss, and this is rare for WWE, Bryan looked strong. Maybe that’s because he’s the man, and one of the best in-ring dudes to ever do it. Just saying. However, The Fiend getting over, and re-establishing how much of a force he is, was wonderful. I expect we’re going to see Fiend vs. Roman at Mania and I’m fine that now.
- The Man is Back: Much like The Fiend, Becky Lynch was not exactly at the height of her popularity heading into this match. She’s been lacking that one killer match, a reminder of just how great she is in the ring. This was it. This was the best Becky match I’ve seen since possibly Wrestlemania 35. There was a (straight) fire in her work tonight and it was poetry to watch it unfold. This was also a reminder to everyone out there at just how awesome Asuka is too. I think we forget how great she is, and at the Rumble she proved to the doubters she’s main event material, and reminded all those who forgot her NXT run, that she’s an absolute killer.
- EDGE: It was no secret that Edge might return to WWE at Royal Rumble. Yet, how absolutely awesome, and goosebump inducing was it to hear “You Think You Know Me?” GOD DAMN IT PEOPLE. Seeing Edge nearly in tears was a real moment that hit you right in the feels. I think we all forget this guy has been out of the ring for 9 years. To see him come back, and then last to the final three was proof that Edge was not a one-shot cameo. He’s back. He can go. The people want him.
- BETH PHOENIX: Much like her husband Edge, Beth lasted to the final three, and that was definitely not expected. She looked like an absolute beast in the ring, and watching her clubber people with blood gushing from the back of her head only made everyone get behind her more. Give me a Charlotte/Beth Phoenix feud, please and thank you.
- The EST Arrived: Bianca Belair’s star was born at The Rumble. For too long, I’ve felt she’s been lost in the shuffle of the NXT Women’s Division. This woman is ready made for RAW or Smackdown. She’s got all the physical tools. She has the charisma, the character, the attitude, the emotion — she’s a print money star. To have her set the record for most Rumble eliminations in the Women’s Rumble was the right move. Next move, post-Takeover, is get her to the main roster and put a belt on her.
- The Redemption Story Begins: Drew McIntyre winning was the right damn call. No offense to Roman Reigns (who helped make ANOTHER talent in the Rumble) but Drew needed this win. WWE has been sitting on an absolute goldmine in McIntyre, and shockingly he’s gotten over quickly as this glib tweener. People love him. He’s a formidable physical opponent for (we assume) Brock Lesnar. He’s got one hell of a story — from being fired from WWE to headlining Wrestlemania — this could pay off big.
- And of course, Brock: The Brock Lesnar storyline worked really well. Did it run a touch long? Yes. Was the aforementioned Keith Lee/Braun Strowman thing stupid? Yes. But the heat Brock got was palpable. It was genuine. It was necessary. Why necessary? Brock’s still cheered heavily by the WWE Universe. They needed a reason to hate him. They needed a reason for the crowd to blow the roof off. Having him trounce people left and right in the beginning drove people nuts. Having the people who sought revenge on him (Kofi, Rey) only to have him overcome was great booking. To have him be impressed by Keith Lee helped Lee tremendously. Having him react the way he did for Drew McIntyre was excellent. That’s how you build a feud.
So Royal Rumble 2020 – run don’t walk to catch this show. This match has us on the Road to Wrestlemania. We have two main event feuds being built. We got smaller feuds (Randy/Edge, Seth’s Army against KO, Joe, Aleister) brewing. Things got exciting in WWE. So while it wasn’t perfect (Royal Rumble 2000 might just be) — but it might’ve been the greatest because it did more than just be a cool show, it built strong stories that’ll be big time matches at Wrestlemania.
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