Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin – Falls count anywhere match

Background: During the triple threat match to determine the number one contender for the Universal Championship, Roman Reigns attacked King Corbin, costing him the title opportunity. The following week, Reigns announced his participation in the Royal Rumble match. Later that night, Reigns teamed with Daniel Bryan to face Corbin and Dolph Ziggler which ended in a no-contest. Following the match, Corbin and Ziggler attacked Reigns only for The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) to return and aid Reigns by attacking both Corbin and Ziggler. On the January 10 episode, Corbin announced his participation in the Royal Rumble match and stated that Reigns was scared to face him again, hence why Reigns was also competing in the match. In response, Reigns challenged Corbin to a rematch at the event which Corbin accepted. The following week, Reigns defeated the returning Robert Roode in a tables match, allowing him to choose the stipulation for his match with Corbin, and he chose a Falls Count Anywhere match.

Previous PPV matches: King Corbin is 1-0 up against Roman Reigns in PPV matches, he won their battle at TLC last month.

Match: Roman Reigns attacks King Corbin as he makes his entrance. Reigns takes the early advantage but Corbin soon gets back into it and takes the fight to the outside. The two men battle through the crowd and then back to ringside where Corbin chokeslams Reigns onto the announce desk for a near fall. Roman looks for a superman punch on the outside but Corbin picks him out of the air and chokeslams him through the Spanish announce table for a near fall. The fight goes back through the crowd where Reigns hits two Samoan drop through two international announce tables. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode appear and attack Roman Reigns, helping out their buddy King Corbin but out come The Usos who make the save. Reigns and Corbin have wrestled on 6 and 5 PPV’s consecutively which is a longer run that anybody else on the roster currently. Jimmy Uso takes out Roode and Ziggler with a massive cross body off some scaffolding. Reigns hits Corbin with two superman punches and then puts him in a portaloo before tipping it over! The two men battle on top of the dugouts which are just out in the crowd at Minute Maid Park, Corbin laying into Reigns with a chair. Reigns hits a superman punch and a spear on top of the dugout before hooking the leg for the three!

Result: Roman Reigns wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a fun way to start the show. It really picked up in the last 5 or so minutes with Ziggler, Roode and The Usos getting involed, the portaloo and then the fight on top of the dugouts. Roman Reigns gets the win tonight which I think will put an end to this feud. They’ll both me in the Royal Rumble match later. A decent match to kick off the show.

Rating: 6/10

The 2020 Women’s Royal Rumble match

Background: This is the third annual women’s Royal Rumble match whre the winner will go to Wrestlemania to fight the champion of their choosing.

Match: Alexa Bliss and NXT’s Bianca Belair start the match. They are joined by Mighty Molly (Holly) who did wrestle in the women’s Royal Rumble in 2018. Alexa is joined by her tag team partner Nikki Cross in #4. Lana cuts a promo on her way out, saying that she’s going to win it for her hot husband Bobby Lashley. #6 is Mercedes Martines who is an experienced veteran making her main roster debut here. Liv Morgan enters at #7 and immediatley eliminates Lana, who she has been in a storyline with recently. Lana then eliminates Liv Morgan form the outside! Mandy Rose is followed by NXT’s Candice LeRae. Mighty Molly is eliminated by Bianca and then it sppears that Mandy is eliinated by Alexa Bliss but Otis is lying on the floor and stops Rose from being eliminated!

Sonya DeVille and Kairi Sane enter before NXT’s Mia Yim wrestles on a main roster PPV for the first time. Bianca Belair gets up to 6 eliminations after disposing of the likes of Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville and Tamina. Dakota Kai is another surprise entrant from NXT. And she’s followed by another in Chelsea Green who eliminates Kai and is then eliminated herself. After 16 entrants we are back down to Alexa Bliss and Bianca Belair! Bianca then eliminates Bliss and she’s left alone! Until Charlotte comes out. Naomi gets a big pop as she enters at #17. Hall Of Famer Beth Phoenix is #18. #19 is Toni Storm who we saw at Survivor Series. A referee checked on Beth Phoenix, she might be hurt. Kelly Kelly is in at number 21. Beth has a lot of blood coming out of the back of her head. Sarah Logan doesn’t last long.

Natalya is followed by NXT’s Xia Li. Li has a hell of a roundhouse on her. Zelina Vega is #25 and she’s followed by Shotzi Blackheart from NXT. We then get a cool spot from Naomi who jumpns from the apron to the barricade, scoots over to the announce desk. Beth hits a glam slam on Charlotte. #28 is NXT’s Tegan Nox from Wales. Phoenix plants Nox with a glam slam. #29 is Santina! Santina gets a huge pop. I’m all for this entry. Santina is surrounded by Natalya and Beth Phoenix, pulls out the cobra and then cobra’s herself before eliminating herself! Shayna Baszler then enters the match in the 30 spot. Shayna eliminates Xia Li, Tegan Nox, Zelina Vega, Shotzi, Carmella and Toni Storm. Naomi builds a bridge using the top of the announce desk but Shayna then eliminates her too.

We’re down to the final four of Shayna Baszler, Beth Phoenix, Natalya and Charlotte. Beth eliminates Natalya! Revenge from a couple of years ago. The crowd pop for the Charlotte and Shayna showdown. Shayna eliminates Beth Phoenix and then Charlotte eliminates Baszler for the win!

Result: Charlotte wins the 2020 Royal Rumble, last eliminating Shayna Baszler.

1. Alexa Bliss (#15 – Alexa Bliss)
2. Bianca Belair (#16 – Charlotte)
3. Mighty Molly (#3 – Biance Belair)
4. Nikki Cross (#5 – Bianca Belair)
5. Lana (#1 – Liv Morgan)
6. Mercedes Martinez (#4 – Sonya Deville/Mandy Rose)
7. Liv Morgan (#2 – Lana)
8. Mandy Rose (#6 – Bianca Belair)
9. Candice LeRae (#8 – Bianca Belair)
10. Sonya Deville (#7 – Bianca Belair)
11. Kairi Sane (#9 – Alexa Bliss)
12. Mia Yim (#11 – Alexa Bliss)
13. Dana Brooke (#14 – Bianca Belair)
14. Tamina (#10 – Bianca Blair)
15. Dakota Kai (#12 – Chelsea Green)
16. Chelsea Green (#13 – Alexa Bliss)
17. Charlotte Flair – WINNER
18. Naomi (#26 – Shayna Baszler)
19. Beth Phoenix (#28 – Shayna Baszler)
20. Toni Storm (#25 – Shayna Baszler)
21. Kelly Kelly (#18 – Charlotte)
22. Sarah Logan (#17 – Charlotte)
23. Natalya (#27 – Beth Phoenix)
24. Xia Li (#20 – Shayna Baszler)
25. Zelina Vega (#22 – Shayna Baszler)
26. Shotzi Blackheart (#23 – Shayna Baszler)
27. Carmella (#24 – Shayna Baszler)
28. Tegan Nox (#21 – Shayna Baszler)
29. Santina Marella (#19 – Santina)
30. Shayna Baszler (#29 – Charlotte)

Review: This was a fun match as all Royal Rumbles are but I don’t think it was as good as some of the previous Rumbles. Charlotte wins which is a predictable result that most probably didn’t want to see. I don’t mind it too much because Charlotte is the best and deserves a win like this. There were some nice surprises, Santina definitely popped me. Charlotte goes to Wrestlemania!

Rating: 7/10

Bayley (c) vs. Lacey Evans – Smackdown Women’s Championship match

Background: On the SmackDown following Survivor Series, SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and Team SmackDown women’s captain Sasha Banks criticized their brand’s women’s division for letting them down at the event, as both Bayley and Team SmackDown lost their respective matches. Team member Lacey Evans interrupted and performed a Women’s Right on Banks, with Evans turning face. Evans questioned the leadership of both Bayley and Banks, having several confrontations with them over the following weeks. On the January 10 episode, Evans was scheduled to face Banks, who no-showed and Bayley appeared on the TitanTron taunting Evans. In response, Evans went backstage where the two brawled. The following week, Evans was once again scheduled to face Banks, however, Banks was unable to compete due to her injured ankle. Bayley took her place in the match, but lost to Evans. Due to Evans’ win, she earned herself a title match at the Royal Rumble.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two girls.

Match: Lacey Evans husband and daughter are both at ringside for this one. Lacey takes the early advantage but Bayley fakes a knee injury and takes control. Bayley taunts Lacey’s family as she lays into her challenger. Bayley mocks Evans with a salute and then misses a cross body. It’s a back and forth match. Lacey manages to counters the Bayley to belly on a couple of occasions. Lacey looks for a moonsault but Bayley gets her knees up and then pins Lacey, pulling the trunks for a three!

Result: Bayley wins by pinfall.

Review: This match was ok. It was a bit flat, I don’t think anyone is buying Lacey as a babyface. Bayley is such a star. The psychology was ok but it didn’t have a big match feel. Bayley retains the Smackdown Women’s Championship and could find Charlotte in her crosshairs come Wrestlemania.

Rating: 4/10

“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Daniel Bryan – Strap match for the Universal Championship

Background: At Survivor Series, “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt defeated Daniel Bryan to retain the Universal Championship. On the following SmackDown, after Bryan accepted another rematch for the title at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, The Fiend appeared and attacked Bryan, ripping out his hair. The Miz, who had been intertwined in the feud, appeared the following week and said that Bryan had not been seen since The Fiend’s attack and in turn became Wyatt’s opponent in a non-title match at TLC, where Wyatt (as his Firefly Fun House character and not The Fiend) defeated Miz. Following the match, a hooded figure attacked Wyatt and then revealed himself as a returning Bryan, now with a buzz cut and shorter beard. On the December 27 episode, Bryan defeated Miz and Corbin in a triple threat match to earn another Universal Championship match against The Fiend at the Royal Rumble. On the January 17 episode, Bryan delivered a running knee to The Fiend and attacked him, only for The Fiend to retreat. Frustrated, Bryan changed the stipulation of their match to a strap match so that The Fiend could not run away.

Previous PPV matches: This is the third PPV match between these two men, Bray Wyatt has won the previous two matches.

Match: Bray Wyatt dominates this for much of the start and middle of the match. He uses his power against Bryan but the tide turns when Bryan counters Sister Abigail and hits a running knee for a near fall. Bryan uses the strap to pull Wyatt repeatedly into the ringpost. Bryan hits a low blow and a DDT on the announce table. Bryan goes to town with the strap and then looks for a running knee but Wyatt counters with a Sister Abigail just for Bryan to kick out at 2. Wyatt locks on a mandible claw and despite Bryans attempts to counter, Wyatt locks it on in the middle of the ring but Bryan does counter and locks on the LaBell lock! Wyatt breaks free and looks for Sister Abigail but Bryan counters and hits a running knee for another near fall. Both men get up to their feet and Bryan whips away with the strap but Wyatt no-sells. Wyatt hits a urunage and then pins Bryans shoulders to the mat with a mandible claw for the three.

Result: Bray Wyatt wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a pretty decent match. It wasn’t a classic but it was one of Wyatt’s better matches in recent memory. The Fiend retains the title and will probably go on to Wrestlemania to defend it against Roman Reigns. That’s my prediction anyway. I’m not sure where this leaves Daniel Bryan but it would seem that this chapter is over.

Rating: 6.75/10

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Asuka – Raw Women’s Championship match

Background: At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) defeated the team of Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. In a backstage interview on the following Raw, Lynch stated that she had not been herself the past few months and felt that management had been putting her into tag team matches to protect her from facing Asuka alone and losing. She also stated that she had never defeated Asuka and needed to change that. The following week, Lynch challenged Asuka to a match with her Raw Women’s Championship on the line which Asuka accepted. The match was scheduled for the Royal Rumble as essentially a rematch from last year’s event.

Previous PPV matches: These two girls have fought on PPV once before, it was at last years Royal Rumble event and Asuka won it.

Match: Asuka is joined by her tag team partner Kairi Sane. There’s a fast paced start to the match with the two girls shooting each other off and exchanging shots. Asuka takes control as Kairi Sane cheers her on from the outside. Asuka looks for a German suplex off the apron but Becky locks and then hits a face-first suplex on her challenger down to the mat below. Asuka hits a hip attack on the apron, sending Lynch into the ringpost. Asuka applies an armbar and then look to hook on the Asuka lock but Becky reaches the bottom rope. Asuka hits some kicks to the face and the referee looks concerned for Becky, he nearly throws the match out but Becky grabs his leg. Lynch counters out of an Asuka lock and Asuka then counters a disarm her. Asuka sends Becky into the referee and looks to spray the freen mist but Becky kicks her away and the mist goes up in the air. Becky then locks on the diarm-her and Asuka taps out!

Result: Becky wins by submission.

Review: This was a great match from these two. Both are very talented wrestlers, especially Asuka. Becky brings a lot to the game and she is very over right now. I really like this team of the Kabuki Warriors and am glad they’re getting a lot of screen time. Becky finally beats the one person she hasn’t managed to overcome in the past.

Rating: 7.5/10

The 2020 Mens Royal Rumble match

Background: While the WWE Championship is generally defended at every year’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view, on the January 6 episode of Raw, it was revealed that there would not be a WWE Championship defense at 2020’s event. Instead, as he felt that there was no one on any brand who deserved an opportunity, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar decided to enter himself into the Royal Rumble match as entrant number one. There were no changes to the rules of the match, despite Lesnar holding one of the world championships that the winner could challenge for at WrestleMania 36. On the January 20 episode, Lesnar’s advocate Paul Heyman reminded the fans of the prize of the Royal Rumble match, but said that there was no one worthy enough to face Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania, implying that if Lesnar won, he would abstain his prize.

Match: Brock Lesnar is out first, which we knew he would be. Elias is out second and pokes fun at Lesnar. Lesnar goes after Elias on the outside before taking the fight into the ring, hitting Elias with his own guitar and then eliminating him from the match. Rowan is out next and he lasts 8 seconds. Robert Roode is next, he gets hit with an F5 and thrown out. John Morrison returns to WWE action ans gets very quickly belly to belly suplexed out of the ring in 9 seconds. Kofi Kingston is #6 and he’s looking for revenge after his 8 second WWE Championship loss. Kofi is the first man to make it in the ring until the next entrant comes out, another one of Lesnar’s recent foes, Rey Mysterio. Brock dominates both men. Rey and Kofi last until the next entrant, Big E. Kofi, Big E and Rey Mysteiro rush the ring and triple team Lesnar. Kofi hits trouble in paradise, Big E hits the big ending and Rey hits the 619! Lesnar then eliminates all three men.

Cesaro is next and doesn’t last long. Number 10 is Shelton Benjamin, a former tag team partner and long time friend of Brock Lesnar. He embraces Paul Heyman and then Brock Lesnar but Lesnar turns against Benjamin, hits a German suplex and then eliminates him. Nakamura gets some offence in but then gets caught and thrown out. Number 12 is the first real surprise, it’s the returning MVP! Lesnar dances to MVP’s music as he makes his entrance. MVP has the Black Panther wrestling gear but Brock hits him with an F5 and chucks him out as quickly as anybody else. Keith Lee from NXT is #13 to which Brock asks Heyman “who’s this big fella?”. Lee manages to drop Lesnar and then both men knock each other down with clotheslines. Keith Lee makes it to the next entrant, Braun Strowman. Keith Lee and Strowman go at it and Brock eliminates both men! Brock has now tied the record with 13 eliminations in a single Rumble.

#15 Ricochet manages to last until #16 Drew McIntyre comes in. Brock tsskes off the gloves for McIntyre. Ricochet hits Lesnar with a low blow and Drew hits a claymore to eliminate Lesnar to a huge pop! McIntyre then eliminates Ricochet, tossing him out of the ring whilst staring at Brock Lesnar. McIntyre quickly eliminates the next entrant, Miz and then stares at Brock Lesnar once again. The ring starts to fill up with AJ Styles, Dolph Ziggler, Karl Anderson and then at #21 is Edge! Edge gets a huge pop as he returns after 9 years retired. Edge spears everyone! This is the first time in this match there have been 5 wrestlers in the ring at once. Referees and doctors see to AJ Styles, I wonder if the spear knocked him out. Edge then eliminates Styles. Matt Riddle from NXT is a surprise entrant at #23 but doesn’t last long.

King Corbin elininates Riddle before being eliminated himself by Drew McIntyre who has been a little quiet in there recently. There’s a little partnership from former Rated-RKO members Edge and Randy Orton as they take out Anderson and Gallows. The ring fills up with the likes of Kevin Owens, Alesiter Black and Samoa Joe. Seth Rollins is #30 and he comes out with his new crew of Buddy Murphy and the Authors Of Pain. All hell breaks loose as Seth’s crew lay into the likes of Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe, Randy Orton and Edge. Seth eliminates Aleister Black and the AOP save Rollins before helping him eliminate Kevin Owens. Murphy then helps Seth eliminate Samoa Joe. Joe, Owens and Black battle with Murphy and AOP to the back.

Rollins realises he’s in danger with Edge, Orton and McIntyre staring a hole in him so tries to renuite The Shield with Reigns who hits him with a superman punch. Reigns, Edge, Orton and McIntyre quadruple team Rollins before McIntyre eliminates him from the match. The final four pair off with Edge and Orton teaming up to pick apart Reigns and McIntyre. Edge eliminates Orton before Randy can eliminate him. Reigns eliminates Edge. McIntyre hits Reigns with a claymore and then throws him out to win the match!

Result: Drew McIntyre wins the 2020 Royal Rumble, last eliminating Roman Reigns.

1. Brock Lesnar (#14 – Drew McIntyre)
2. Elias (#1 – Brock Lesnar)
3. Erick Rowan (#2 – Brock Lesnar)
4. Robert Roode (#3 – Brock Lesnar)
5. John Morrison (#4 – Brock Lesnar)
6. Kofi Kingston (#7 – Brock Lesnar)
7. Rey Mysterio (#5 – Brock Lesnar)
8. Big E (#6 – Brock Lesnar)
9. Cesaro (#8 – Brock Lesnar)
10. Shelton Benjamin (#9 – Brock Lesnar)
11. Shinsuke Nakamura (#10 – Brock Lesnar)
12. MVP (#11 – Brock Lesnar)
13. Keith Lee (#12 – Brock Lesnar)
14. Braun Strowman (#13 – Brock Lesnar)
15. Ricochet (#15 – Drew McIntyre)
16. Drew McIntyre – WINNER
17. The Miz (#16 – Drew McIntyre)
18. AJ Styles (#17 – Edge)
19. Dolph Ziggler (#22 – Roman Reigns)
20. Karl Anderson (#21 – Randy Orton)
21. Edge (#28 – Roman Reigns)
22. King Corbin (#19 – Drew McIntyre)
23. Matt Riddle (#18 – King Corbin)
24. Luke Gallows (#20 – Edge)
25. Randy Orton (#27 – Edge)
26. Roman Reigns (#29 – Drew McIntyre)
27. Kevin Owens (#24 Seth Rollins)
28. Aleister Black (#23 – Seth Rollins)
29. Samoa Joe (#25 – Seth Rollins)
30. Seth Rollins (#26 – Drew McIntyre)

Review: I really enjoyed this Royal Rumble match. I loved the Brock Lesnar part with him eliminating everyone. The second half to the Rumble was a bit more traditional until Seth Rollins came in and all hell broke loose. But it was fun and it results in Drew McIntyre winning the match and going to Wrestlemania. I like Drew winning, he’s a megastar waiting to happen. Drew vs. Brock looks on the cards following this match, there’s a lot of unfinishes business there.

Rating: 9/10