1. Opening Segment
Kane announces he is in the Royal Rumble. Bray Wyatt interrupts with a Firefly Fun House segment. Nothing we haven’t heard before; Bray mentions he hasn’t forgotten their past encounters. Lights go out, Fiend appears from beneath the ring as Kane stands outside of the ring looking up at the entrance way. Kane turns to face the Fiend and says, “What took you so long?” Fiend stands, Daniel Bryan hits a running knee onto the Fiend then attacks him before Fiend retreats back to the hole in the ring. Daniel Bryan rips a piece of the Fiend’s dreadlocks and does the “Yes” chant as Kane joins him.
Thoughts
Okay segment. It’s cool seeing, Kane even if he has zero chance of actually winning the rumble. The Bray Wyatt segments are becoming redundant, but it was good to see Bryan take the fight to the Fiend. Am I excited for the match at the Rumble? No. But this segment wasn’t offensive, nor did it make me angry, so I guess that’s a positive.
Rating
1 out of 10
Okay segment. It’s cool seeing, Kane even if he has zero chance of actually winning the rumble. The Bray Wyatt segments are becoming redundant, but it was good to see Bryan take the fight to the Fiend. Am I excited for the match at the Rumble? No. But this segment wasn’t offensive, nor did it make me angry, so I guess that’s a positive.
Rating
1 out of 10
2. Match 1
Big E vs. John Morrison: WWE commentators mention how Morrison has been gone from WWE 8 years and they go on to call him the prince of Parkour, whatever. Morrison hits a Neckbreaker off the apron to the outside on Big E before they go to commercial. Back from break, Big E whips Morrison into the corner and kind of follows in after him, Morrison moves out of the way, sending E into the corner. Big E then unleashes his typica barrage of belly to belly suplexes. Kofi stops Miz from interfering. Morrison takes out, Kofi with a dive off the top rope. Morrison misses a starship pain for the win.
Thoughts
I hate both of these guys, so I hated this match. Morrison missed Big E on his final 2 moves and still got the win. Really don’t care about this match or the beginning of this rivalry.
Rating
-10 This sucked.
Thoughts
I hate both of these guys, so I hated this match. Morrison missed Big E on his final 2 moves and still got the win. Really don’t care about this match or the beginning of this rivalry.
Rating
-10 This sucked.
3. Backstage Segment
The Usos and Roman Reigns: They tell us what the commentators just told us, that in the man event tables match between Roman Reigns and Bobby Roode, if Reigns wins, he chooses the stipulation for the match at the Rumble with Corbin, if Roode wins, Corbin chooses the gimmick for the match.
Rating
1 out of 10. Not great, not bad. Just kind of there.
Rating
1 out of 10. Not great, not bad. Just kind of there.
4. Match 2
The Usos vs. The Revival: Good back and forth tag team match. It is hard to be invested in anything the Revival does because we know the outcome.
Thoughts
This was a good match. Unfortunately, the Revival remains in WWE purgatory therefore they are glorified enhancement talents at this point. A good win for the Usos upon their return. The tag team division is dead though even with the return of the Usos and the addition of Miz and Morrison, the division is weak.
Rating
2 out of 10. Solid match.
Thoughts
This was a good match. Unfortunately, the Revival remains in WWE purgatory therefore they are glorified enhancement talents at this point. A good win for the Usos upon their return. The tag team division is dead though even with the return of the Usos and the addition of Miz and Morrison, the division is weak.
Rating
2 out of 10. Solid match.
5. Backstage Segment
The Revival cuts a promo about coming up short. They are interrupted by a brawl between Bayley, Sasha Banks and Lacey Evans.
Thoughts
Nothing worth talking about to be honest.
Thoughts
Nothing worth talking about to be honest.
6. Backstage Segments
Sonya Deville is warming up for her match tonight. Mandy comes into the shot and tells her she will be at ringside. Sonya asks Mandy if she’ll have Otis come to the ring with them, Mandy is perplexed by this. They go back and forth Sonya tells Mandy she gets why Mandy is being nice to Otis. Mandy days he is a sweet guy. After this we cut to Sasha and Bayley in the trainer’s room, we are told again that Lacey is a mom and a former Marine, in case we forgot since last week. Adam comes in and tells Sasha that while she can’t compete, Bayley can so we get Bayley versus Lacey.
Thoughts
Not interested in the Mandy/Otis angle as I like Sonya and Mandy as a team and cannot stand Heavy Machinery. Also, who the heck is Adam Pearce and why does he have the authority to make matches?
Thoughts
Not interested in the Mandy/Otis angle as I like Sonya and Mandy as a team and cannot stand Heavy Machinery. Also, who the heck is Adam Pearce and why does he have the authority to make matches?
7. Match 3
Bayley vs. Lacey Evans: We are told at nauseum that Lacey is a mom and a marine. The two ladies exchange pins, Bayley rolls up Lacey and gets her feet on the ropes, but the official catches her. Crowd chants for Lacey as Bayley has her in an armbar. They fight on the outside, Bayley hits Lacey with a running knee against the barrier and we go to commercial. The commentators again remind us that Lacey is a mom and that if she wins this match, she might get a title shot somewhere down the road. Bayley runs into a woman’s right by Lacey.
Thoughts
This match went too long and was not very good.
Rating
1.5 This sucked too.
Thoughts
This match went too long and was not very good.
Rating
1.5 This sucked too.
8. Backstage Interview with Chad Gable
Yeah, he talks about Sheamus attacking him and rambles on. Sheamus interrupts and we get the “Has anyone seen Gable” routine I feel like I’ve heard for the last year. They brawl for a second before officials rush in and break it up.
9. Backstage Promo
Braun Strowman demands a shot at Shinsuke Nakamura’s Intercontinental Championship since he beat him twice. We then go to Elias.
In-Ring Segment: Elias sings a sing. Sami interrupts, denies Strowman’s demand of a title match. Elias interrupts and tries to sing another song, but Sami tells him to shut up. Sami, Nakamura and Cesaro attack Elias. Braun makes the save.
Thoughts
Meh.
In-Ring Segment: Elias sings a sing. Sami interrupts, denies Strowman’s demand of a title match. Elias interrupts and tries to sing another song, but Sami tells him to shut up. Sami, Nakamura and Cesaro attack Elias. Braun makes the save.
Thoughts
Meh.
10. Rocky Johnson Tribute
We get a classy tribute to “Soulman” Rocky Johnson.
11. Match 4
Sonya Deville vs. Alexa Bliss: Otis comes out because who cares why? Sonya gets distracted after Mandy gets knocked off the apron into Otis. Sonya loses.
Thoughts
This sucked!
Rating
-10
Thoughts
This sucked!
Rating
-10
12. Backstage Segment
Bobby Roode is shown backstage. Baron Corbin enters the room. They talk and Corbin says he needs Roode to win so he can choose a stipulation to take Roman completely out of the royal rumble.
13. Main Event
Bobby Roode vs. Roman Reigns Tables Match: Roode attacks Roman during his entrance. Roman goes to spear Roode through the barrier, Corbin comes out we go to commercial. Corbin and Ziggler attack Roman, Usos make the save. Usos splash Ziggler through the table. Back in the ring Roman spears Roode through a table propped up in the corner for the win. After the match Reigns announces that at the Rumble, he will face Corbin in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.
Thoughts
Okay match, nothing overly special but nothing overly awful either. Hopefully the match at the rumble will end this never-ending feud with Reigns and Corbin but that is probably wishful thinking.
Rating
1.5 out of 10
Thoughts
Okay match, nothing overly special but nothing overly awful either. Hopefully the match at the rumble will end this never-ending feud with Reigns and Corbin but that is probably wishful thinking.
Rating
1.5 out of 10
Overall Grade
F
This show did little to build for anything with the Royal Rumble. No segment was a home run, none of the backstage stuff was interesting or did anything to further any plots. This show was trash. I will not be doing full reviews like this going forward, this was my first and last. Truth is, as far as modern-day WWE goes there is nothing too positive about. I might do classic show reviews going forward as I feel I’d enjoy that more.
This show did little to build for anything with the Royal Rumble. No segment was a home run, none of the backstage stuff was interesting or did anything to further any plots. This show was trash. I will not be doing full reviews like this going forward, this was my first and last. Truth is, as far as modern-day WWE goes there is nothing too positive about. I might do classic show reviews going forward as I feel I’d enjoy that more.