Greg DeMarco is here to review your 2021 Royal Rumble! Bianca Belair and Edge prevail, what did Greg think???

It’s time for the wrestling’s third biggest show of the year, the Royal Rumble! (For those wondering, the other two are WrestleMania and WrestleKingdom. It’s my column, not yours.)

Match Ratings

• Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler beat WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair & (Raw Women’s Champion) Asuka when Jax pinned Flair after shenanigans and a really bad legdrop – TITLE CHANGE – ***1/2
• WWE Champion Drew McIntyre pinned Goldberg following a Claymore to retain – ***
• SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks beat Carmella with the Banks Statement to retain – ***
• Women’s Royal Rumble Match – Bianca Belair last eliminates Rhea Ripley to win – ***3/4
• Universal Champion Roman Reigns defeated Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing Match to retain – ****1/2
• Men’s Royal Rumble Match – Edge last eliminates Randy Orton to win – ****

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Charlotte Flair & WWE Raw Women’s Champion Asuka (c) vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler

Usually WWE gives us a treat on the Kickoff, and other times we get crap. This time, fans were treated to a high quality match with a shit finish. All four did what they do best (which for Nia is “nothing”), and Charlotte was really motivated. I would love to see Shayna Baszler vs. either Asuka or Charlotte Flair down the road, even if we are headed towards Charlotte Flair vs. Alexa Bliss at WrestleMania in my opinion.

But don’t get it twisted (not yet, anyway), this match was really really good before the finish. They had me invested, and I wanted to see how this would end. That was the only let down–Ric Flair and Lacey Evans interjecting themselves into the match, and ultimately impacting the finish.

And man, that legdrop is horrible.

WWE Championship – Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Goldberg

Say what you want about him, call him Grandpa, complain that Goldberg is taking a spot from a full time talent. That’s all fine and well, but the dude is in phenomenal shape for ANY age, and looks more legit than many wrestlers half his age.

And he draws better than them, too.

“Epic” staredown before we officially start the match, plus a headbut and dueling spears. Goldberg, by the way, borrowed Brock Lesnar’s gear. (Yes, that makes more sense of the “Goldberg Tribal Tattoo Logo” doesn’t appear on Bill’s trunks.)

“Ring the Damn Bell.” Of course Goldberg kicks out of the Claymore.

So as you know, Drew wins. And honestly, this match was exactly what it needed to be. A heavyweight slugfest that ended in a knockout. And Goldberg gave him the love and respect after. And then Drew made fun of Goldie for being blown up, just for funsies.

SmackDown Women’s Championship – Sasha Banks (c) vs. Carmella

Carmella has improved so much since coming to the main roster, and the only thing I’d change now is the stupid Silhouette version of herself that a) doesn’t even look good, and b) looks like crap compared to actual Carmella. Sasha Banks being added to this card is no surprise to me, she’s the third biggest star in the company. Don’t believe me, look up the current Disney+ subscriber rate.

Great work by everyone involved, including Reginald. I am so glad WWE hasn’t changed Sasha Banks despite her alignment. This match is a perfect example of Heel Villain (Carmella) vs. Heel Hero (Sasha).

I’ve been watching wrestling for far too long, and the surprise small package still makes me smile. As expected, the Banks Statement ended this match (and feud), and it seems like Sasha can move onto what’s next. Bayley or Bianca? Bayley is my pick for ‘Mania.

Give Carmella a ton of credit here, this was in no way a match carried by Sasha Banks. They were equal dance partners in this one.

Bad Bunny Performance

Fans who don’t “get” Bad Bunny, or who drop “Who” bombs on him are dumb. The performance was good, and Booker T looks like he can still go today. I hope he’s a surprise Royal Rumble entrant.

Women’s Royal Rumble Match

So this is going to be more “Stream of Consciousness” style, so enjoy!

• Bayley being #1 in the Rumble sure doesn’t help my pick of her winning. I know it’s not impossible, but it damn sure ain’t probable. Bianca Belair coming in at #3 and winning wouldn’t shock me one bit. And Naomi being back is definitely a good thing. Can we get her involved in the Roman Empire?
• Billie Kay should just sit at ringside until the end of the match, then get eliminated. Or win. I’d be fine either way, and she needs the resume builder. I’m sure Rhea Ripley or someone like her will throw her in.
• I really wanted to see Billie Kay try to drive the tank, but Shayna Baszler punching her 8×10 made up for it. And Billie Kay approaching every entrant is a trend I’d like to see for the next 30 minutes. And unfortunately it took Jillian Hall to get Billie Kay in the ring, and unfortunately Jillian Hall is in what had been a stacked Women’s Royal Rumble up until that point.
• Love Victoria being in the match, and Santana Garret makes me wonder who had to pull out to give her a spot. Victoria hitting the Widow’s Peak on Peyton Royce is great, too. Also love Jerry Lawler being shocked about Rhea Ripley being in the Rumble.
• Could Shayna Baszler break her own record. The lack of attention being paid to Bayley and Bianca Belair makes me wonder if they’ll be two of the first three, and the final two. And then we have Torrie Wilson in at #17, because Trish Stratus couldn’t travel. Charlotte Flair with double gear tonight, too. Top notch.
• Poor, poor Dana Brooke. But Lacey Evans wearing Charlotte Flair’s robe is brilliant. And there goes Bayley. So much for that pick! Nikki Cross could be an amazing winner, if we had fans. ALICIA FOX WINS THE 24/7 CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE WOMEN’S ROYAL RUMBLE!
• And then she lost it.
• I really hope Raquel Gonzalez joins Dakota Kai in this Rumble.
• HOLY SHIT that Dakota Kai bump!
• WWE should be ashamed of themselves for their treatment of Mandy Rose tonight 🙂
• Bianca Belair and Naomi repeating the spot they went to too early.
• Not letting Alexa Bliss transform is really smart booking.
• Lana’s here. TABLE TIME!
• One of the most believable wrestlers on the roster, Shayna Baszler, just engaged in one of the least believable exchanges ever with Nia Jax. I blame Nia.
• Lana eliminating Nia Jax makes PERFECT sense.
• Can we have Nia and Shayna eliminate everyone, and we have to enact the “no winner” rules?
• Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley being the final three is a fantastic choice, and I would love to see it come down to Belair and Ripley–the future is now.
• Really liked the psychology of Bianca and Rhea fighting near, and trying to avoid the ropes. Good shit.

Overall this was a good Royal Rumble, it dragged on at points, not as good as either of the last two, but it’s hard to make that comparison in front of no crowd. Doesn’t take away from Bianca Belair’s accomplishment. No Ronda Rousey, no Becky Lynch, and a great moment for Bianca Belair–true emotion at the end. The match wasn’t at that level, but that promo was *****.

Update:

And I’m very happy. https://t.co/sk5quMabLX pic.twitter.com/ZZPUbRjEAA

— THE PALDOME (@Hamanicart617) February 1, 2021

Bad Bunny promo with The Miz and John Morrison

I just put it here for the simple fact that John Morrison stole the entire segment with one line. “He said it.”

Last Man Standing Match for the Universal Championship – Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens

Seeing the introductions for this match puts something into perspective for me. We had the WWE Championship, SmackDown Women’s Championship, and Universal Championship all defended in our only non-Rumble matches tonight. I know we needed Asuka for the Women’s Tag Team Championship match on the Kickoff, and she wasn’t pinned, but had she defended during the main show, it would have done wonders for the perception of both women’s championships.

Now, I know Roman Reigns hit Kevin Owens with a golf cart, and Matt Hardy did it to Sammy Guevara. But keep this in mind: Roman and Kevin did it better, and Matt Hardy just stole the spot from WrestleMania 17.

Kevin Owens hitting the Swanton off of the forklift, and it (legit) looked really safe. I also loved Owens rolling off of the staging to his feet to break the count. Roman Reigns taking out the official because he was handcuffed and couldn’t physically stand was outstanding. Of course Reigns standing while Heyman was taking his Jack Swagger sweet time to unlock the handcuffs kinda ruined it.

Guillotine Choke and it’s all over, #LOLROMANWINS. But that was a DAMN GOOD MATCH.

I’ve seen criticism that it was long and the finish ruined it, but I loved it.

As I predicted going in, even if it's a foregone conclusion they're still having a damn fun match. Not sure why some of y'all are making it a company war hot take fest though. #RoyalRumble

— Steve Cook (@stevecook84) February 1, 2021

Men’s Royal Rumble Match

Stream of consciousness time again!

• While Edge and Randy Orton fighting right away takes away from the ring introductions, I was find with it. LFG!
• Edge vs. Orton could be a great story that is intertwined in the entire Rumble, with them being the final two. Unless The Fiend gets involved.
• Mustafa Ali and Sami Zayn actually have a lot in common right now.
• Dolph Ziggler enters his 14th Royal Rumble, eh? Love the Bayley pontyail, too.
• Randy Orton being taken out via injury would be a great story to make the eventual winner have to defend against him.
• Carlito looks fantastic–I know he probably doesn’t want it, but he could have another run.
• Sadly, Tye Dillinger didn’t enter at #10, yet again.
• Interesting that Damian Priest was introduced as “from NXT!”
• The Bad Bunny spot makes total sense, especially with Damian Priest. Well done, WWE. Well done.
• BAH GAWD, IT’S KANE!
• And he looks really old.
• Damian Priest eliminating Kane was bad ass. He’s having a great showing. Imagine if he won?
• On Twitter I got #22, and I’d love it if Bobby Lashley won.
• I didn’t win.
• Great seeing Christian in this match, and Edge sold it brilliantly.
• AJ in at #25, and I would love to see him get this win. He won’t, but I’d love it. Omos could get involved, too.
• Michael Cole doing a hell of a job getting that mid-match beer promo in!
• So long Big E! He wasn’t going to win, and had a good showing.
• Messiah Seth Rollins is back!
• John Cena at #30? Nevermind, we still need Braun.
• And there goes Daniel Bryan, so much for that prediction!
• Nice callback to how Rollins eliminated Braun in 2019.
• Was waiting for Randy to come back, but the fake-out finish was still well done. Edge wins.
• DO EDGE VS. ROMAN YOU COWARDS!

A highly entertaining Rumble, with some good surprises (Carlito, Kane, Christian) and some not so good (Hurricane). Love that Seth Rollins is back, and hopefully Damian Priest can make a main roster impact if indeed he’s headed there.

But I mean it. Edge vs. Roman Reigns is the WrestleMania main event you need to run with! Then you can do Randy Orton vs. The Fiend, and Drew McIntyre can defend in a multi man with Sheamus, Keith Lee, and AJ Styles. POOF–WrestleMania!

The Messiah @WWERollins has returned at the #RoyalRumble!

(via @WWE) pic.twitter.com/lOJ3BhzQsN

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 1, 2021