WWE had its most anticipated event of the year the Royal Rumble on Saturday night January 29th, 2022 in St. Louis, MO. However, the hype of the show did not live up to expectations especially the two rumble matches themselves. Instead of surprising the fans with the outcomes of the Royal Rumble matches, WWE made the results so predictable, thus making it less enjoyable to watch.
Entering the Royal Rumble, the plan was for Roman Reigns to face Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania and be the main event of the second night. But many people wondered how WWE was going to get to Lesnar and Reigns considering Lesnar just won the WWE Championship and Reigns was the Universal Champion. Originally these two men were supposed to be at Day 1. However, Reigns could not compete because of COVID. Lesnar competed in the WWE Championship, which he won and it appeared to reunite with Paul Heyman.
At the Royal Rumble, Lesnar faced Bobby Lashley for the first time with the WWE Championship on the line. This was a good match between these two heavyweights and it appeared Lesnar was going to retain the title when Reigns entered the picture. Reigns, who retained the Universal Title earlier in the night, attacked Lesnar giving him a spear. Reigns then looked at Paul Heyman for the WWE Championship and Heyman did what his tribal chief asked. Heyman handed over the title to Reigns so he could hit Lesnar and cost him the WWE Championship. Not only did Lesnar lose the title, but Heyman and Reigns screwed over Lesnar as this was a plan from the start.
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Now we do not know what the plans were for Day 1. But eventually, Heyman had to make a decision and WWE decided this was the time to do it. As they put the wheels in motion for a class between Reigns and Lesnar. However, with Lesnar losing this left the door open for him to enter the Royal Rumble and win. Once this result happened, I had a feeling this was coming. Many thought it would have been Reigns losing, and then entering to win the Rumble, but this made the most sense.
So when it came time for the number 30 entrant in the men’s Royal Rumble and you heard Lesnar’s theme, you knew he was coming to win it for the second time. And that is exactly what he did. Lesnar eliminated the returning Drew McIntyre to win the Royal Rumble and punch his ticket to Wrestlemania. Now he could decide to fight Lashley in a rematch, but we all know he will choose Reigns, which makes the outcome even more predictable.
On the women’s side of things, the same thing can be said with Ronda Rousey winning the rumble. There were reports she was going to return. Nobody really knew if it was for a segment to confront the winner of Raw Women’s title match or be in the Rumble match itself. But once her music hit in the women’s Royal Rumble, you all but knew she was going to win the whole thing.
It made sense Rousey won because it brings the headlines from sports outlets and puts eyes on Wrestlemania and the title scene. Rousey eliminated Charolette Flair to win the rumble and will now get her choice of facing Becky Lynch, in a match we all wanted to see at Wrestlemania 35. Or she could choose Charolette in a rematch from Survivor Series. Either way, it will be a good match.
However, instead of giving the fans suspense, WWE once again became so predictable when it came to the winners of the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble. While these are going to be two great build-to-Wrestlemania matches, the outcomes of the rumble matches were never in doubt. And that is something WWE needs to change moving forward.
The Royal Rumble is always a fun event to watch, this year, however, making it too predictable made it less enjoyable.
