Regular readers know that I do quarterly previews of the WWE traditional big 4 PPV and include my contemporaneous rankings of each match in the history of that PPV (I'm not watching 1987 matches through 2020 eyes, I'm an old, I wanted them in 1987; I've seen every major WWF/E PPV at or around its original date).
Really regular readers know that these previews predate this space, I've been doing them since WMXII for the benefit of my old writing partner, Kirk Hiner; he's a lapsed WWE fan but has been a Day 1 AEW supporter and you (yes you) may know him as "guy in Minnesota North Stars jersey" at Dynamite this week.
I assume, through TV magic, he will also be wearing said jersey for Rampage.
Royal Rumble 35 is Saturday night from St Louis. Here's the card.
1. WWE UNIVERSAL TITLE: ROMAN REIGNS v. SETH ROLLINS
2. WWF TITLE: BROCK LESNAR (w/Heyman) v. BOBBY LASHLEY (w/MVP)
3. RAW WOMEN'S TITLE: BECKY LYNCH v. DOUDROP
4. MIXED TAG: EDGE/BETH v. MIZ/MARYSE
5. MEN'S RUMBLE MATCH
6. WOMEN'S RUMBLE MATCH
I'm probably more negative on WWE as a whole than at any point in my life, largely because the qualitative drop from Hunter's NXT to Bruce Pritchard's NXT is just offensive. But what always delivers is the Roman Reigns character work; the Head of the Table version of Reigns wins, wins every week, I am a workrate monkey and I always stop to see a Reigns promo.
Reigns is the top guy in the promotion, Universal Champ...I mean, I think he took it from Bruno, that's how long he's been Universal Champ. He's really in a program with Brock - but Covid took Reigns out of a PPV at the top of January, moving Brock to go take the other belt. Reigns old stablemate Rollins was moved in and here we are - they're both heels; although Reigns is cheered a lot. Rollins is now aligned with Owens, the Usos are banned from ringside, so if they want to do this switch and screw Reigns out of the belt they could. It'll be a good match and I'll decide they do the belt switch.
Edit - this was a rough show; Reigns kept in a DQ finish; they did what I suggested, just did it with Brock instead. This is a 3 star match and the best match on the show.
Brock's the lineal WWF Champ; he's got Bruno's belt, Hogan's belt, Austin's belt - that's this belt. He took from Langston (I know, they just call him Big E now...note, AEW sometimes does some goofy stuff that is not for me, but they are not likely to soon give their top belt to a guy named Big And a Letter) on New Year's Day. It's his 6th reign. In the way that Reigns/Rollins are both heels - Brock and Lashley are, I think both babyfaces - I'd assume that they're doing Brock/Reigns at Mania, so one and not both leave here with a title. Like if....if Reigns/Rollins was the opener and Reigns lost and then came back to win the Rumble - maybe that makes sense. I'll say that's the result - this match is likely really short; probably anything more than 8 minutes is diminishing returns, but Brock and anyone can do 8 good minutes.
Edit - 3 is generous maybe...but I'll say it squeaks through, Brock loses when Reigns interferes.
Becky's gonna keep this belt; Doudrop is not taking a title on the road to Wrestlemania. It'll be...fine.
Edit - Fine is a stretch, Lynch did keep.
I'd assume this is the end of the Edge/Miz program and strongly assume that end will be Edge going over; this is not a match I have any interest in.
Edit - babyfaces and it wasn't good.
As mentioned, I think it's Reigns in the Rumble; Owens screwing him seems more likely than Brock somehow losing to a now babyface Lashley - and then having him come back later, win the Rumble and then challenge Brock for his belt at Mania; it just makes a ton of sense to book it like this.
Edit - Brock, one of the lesser rumbles, it was short, not very dramatic, nothing that stands out as a special moment, it's going to be near the bottom and maybe at the bottom of the Rumbles, I give all rumbles 3 stars at least...this stretches that.
The number of women's likely winners is pretty small - Charlotte has the other belt; so who else is at a level where they would push her? Banks? Injured. Belair? Nobody else, right? There's been some Rousey talk and they should do that for sure if they could - Rousey's a star, was a star when she was in the promotion before and if she wanted to come back and do a run between here and Mania, they should do that.
Edit - they did that, Rousey went over, which is a good decision and a mediocre Rumble.
That's the show - it's the Rumble; there's zero circumstance where you should skip the Rumble (there's also zero circumstance where there will be a match as good as Devlin/Dragunov from this week) it's an irresistable match format. Watch it.
You could have skipped it.
Here is my ranking of every match in the history of the Royal Rumble. Times are approximate, star ratings are for the 3 and up matches. Apologies if I missed anything. Updated through 2021.
1. '03 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Chris Benoit 20 min 5
2 '15 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Seth Rollins/John Cena 23 min 4 1/2
3. ’00 WWF Title HHH d. Cactus Jack 27 min 4 ¼
4 ’01 IC Ladder: Chris Jericho d. Chris Benoit 19 min 4 ¼
5. '17 WWF Title: John Cena d. AJ Styles 24 min 4 1/4
6. '16 IC Falls Count Anywhere: Dean Ambrose d. Kevin Owens 21:30 4 1/4
7 ’04 Rumble Match: (Chris Benoit) 61:30 4
8 ’92 WWF Title: Rumble Match (Ric Flair) 62 min 4
9. '18 Rumble Match (Shinsuke Nakamura) 65:30 min 4
10 '14 Bray Wyatt d. Daniel Bryan 22 min 4
11. '17 RAW Title: Kevin Owens d. Roman Reigns 23 min 4
12 ’91 Rockers d. Orient Express 19 min 4
13 ’95 WWF Title: Diesel draw Bret Hart 27 min 4
14. '19 Smackdown Womens Title: Asuka d. Becky 17 min 3 3/4 stars
15. '20 Rumble Match (McIntyre) 61 min 3 3/4
16. '10 Rumble Match (Edge) 49:30 3 ¾
17. '00 Tables Hardys d. Dudleys 10:30 3 ¾
18. ’94 Tags: Quebecers d. Bret/Owen 16:30 3 ¾
19. ’04 WWF Title: HHH draw HBK 22:30 3 ¾
20 '11 World: Edge d. Dolph Ziggler 20:30 3 ½
21 ’02 WWF Title: Chris Jericho d. Rock 19 min 3 1/2
22 ’98 WWF Title: Casket Match: Shawn Michaels d. Undertaker 22 min 3 ½
23 ’07 WWF Title: Last Man Standing: John Cena d. Umaga 22:30 3 ½
24. '19 Universal Title: Brock Lesnar d. Finn Balor 9 min 3 1/2
25 ’99 WWF Title: I Quit Match: Rock d. Mankind 22 min 3 ½
26 ’93 WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Razor Ramon 18 min 3 ½
27 ’11 Rumble Match (Alberto del Rio) 69 min 3 1/2
28 ’90 Rumble Match (Hulk Hogan) 59 min 3 ½
29 ’97 Rumble Match(Steve Austin) 50:30 3 ½
30. '21 Rumble Match (Edge) 58:30 3 1/2
31 '18 Women's Rumble (Asuka) 59 min 3 1/2
32. '19 RAW Women's Title: Ronda d. Sasha 14 min 3 1/2
33. '17 Cruiser Title: Neville d. Rich Swann 13 min 3 1/2
34. '18 WWF Title: AJ Styles d. Owens/Zayn 16 min 3 1/2
35. '20 Universal Title: The Fiend d. Daniel Bryan 17:30 3 1/2
36 ’01 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. HHH 24:30 3 ¼
37 ’13 WWF Title: Rock d. CM Punk 23:30 3 ¼
38 ’93 IC Shawn Michaels d. Marty Jannetty 14:30 3 ¼
39 ’05 Edge d. Shawn Michaels 18:30 3 ¼
40. '18 Smackdown Tags: Usos d. Gable/Benjamin 14 min 3 1/4
41 ’09 WWF Title: Edge d. Jeff Hardy 19:30 3 ¼
42 '16 WWF Title Rumble Match (HHH) 61:30 3 1/4
43 ’12 Rumble Match (Sheamus) 55 min 3 ¼
44 ’05 Rumble Match (Batista) 51:30 3 ¼
45 ’03 Rumble Match(Brock Lesnar) 53:30 3 ¼
46 ’00 Rumble Match(Rock) 52 min 3 ¼
47 ’01 Rumble Match(Steve Austin) 62 min 3 ¼
48 ’06 Rumble Match (Rey Mysterio) 62 min 3 ¼
49 ’07 Rumble Match (Undertaker) 56:30 3 ¼
50 ’89 Rumble Match(John Studd) 64 min 3 ¼
51 ’98 Rumble Match (Steve Austin) 55:30 3 ¼
52 ’08 Rumble Match (John Cena) 51:30 3 ¼
53. '21 Women's Rumble Match (Belair) 59 min 3 1/4
54. '19 WWF Title: Daniel Bryan d. AJ Styles 24:30 3 1/4
55 '14 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. John Cena 21 min 3 1/4
56 ’10 World: Undertaker d. Rey Mysterio 11 min 3 ¼
57. '20 RAW Women's: Becky d. Asuka 16:30 3 1/4
58. '21 Universal Title: Reigns d. Owens 25 min 3 1/4
59 ’11 WWF: Miz d. Randy Orton 20 min 3 ¼
60 ’05 World: HHH d. Randy Orton 21:30 3 ¼
61 ’07 Hardys d. MNM 15:30 3 ¼
62 ’12 WWF Title: CM Punk d. Dolph Ziggler 14 min 3
63 ’01 Tags: Dudleys d. Edge/Christian 10 min 3
64 ’08 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. Jeff Hardy 14 min 3
65 ’92 Owen/Anvil d. Orient Express 17 min 3
66 ’95 Tags: Bob Holly/123 Kid d. Tatanka/Bam Bam Bigelow 15:30 3
67 ’02 Rumble Match(HHH) 69:30 3
68 ’94 Rumble Match: (Bret/Lex) 55 min 3
69 ’93 Rumble Match: (Yokozuna) 66:30 3
70 ’91 Rumble Match (Hulk Hogan) 65 min 3
71 ’96 Rumble Match(Shawn Michaels) 59 min 3
72. '19 Rumble Match (Rollins) 57:30 min 3
73. '20 Women's Match: (Charlotte) 54:30 3
74 ’99 Rumble Match (Vince McMahon) 56:30 3
75 ’95 Rumble Match (Shawn Michaels) 39 min 3
76 ’09 Rumble Match (Randy Orton) 58:30 3
77 '14 Rumble Match (Batista) 55 min 3
78 ’13 Rumble Match (John Cena) 55 min 3
79 '15 Rumble Match (Reigns) 59 min 3
80 '17 Rumble Match (Orton) 3
81. '19 Women's Rumble Match (Becky) 72 min 3
82 ’88 Rumble Match (Jim Duggan) 33:30 3
83 ’02 IC: William Regal d. Edge 10 min 3
84 ’04 Eddy Guerrero d. Chavo Guerrero 8 min 3
85 ’13 World: Last Man Standing: Alberto del Rio d. Big Show 17 min 3
86 ’09 ECW: Jack Swagger d. Matt Hardy 10:30 3
87 ’96 Tags: Smoking Gunns d. Bodydonnas 11 min 3
88 ’03 Tags: Dudleys d. Regal/Storm 7:30 3
89 '16 US: Kalisto d. Del Rio 11:30 3
90. '17: Women's Title: Charlotte d. Bayley 13 min 3
91 ’97 WWF Title: Shawn Michaels d. Sid 14 min 3
92 ’89 Haku d. Harley Race 9 min 3
93 ’97 IC: HHH d. Goldust 17 min 3
94 ’06 Jr.: Gregory Helms d. Kash, Funaki, Noble, Nunzio, London 7:30
95 ’88 Jumping Bomb Angels d. Glamour Girls 14 min
96 ’89 Hart Foundation/Duggan d. Dino Bravo/Rougeaus 16 min
97 ’96 WWF Title: Undertaker d. Bret Hart 29 min
98. ’90 Ronny Garvin d. Greg Valentine 17 min
99 ’08 World: Edge d. Rey Mysterio 12:30
100 ’88 Ricky Steamboat d. Rick Rude 17 min
101 ’00 Taz d. Kurt Angle 3 min
102 ’02 Ric Flair d. Vince McMahon 15 min
103 ’98 IC Rock d. Shamrock 11 min
104 ’05 WWF Title: JBL d. Big Show/Kurt Angle 12 min
105 ’06 WWF Title: John Cena d. Edge 14
106 ’97 Vader d. Undertaker 13 min
107 ’13 Tags: Hell No d. Rhodes Scholars 9:30
108 ’93 Steiners d. Beverlys 10:30
109. '18 RAW Tags: Sheamus/Cesaro d. Rollins/Jordan 13 min.
110. ’07 World: Batista d. Ken Kennedy 10:30
111. '16 Women: Charlotte d. Becky 11:30
112. '20 Roman Reigns d. King Corbin 21:30
113. ’10 ECW: Christian d. Ezekial Jackson 12 min
114 ’88 Islanders d. Young Stallions 14 min
115 ’02 Tags: Taz/Spike Dudley d. Dudleys 5 min
116 '16 Tags: New Day d. Usos 11 min
117 ’12 World: Cage: Daniel Bryan d. Big Show/Mark Henry
118 '19 Smackdown Tags: Miz/Shane d. The Bar 13:30 min
119 ’00 IC: Chris Jericho d. Chyna d. Bob Holly 7:30
120 ’08 JBL d. Chris Jericho 9:30
121 ’10 US: Miz d. MVP 7:30
122 ’97 Garza/Aguayo/Canek d. Estrada/Metal/.Guerrera 11 min
123 ’04 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Bob Holly 6:30
124 '18 Universal Title: Lesnar d. Kane/Strowman 11 min
125 '15 Tags: Usos d. Miz/Mizdow 9:30
126 ’03 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 6 min
127 Euro: '99 Sean Waltman d. Gangrel 6 min
128 ’98 Vader d. Goldust 8 min
129 ’95 IC Jeff Jarrett d. Razor Ramon 18 min
130 ’99 IC: Ken Shamrock d. Billy Gunn 14:30
131 ’04 Jr. Rey Mysterio d. Jamie Noble 3:30
132 ’91 Boss Man d. Barbarian 14 min
133 '14 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 2 min
134’92 IC: Roddy Piper d. Mountie 5:30
135 ’08 Ric Flair d. MVP 8 min
136 ’98 Mini/Mosaic/Nova d. Battalion/Torito/Tarantula 8 min
137 ’97 Ahmed Johnson d. Farooq 9 min
138 ’96 Ahmed Johnson d. Jeff Jarrett 6:30
139 ’10 WWF: Sheamus d. Randy Orton 12:30
140 ’07 ECW: Bobby Lashley d. Test 7:30
141 ’04 Tags: Evolution d. Dudleys 4:30
142 ’03 World Title: Scott Steiner d. HHH 18:30
143 ’09 World John Cena d. JBL 15:30
144 ’99 Boss Man d. Road Dogg 12 min
145 ’90 Hacksaw Duggan d. Big Boss Man 10:30
146 ’91 Ted DiBiase/Virgil d. Dusty/Dustin 10 min
147 ’00 Tags: New Age Outlaws d. Acolytes 2:30
148 ’94 Tatanka d. Bam Bam Bigelow 8
149 ’94 IC: Razor Ramon d. IRS 11:30
150 ’96 IC: Goldust d. Razor 14:30
151. '21 Smackdown Women's Title: Banks d. Carmella 10:30
152. '20 Smackdown Women: Bayley d. Lacey 9:30
153 ’89 Rockin Robin d. Judy Martin 6:30
154 ’11 Women: Eve d. Natalya/Layla/Michelle McCool 5 min
155 '15 Bellas d. Page/Natty 8 min
156 ’12 Bellas/Beth/Natalya d. Kelly/Eve/Alicia/Tamina 5:30
157 ’02 Women: Trish d. Jazz 4 min
158 ’09 Women: Melina d. Beth Phoenix 6:30
159 ’92 Tags: Natural Disasters d. LOD 9:30
160 ’98 Tags: LOD d. New Age Outlaws 8 min
161 ’91 Mountie d. Koko 9
162 ’05 Casket: Undertaker d. Heidenreich 13:30
163 ’91 WWF Title: Sgt. Slaughter d. Ultimate Warrior 12:30
164 ’06 World: Kurt Angle d. Mark Henry 9:30
165 ’93 Bam Bam Bigelow d. Big Boss Man 10 min
166 WWE Title: Drew McIntyre d. Goldberg 2:30
167 ’95 Undertaker d. IRS 12:30
168 '15 Ascension d. New Age Outlaws 5:30
169 ’01 Women: Ivory d. Chyna 3:30
170 ’99 Women: Sable d. Luna 4:30
171 ’12 Brodus Clay d. Drew McIntyre 1 min
172 ’06 Boogeyman d. JBL 2 min
173 ’90 Bushwackers d. Rougeaus 13:30
174 ’12 John Cena draw Kane 11
175 ’90 Brutus Beefcake draw Lanny Poffo 11 min
176 ’92 Beverlys d. Bushwackers 15 min
177 ’10 Women: Mickie James d. Michelle McCool :30
178 ’03 Torrie Wilson d. Dawn Marie 3:30
179 ’06 Women: Mickey James d. Ashley 7:30
180. '94 WWF Title: Yokozuna d. Undertaker 14:30
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