Royal Rumble 2023 is Saturday from San Antonio. Here's the card.
UNDISPUTED TITLE: ROMAN REIGNS v. KEVIN OWENS
RAW WOMEN'S TITLE: BIANCA BELAIR v. ALEXA BLISS
PITCH BLACK MATCH: BRAY WYATT v. LA KNIGHT
MENS RUMBLE MATCH
WOMENS RUMBLE MATCH
The Bloodline is a great program; I say some variation of this every quarter - I am predisposed to disliking long WWF talking segments; I understand them - I understand almost all drawn out wrestling angles, there's a lot of TV time to fill, once you hit a story that makes sense, moving away from that story can be challenging - but I'm a workrate guy, just stick two guys in the ring and let them fight, thanks -- but, the Bloodline is consistently good TV; the ability to absorb the Zayn/Owens multi-promotional story to give another set of legs to the Bloodline has just been so deftly handled, Zayn's performance is transencendent -- it is above the fold quality for each of these PPV previews.
Reigns, of course, has both of the WWE primary title belts; he may have taken one from Bruno, who can remember - and that's worked, at least for me as a consumer - they have created an all time dominant champion and good on them. Reigns will still be champion at the end of the night in what should be a very good match against Owens.
(3 1/2 - good, the big postmatch angle, w/Zayn turning babyface completely subsumes the match)
As much as I like the Bloodline, I can't be bothered at all - I mean - at all - with the Bray Wyatt Multiverse, so whatever is going to happen in the lights out match and whatever convoluted finish will get Bliss the belt I just have zero thoughts about. Belair/Bliss will probably not be good and there's not a circumstance where Wyatt/Knight will be good. Do not watch those matches.
(Awful)
And then there are the two Rumble matches, which are good even when they aren't good, it's a near foolproof gimmick. My working assumption is Ripley wins the women's match - who makes the most sense to win the men's is Zayn (in fact, of guys currently on the roster, only Zayn and Rhodes make sense, I'd say Austin/Rock would be my next two guesses).
(3 3/4 stars, mens match, 3 stars womens match, Cody and Ripley win, it's a high level men's Rumble, it's a run of the mill women's)
I've got a wrestling counterfactual I'm been writing for more than 15 years (I'm stopping at end of 2025, sunrise, sunset) a couple years ago I did a pre Rumble angle where Nakamura's stable kicked him out in violent fashion and he came back as the 30th entrant and whipped his former stablemates to win the Rumble. If the Owens/Reigns match is before the Rumble - should the evening culminate in a Zayn win, that would not surprise (maybe he is supposed to sacrifice his chance to win...but he does not)
So, you watch this show - it's the Rumble, you watch the Rumble, and Reigns/Owens will almost certainly be good and also advance story.
I've seen every WWE/F PPV contemporaneously, because I'm old. Here are my Rumble rankings, times are approx.
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. '22 Universal Title: Seth Rollins d. Roman Reigns 14:30 3
64 ’01 Tags: Dudleys d. Edge/Christian 10 min 3
65 ’08 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. Jeff Hardy 14 min 3
66 ’92 Owen/Anvil d. Orient Express 17 min 3
67 ’95 Tags: Bob Holly/123 Kid d. Tatanka/Bam Bam Bigelow 15:30 3
68 ’02 Rumble Match(HHH) 69:30 3
69 ’94 Rumble Match: (Bret/Lex) 55 min 3
70 ’93 Rumble Match: (Yokozuna) 66:30 3
71 ’91 Rumble Match (Hulk Hogan) 65 min 3
72 ’96 Rumble Match(Shawn Michaels) 59 min 3
73. '19 Rumble Match (Rollins) 57:30 min 3
74. '20 Women's Match: (Charlotte) 54:30 3
75. '22 Women's Match: (Rousey) 59:30 3
76 ’99 Rumble Match (Vince McMahon) 56:30 3
77 ’95 Rumble Match (Shawn Michaels) 39 min 3
78 ’09 Rumble Match (Randy Orton) 58:30 3
79 '14 Rumble Match (Batista) 55 min 3
80 ’13 Rumble Match (John Cena) 55 min 3
81 '15 Rumble Match (Reigns) 59 min 3
82 '17 Rumble Match (Orton) 3
83. '22 Rumble Match (Lesnar) 51 min 3
84. '19 Women's Rumble Match (Becky) 72 min 3
85 ’88 Rumble Match (Jim Duggan) 33:30 3
86 ’02 IC: William Regal d. Edge 10 min 3
87 ’04 Eddy Guerrero d. Chavo Guerrero 8 min 3
88. '22 WWF Title: Bobby Lashley d. Brock Lesnar 10:30
89 ’13 World: Last Man Standing: Alberto del Rio d. Big Show 17 min 3
90 ’09 ECW: Jack Swagger d. Matt Hardy 10:30 3
91 ’96 Tags: Smoking Gunns d. Bodydonnas 11 min 3
92 ’03 Tags: Dudleys d. Regal/Storm 7:30 3
93 '16 US: Kalisto d. Del Rio 11:30 3
94. '17: Women's Title: Charlotte d. Bayley 13 min 3
95 ’97 WWF Title: Shawn Michaels d. Sid 14 min 3
96 ’89 Haku d. Harley Race 9 min 3
97 ’97 IC: HHH d. Goldust 17 min 3
98 ’06 Jr.: Gregory Helms d. Kash, Funaki, Noble, Nunzio, London 7:30
99 ’88 Jumping Bomb Angels d. Glamour Girls 14 min
100 ’89 Hart Foundation/Duggan d. Dino Bravo/Rougeaus 16 min
101 ’96 WWF Title: Undertaker d. Bret Hart 29 min
102. ’90 Ronny Garvin d. Greg Valentine 17 min
103 ’08 World: Edge d. Rey Mysterio 12:30
104 ’88 Ricky Steamboat d. Rick Rude 17 min
105 ’00 Taz d. Kurt Angle 3 min
106 ’02 Ric Flair d. Vince McMahon 15 min
107 ’98 IC Rock d. Shamrock 11 min
108 ’05 WWF Title: JBL d. Big Show/Kurt Angle 12 min
109 ’06 WWF Title: John Cena d. Edge 14
110 ’97 Vader d. Undertaker 13 min
111 ’13 Tags: Hell No d. Rhodes Scholars 9:30
112 ’93 Steiners d. Beverlys 10:30
113. '18 RAW Tags: Sheamus/Cesaro d. Rollins/Jordan 13 min.
114. ’07 World: Batista d. Ken Kennedy 10:30
115. '16 Women: Charlotte d. Becky 11:30
116. '20 Roman Reigns d. King Corbin 21:30
117. ’10 ECW: Christian d. Ezekial Jackson 12 min
118 ’88 Islanders d. Young Stallions 14 min
119 ’02 Tags: Taz/Spike Dudley d. Dudleys 5 min
120 '16 Tags: New Day d. Usos 11 min
121 ’12 World: Cage: Daniel Bryan d. Big Show/Mark Henry
122 '19 Smackdown Tags: Miz/Shane d. The Bar 13:30 min
123 ’00 IC: Chris Jericho d. Chyna d. Bob Holly 7:30
124 ’08 JBL d. Chris Jericho 9:30
125 ’10 US: Miz d. MVP 7:30
126 ’97 Garza/Aguayo/Canek d. Estrada/Metal/.Guerrera 11 min
127 ’04 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Bob Holly 6:30
128 '18 Universal Title: Lesnar d. Kane/Strowman 11 min
129 '15 Tags: Usos d. Miz/Mizdow 9:30
130 ’03 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 6 min
131 Euro: '99 Sean Waltman d. Gangrel 6 min
132 ’98 Vader d. Goldust 8 min
133 ’95 IC Jeff Jarrett d. Razor Ramon 18 min
134 ’99 IC: Ken Shamrock d. Billy Gunn 14:30
135 ’04 Jr. Rey Mysterio d. Jamie Noble 3:30
136 ’91 Boss Man d. Barbarian 14 min
137 '14 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 2 min
138’92 IC: Roddy Piper d. Mountie 5:30
139 ’08 Ric Flair d. MVP 8 min
140 ’98 Mini/Mosaic/Nova d. Battalion/Torito/Tarantula 8 min
141 ’97 Ahmed Johnson d. Farooq 9 min
142 ’96 Ahmed Johnson d. Jeff Jarrett 6:30
143 ’10 WWF: Sheamus d. Randy Orton 12:30
144 ’07 ECW: Bobby Lashley d. Test 7:30
145 ’04 Tags: Evolution d. Dudleys 4:30
146 ’03 World Title: Scott Steiner d. HHH 18:30
147 ’09 World John Cena d. JBL 15:30
148 ’99 Boss Man d. Road Dogg 12 min
149 ’90 Hacksaw Duggan d. Big Boss Man 10:30
150 ’91 Ted DiBiase/Virgil d. Dusty/Dustin 10 min
151 ’00 Tags: New Age Outlaws d. Acolytes 2:30
152 ’94 Tatanka d. Bam Bam Bigelow 8
153 ’94 IC: Razor Ramon d. IRS 11:30
154 ’96 IC: Goldust d. Razor 14:30
155. '22 RAW Women's Title: Lynch d. Doudrop 13 min
156. Edge/Beth d. Miz/Maryse 12:30
157. '21 Smackdown Women's Title: Banks d. Carmella 10:30
158. '20 Smackdown Women: Bayley d. Lacey 9:30
159 ’89 Rockin Robin d. Judy Martin 6:30
160 ’11 Women: Eve d. Natalya/Layla/Michelle McCool 5 min
161 '15 Bellas d. Paige/Natty 8 min
162 ’12 Bellas/Beth/Natalya d. Kelly/Eve/Alicia/Tamina 5:30
163 ’02 Women: Trish d. Jazz 4 min
164 ’09 Women: Melina d. Beth Phoenix 6:30
165 ’92 Tags: Natural Disasters d. LOD 9:30
166 ’98 Tags: LOD d. New Age Outlaws 8 min
167 ’91 Mountie d. Koko 9
168 ’05 Casket: Undertaker d. Heidenreich 13:30
169 ’91 WWF Title: Sgt. Slaughter d. Ultimate Warrior 12:30
170 ’06 World: Kurt Angle d. Mark Henry 9:30
171 ’93 Bam Bam Bigelow d. Big Boss Man 10 min
172 WWE Title: Drew McIntyre d. Goldberg 2:30
173 ’95 Undertaker d. IRS 12:30
174 '15 Ascension d. New Age Outlaws 5:30
175 ’01 Women: Ivory d. Chyna 3:30
176 ’99 Women: Sable d. Luna 4:30
177 ’12 Brodus Clay d. Drew McIntyre 1 min
178 ’06 Boogeyman d. JBL 2 min
179 ’90 Bushwackers d. Rougeaus 13:30
180 ’12 John Cena draw Kane 11
181 ’90 Brutus Beefcake draw Lanny Poffo 11 min
182 ’92 Beverlys d. Bushwackers 15 min
183 ’10 Women: Mickie James d. Michelle McCool :30
184 ’03 Torrie Wilson d. Dawn Marie 3:30
185 ’06 Women: Mickey James d. Ashley 7:30
186. '94 WWF Title: Yokozuna d. Undertaker 14:30
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