WWE Royal Rumble Results and Review January 27 2019 : Bowen’s Botches and Bodyslams
photo courtesy WWE
WWE Royal Rumble 2019 is from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Tonight features the Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defending against Finn Balor. WWE Champion Daniel Bryan will defend against AJ Styles. RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey will defend against Sasha Banks. Smackdown Women’s Champion Asuka will defend against Becky Lynch. We will also have both the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches, featuring 30 Superstars from each division.
Royal Rumble Kickoff Show Matches
Match for RAW Tag Team Championship Opportunity
Bobby Roode and Chad Gable (c) vs. Scott Dawson and Rezar with Drake Maverick
Chad Gable scores the Pinfall victory over Scott Dawson after the Neck Breaker and Moonsault finisher.
There’s something oh so #GLORIOUS about seeing @REALBobbyRoode and @WWEGable bring the fight on the #RoyalRumble 2019 Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/A43agFlHxZ
— WWE (@WWE) January 27, 2019
United States Championship Match
Rusev (c) with Lana vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura wins by Pinfall after the Kinshasa Knee Strike to become the new United States Champion with the distraction assist after Lana tried to prevent him from removing the turnbuckle padding and was inadvertently knocked off the ring apron by Rusev.
The #SuperAthlete @RusevBUL is living up to his moniker in a big way as he defends his #USTitle against @ShinsukeN on the #RoyalRumble 2019 Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/PFAOMJF3aT
— WWE (@WWE) January 27, 2019
Fatal Four Way Match for the Cruiserweight Championship
Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Kalisto vs. Hideo Itami vs. Akira Tozawa
Buddy Murphy scores the Pinfall victory over Hideo Itami after Murphy’s Law to retain the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
When the #CruiserweightTitle is on the line, you better believe EVERYONE in this #Fatal4Way is gonna fly! #RoyalRumble@WWE_Murphy @KalistoWWE @TozawaAkira @HideoItami pic.twitter.com/N7wIabVkkA
— WWE (@WWE) January 27, 2019
Royal Rumble Matches
Smackdown Women’s Championship Match
Asuka (c) vs. Becky Lynch
Asuka wins by Submission with a version of the Asuka Lock.
#AsukaLock on the ropes? #DisArmHer within the turnbuckles?
Serious damage is being done as @WWEAsuka & @BeckyLynchWWE clash for the #SmackDown #WomensTitle! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/odiyVBLOOL
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2019
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match
The Bar (c) (Sheamus and Cesaro) vs. The Miz and Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon scores the Pinfall victory over Cesaro after the Shooting Star Press to make Shane McMahon and The Miz the new Smackdown Tag Team Champions.
High-flying, hard-hitting, and MUST-SEE! This is what happens when #TheBar defends the #SmackDown #TagTitles against @shanemcmahon & @mikethemiz at #RoyalRumble 2019! @WWECesaro @WWESheamus pic.twitter.com/RYIpJpv3vH
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2019
RAW Women’s Championship Match
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Sasha Banks
Ronda Rousey wins by Pinfall after the Piper’s Pit.
#RAW #WomensChampion @RondaRousey & @SashaBanksWWE are throwing ALL THEY’VE GOT at each other tonight! 😱 #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/R5GEIHLx4h
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2019
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Becky Lynch Wins
Entry Order
Lacey Evans, Natalya, Mandy Rose, Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Ember Moon, Billie Kay, Nikki Cross, Peyton Royce, Tamina, Xia Li, Sarah Logan, Charlotte Flair, Kairi Sane, Maria Kanellis, Naomi, Candice LeRae, Alicia Fox, Kacy Catanzaro, Zelina Vega, Ruby Riott, Dana Brooke, Io Shirai, Rhea Ripley, Sonya Deville, Alexa Bliss, Bayley, Lana*, Nia Jax, Carmella. Lana was unable to enter the ring due to injury and was replaced by Becky Lynch.
Elimination Order
Liv Morgan by Natalya, Mickie James by Tamina, Nikki Cross by Billie Kay and Peyton Royce, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce by Lacey Evans, Xia Li by Charlotte Flair, Tamina by Charlotte Flair, Sarah Logan by Natalya and Kairi Sane, Mandy Rose by Naomi, Naomi by Mandy Rose, Lacey Evans by Charlotte Flair, Maria Kanellias by Alicia Fox, Alicia Fox by Ruby Riott, Candice LeRae by Ruby Riott, Kairi Sane by Ruby Riott, Kacy Catanzaro by Rhea Ripley, Dana Brooke by Rhea Ripley, Zelina Vega by Rhea Ripley, Sonya Deville by Alexa Bliss, Ruby Riott by Bayley, Rhea Ripley by Bayley, Io Shirai by Nia Jax, Natalya by Nia Jax, Ember Moon by Alexa Bliss, Alexa Bliss by Bayley and Carmella, Carmella by Charlotte Flair, Bayley by Nia Jax and Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax by Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair by Becky Lynch
THIS just happened between The #PiratePrincess @KairiSaneWWE & #TheQueen @MsCharlotteWWE, and all we have to say is…
…BRING IT ON!!! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/x8QIO0kfQ1
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2019
Slight change of plans…@LanaWWE is out.
THE MAN @BeckyLynchWWE is IN!!! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/gwqppQ9bdu— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2019
WWE Championship Match
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles
Daniel Bryan wins by Pinfall. Eric Rowan came out during the match. The referee was knocked down, AJ Styles delivered the Styles Clash finisher, but Eric Rowan interfered and Chokeslammed Styles before the referee came to. Daniel Bryan then pinned Styles. Bryan and Rowan continued to attack Styles after the match.
This is vicious. This is personal. This is about the #WWEChampionship!@AJStylesOrg @WWEDanielBryan #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/glfKiJYYxf
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2019
Universal Championship Match
Brock Lesnar (c) with Paul Heyman vs. Finn Balor
Brock Lesnar wins by Submission with the Kimura Lock. Brock Lesnar continued to attack Finn Balor after the match.
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Seth Rollins Wins
Entry Order
Elias, Jeff Jarrett, Shinsuke Nakamura, Kurt Angle, Big E, Johnny Gargano, Jinder Mahal, Samoa Joe, Curt Hawkins, Seth Rollins, Titus Oneil, Kofi Kingston, Mustafa Ali, Dean Ambrose, No Way Jose, Drew McIntyre, Xavier Woods, Pete Dunne, Andrade, Apollo Crews, Aleister Black, Shelton Benjamin, Baron Corbin, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, Randy Orton, R-Truth*. Nia Jax attacked R-Truth before he entered the ring and took his place as the final entrant.
Elimination Order
Jeff Jarrett by Elias, Kurt Angle by Shinsuke Nakamura, Jinder Mahal by Johnny Gargano, Big E by Samoa Joe, Elias by Seth Rollins, Titus Oneil by Curt Hawkins, Curt Hawkins by Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura by Mustafa Ali, Johnny Gargano by Dean Ambrose, No Way Jose by Samoa Joe, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston by Drew McIntyre, Dean Ambrose by Aleister Black, Samoa Joe by Mustafa Ali, Apollo Crews by Baron Corbin, Aleister Black by Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley by Seth Rollins, Baron Corbin by Braun Strowman, Shelton Benjamin by Braun Strowman, Jeff Hardy by Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre, Drew McIntyre by Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali by Nia Jax, Nia Jax by Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio by Randy Orton, Randy Orton by Andrade, Andrade by Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler by Braun Strowman, Braun Strowman by Seth Rollins
When in the Men’s #RoyalRumble Match, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Right, @WWERollins? pic.twitter.com/QdHRiI2Zgb
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2019
THIS. JUST. HAPPENED. 😱😱😱😱 #RoyalRumble@NiaJaxWWE @RandyOrton @reymysterio @HEELZiggler pic.twitter.com/8Qydqkbui3
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2019
Botches
- Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles ended with a thud. Eric Rowan’s appearance threw the crowd off, and the ending caused no reaction from the crowd. There were no cheers, no boos, just a feeling of having the rug pulled out from under them after a great match.
- Brock Lesnar vs. Finn Balor was a better match than anyone expected. They pulled off a way to make it look like Balor could actually win, but the ending fell flat and again left the crowd wondering what just happened. The David and Goliath angle was heavy handed, and to make Balor ultimately lose so quickly and easily after all this made a fan favorite look weak and still can’t help the absentee champion draw interest from the fans.
Bodyslams
- Becky Lynch vs. Asuka started off slow and had a few awkward moments, but once these two gained their footing they were innovative and exciting and gave us a satisfying ending.
- Sasha Banks vs. Ronda Rousey was an emotional roller coaster and had me glued to my screen.
- The Women’s Royal Rumble was incredible, and WWE went the right direction by focusing on rising stars rather than legends of the past. Every entry brought a new element into the match and the fans were carried through an great story.
The Royal Rumble was stolen by the Women’s Division once again. The two Women’s Championship matches were better than the two Men’s Championship matches, and the Women’s Royal Rumble was better than the Men’s Royal Rumble. There were no bad matches, but the ending of the WWE Championship and Universal Championship matches were disappointing. Most of the fans expected Daniel Bryan to win, but the way it happened killed the excitement of the match but also failed to generate a balancing negative reaction. It didn’t generate heat, it just let us down. Finn Balor delivering his finisher after a huge rally to be slipped into a simple submission hold and then beaten down after the match was more disappointment. Obviously Finn Balor is so much smaller than Brock Lesnar and can;t win. But everyone loves Finn Balor anyway. So why put him in this position if he’s not going to win? The match was great and did the job of making us believe a win was possible. But when he lost we were left with a feeling of wondering why this even happened. The women’s matches went the opposite direction, and neither loser came out looking weak. Both matches were satisfying, even if the people we were rooting for lost. The Women’s Division comes out of this more interesting than ever, and if the men thought they were going to step up and steal the show tonight, they missed the mark.
