WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Outcomes: Winners, Grades, Response and Highlights
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Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.WWE
Welcome to Bleacher Report’s protection and recap of the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble.
This is a have a look at the cardboard for Saturday’s occasion:
- Males’s Royal Rumble
- Ladies’s Royal Rumble
- Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens (Common Championship)
- Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss (Uncooked Ladies’s Championship)
- LA Knight vs. Bray Wyatt (Mountain Dew Pitch Black match)
Let’s check out who walked away from this pay-per-view with a win.
Males’s Royal Rumble Match
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- Gunther
- Sheamus
- The Miz
- Kofi Kingston
- Johnny Gargano
- Xavier Woods
- Karrion Kross
- Chad Gable
- Drew McIntyre
- Santos Escobar
- Angelo Dawkins
- Brock Lesnar
- Bobby Lashley
- Baron Corbin
- Seth Rollins
- Otis
- Rey Mysterio (By no means got here to the ring)
- Dominik Mysterio
- Elias
- Finn Bálor
- Booker T
- Damian Priest
- Montez Ford
- Edge
- Austin Principle
- Omos
- Braun Strowman
- Ricochet
- Logan Paul
- Cody Rhodes
Right here is the listing of members within the order they entered the match.
This 12 months’s males’s match was mild on surprises, but it surely made up for that by addressing a number of completely different storylines.
Aside from Kingston’s save going poorly, this was a good Rumble. Many of the eliminations made sense. The winner was predictable, however that is not at all times a foul factor.
The ultimate 4 rivals had been Logan Paul, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins and Gunther.
Paul eradicated Rollins in a stunning second earlier than Rhodes threw him out. After The American Nightmare endured a collection of strikes from Gunther for a number of minutes, Rhodes tossed him out to say victory.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Grade: B-
Notable Moments and Observations
- Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston’s gear was superior.
- The way in which Sheamus and Johnny Gargano eradicated The Miz was nice.
- You could possibly inform Michael Cole was genuinely blissful to have Pat McAfee again on the sales space.
- Kingston tried to save lots of himself and ended up hitting the announce desk. He was down holding his head for a while.
- Brock Lesnar being eradicated in lower than three minutes was probably the most stunning issues on this match.
- You must hand it to Baron Corbin. He’s at all times keen to appear to be an fool to make a babyface look good.
- Dominik Mysterio was attempting actually exhausting to tear his dad’s masks and simply could not do it.
- The kicks Sheamus and Drew McIntyre hit to Elias regarded nasty.
- Gunther’s again was all reduce up from getting his by Elias’ guitar.
- Not having anyone else take Rey Mysterio’s spot was a waste.
- Rhodes could have gotten simply as massive of a pop when he eradicated Dom as he did when he got here to the ring.
- Paul and Ricochet springboarding into the ring to collide with one another was a unbelievable spot.
- Gunther broke Rey Mysterio’s report for the longest Rumble efficiency.
LA Knight vs. Bray Wyatt
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The Mountain Dew Pitch Black match was the second bout of the night time. LA Knight was out first, after which WWE performed a video package deal recapping their feud earlier than Bray Wyatt made his entrance.
The ring had a giant Mountain Dew emblem within the center that was glow-in-the-dark. The ropes and Knight’s gear had been additionally neon yellow. Wyatt was carrying paint that solely confirmed underneath the black mild.
What unfolded was mainly a No Disqualification match. They fought out and in of the ring, used weapons and did not comply with any of the same old guidelines.
After a shorter conflict than anticipated, Wyatt received with Sister Abigail. This was nice for what it was, however this may not be remembered the way in which the Firefly Funhouse was.
They fought after the match till Uncle Howdy confirmed up on a platform. He jumped off onto Knight and the whole lot exploded in flames.
The ending of this was the weirdest half and must be seen to be believed.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Grade: C-
Notable Moments and Observations
- Wyatt had some black make-up round his eyes and a few pretend enamel. He regarded a little bit like a raccoon.
- The kendo stick regarded a bit like a lightsaber with the glowing paint.
- Wyatt could have regarded cooler on this bout than he ever has earlier than.
Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss (Uncooked Ladies’s Championship)
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Throughout Alexa Bliss’ entrance, WWE aired a video package deal highlighting her feud with Bianca Belair that additionally put a deal with Uncle Howdy once more.
As quickly because the ref referred to as for the bell, the 2 ladies had been throwing fingers. This felt like a private battle instantly, so it was very bodily.
The Goddess had the higher hand for a number of minutes earlier than The EST of WWE countered a suplex with a pleasant present of energy.
The motion was respectable, but it surely felt like one thing was lacking. There have been no shenanigans or Uncle Howdy to distract Belair. It was a bit uneventful.
We did see some bizarre imagery on the large display after the match that indicated Bliss will proceed down this darkish path.
Winner: Bianca Belair
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
- Bliss used Belair’s braid to use a modified bow-and-arrow submission in a inventive method.
- Despite the fact that she is sort of at all times the smaller competitor in a match, Bliss has a convincing exhausting proper hand.
- The Goddess dodged a bullet by avoiding the shot from Belair’s braid. She has left deep welts on opponents with that factor.
Ladies’s Royal Rumble Match
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- Rhea Ripley
- Liv Morgan
- Dana Brooke
- Emma
- Shayna Baszler
- Bayley
- B-Fab
- Roxanne Perez
- Dakota Kai
- IYO SKY
- Natalya
- Candice LeRae
- Zoey Stark
- Xia Li
- Becky Lynch
- Tegan Nox
- Asuka
- Piper Niven
- Tamina
- Chelsea Inexperienced
- Zelina Vega
- Raquel Rodriguez
- Mia Yim
- Lacey Evans
- Michelle McCool
- Indi Hartwell
- Sonya Deville
- Shotzi
- Nikki Cross
- Nia Jax
Right here is the order of entrants for the ladies’s Rumble match:
This bout had extra surprises than the lads’s match as a result of fewer members had been introduced forward of time, however aside from that, this was about the identical high quality as the lads’s Rumble.
Nia Jax being No. 30 acquired a blended response within the enviornment and on social media, however the crowd loved watching everybody within the ring pile on her without delay.
The ultimate 4 had been Rhea Ripley, Nikki Cross, Asuka and Liv Morgan.
Cross was out first and Asuka adopted quickly after, which left us with the 2 ladies who began the competition as the ultimate two rivals. Ripley was in a position to take Morgan out to win the entire thing.
As soon as once more, this was a predictable end, but it surely was additionally the correct name.
Winner: Rhea Ripley
Grade: B-
Notable Moments and Observations
- Michael Cole made certain to say that Dana Brooke has been in each single ladies’s Rumble match.
- Brooke and Ripley had a second that didn’t go as deliberate. They had been attempting to do one thing and each simply fell over. A second later, The Eradicator might be seen bleeding from her nostril, so it could have occurred throughout that spot.
- Roxanne Perez acquired a pleasant pop from her home-state Texas crowd.
- Xia Li’s complete look on this match was superior.
- Candice LeRae took a tough tumble to the ground.
- Plenty of ladies had neon inexperienced as a part of their gear for some motive.
- Asuka’s look was unbelievable, however the masks could have been the most effective half.
- Eliminating the Doudrop title for Piper Niven was the most effective shock on this match.
- Chelsea Inexperienced being eradicated in report time isn’t one of the best ways to get her new WWE run going.
- Michelle McCool was sitting within the crowd along with her youngsters when she was introduced. She hopped the barricade and took off her hoodie to disclose her gear.
- They did not do a countdown for No. 30. Jax’s music simply began taking part in out of nowhere.
- The way in which Mia Yim landed on Shotzi didn’t look enjoyable for both of them. Hopefully, they’re alright.
Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens
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After a number of video packages and a efficiency from Hardy, we lastly acquired to the principle occasion. With one other 5 minutes devoted to Roman Reigns’ entrance, this bout did not get began till 11:45 p.m. ET.
The group chanted “Sami Uso” as The Tribal Chief and Kevin Owens circled one another and locked up. They began at a gradual tempo. Reigns turned KO inside out with a shoulder deal with earlier than Owens nailed him with a again elbow.
As soon as they began throwing punches, the tempo picked up a bit. As soon as the champ had the higher hand once more, he started taking KO aside.
These two are at all times bodily once they work collectively, so this match had some stiff strikes and some massive bumps. Owens had the match received after a Popup Powerbomb, however the ref was knocked out and unable to make the rely.
Reigns nailed him with a low blow and tried to make use of a chair that Zayn threw into the ring, however KO hit him with a Stunner for a detailed two-count. It took a 3rd Spear to lastly put KO away for good.
This match was good, however identical to the remainder of the present, it was a bit too predictable. Even the spot with the ref getting knocked out might be seen coming from a mile away. What got here after was what all people truly got here to see.
As Jey Uso was about to place a lei on Zayn, Reigns stopped him. He ordered The Usos and Solo Sikoa to maintain beating on a defeated Owens as The Honorary Uce was compelled to observe. They handcuffed KO to the highest rope and took turns hitting superkicks time and again. Even The Younger Bucks could be jealous of this superkick occasion.
As Reigns was making ready to nail him with a chair, Zayn stepped between them. He stated this was beneath The Tribal Chief, so Reigns handed him the chair.
Zayn ended up hitting Reigns with the chair as a substitute. Jey yelled at him earlier than Jimmy Uso delivered a superkick.
Solo and Jimmy beat Zayn down with Reigns cheering them on, whereas Jey stood immobile within the nook. He left the ring and walked away as the remainder of The Bloodline regarded on.
Reigns took out his anger on Zayn with a barrage of chair photographs.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Grade: B (Match), A+ (Submit-match)
Notable Moments and Observations
- Paul Heyman had an impressed look on his face in the course of the official ring introductions.
- The longest-running trope in professional wrestling is that babyfaces by no means have mates to assist them even the chances in conditions like this.
- The way in which Owens offered a shoulder deal with from Reigns was nice.
- Can Owens educate Dominik Mysterio tips on how to do a frog splash?
- The Superman Punch that Reigns hit about midway by means of the match regarded superior.
- Owens slipped when he tried to hit a moonsault and fell on high of Reigns in a clumsy method, however each males recovered rapidly.
- The way in which Owens hit the metal steps with the again of his head regarded harmful.
- The group chanted one thing we will not print right here after the match was over.
