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Welcome to my ongoing thoughts from tonight's Royal Rumble show. The original plan was to be in San Antonio but as they say, life had another plan, so Peacock it is.
Before we start, I want to thank all of you for all the support as this is our anniversary weekend. You all mean the world to everyone here at the site. I cannot even speak about how much all the support the last few years especially has meant to me. I appreciate you all blessing me with a job I truly enjoy and get to use to distract me from the sadder moments I've endured the last few years. I dedicate this one to anyone who ever typed the letters PWInsider and found their way here.
Hey, Pat McAfee is back! I'm sorry Richard Trionfo!
The Men's Rumble is kicking us off!
Number one is GUNTHER. Number Two is birthday boy Sheamus. LET THE BEATINGS COMMENCE! They pick up right where they ended off at Clash at the Castle. Fun stuff.
Number three is Miz. There was some good sequences where the badasses went to hit each other but ended up killing Miz in the corner. Pretty good use of Miz.
Number four was Kofi. One would think Kofi will be super over as he lives in Austin, Texas. The fans were super behind him. Nothing major.
Number five is Johnny Gargano, returning from injury. Miz got caught in Sheamus' battering shots to the chest but hangs on. He survives a superkick but then ate a Brogue Kick. That's it for Miz! He did as much as he could to get everything over while he was in. He's always underrated but does whatever is needed.
Number six is Xavier Woods. This gave New Day a chance to double team everyone. They teased that it was every man for himself and squared off like Demolition all those years ago, but instead just played to the fans. That was cute.
Number seven is Karrion Kross, making his Rumble debut.
Number eight is Chad Gable.
Number nine is Drew McIntyre. Well, unless he's going LONG, that's a letdown. I don't understand why he's so underutilized in top storylines. He took out Karrion, who didn't even have a chance to make a moment for himself, and began whipping out suplexes on New Day. He and Sheamus faced off with GUNTHER.
Number ten is Santos Escobar. He was almost tossed but saved himself. I'd love to see them use this as a way to showcase how good he is athletically.
Number 11 is Angelo Dawkins. Big pop for him!
GUNTHER took out Xavier. Kofi tried to avenge his brother but it wasn't to be. GUNTHER blasted him to the floor but he crashed into a chair and only one of his feet hit the floor.
BROCK SMASH! Lensar is unlucky #12. Unlucky for everyone else. I have a feeling this is going to be like the Titanic soon, everyone overboard. Lesnar wiped out Santos, Gable and Dawkins with ease. They are gone. He faced off with GUNTHER. Yesss!
As they started battling, #13 was Bobby Lashley. They aren't going to make anyone wait for this. Lashley speared Brock and then took out Drew and Sheamus as well. Lesnar grabbed for an F-5 but Lashley escaped and eliminated him with a clothesline. San Antonio went nuts as Lesnar was out beyond quick. There's the Lesnar vs. Lashley at Mania set up.
Number 14 was Baron Corbin. Brock killed him as he came to the ring and F-5'd him on the floor. Lesnar wiped out a ref and menaced everyone as he wrecked the place.
Number 15 was Seth Rollins. Big pop. He took a long time to get to the ring. Rollins tossed the dazed Baron in and then clotheslined him out. That was funny. Rollins brawled with Sheamus.
Number 16 is Otis. Even though he's pretty much slotted as a comedy guy, he was slamming Drew and Sheamus around before facing off with Bobby.
Number 17 is Rey Mysterio...but he doesn't come out. Angle coming.
Seth eliminated Lashley.
Number 18 is Dominik Mysterio, who is wearing Rey's mask. The implication is that he attacked Rey and stole his mask.
Otis was tossed by Sheamus and Drew.
Number 19 is Elias. Number 20 is Finn Balor. Everyone battled. Balor attacked Drew. Sheamus intervened.
Number 21 was Booker T. HUGE pop. Booker cleaned house and was going for the Spinaroonie but GUNTHER ruined it and tossed him. Texas HATED that but what a good way to get GUNTHER over as a heel by ruining the party.
Thus far, it's been OK but nothing truly over the top memorable. It's way better than last year's mess,
Number 22 was Damian Priest so now all three members of Judgement Day are in the ring and trying to control it.
Number 23 was Montez Ford. Ford showed some good intensity and skinned the cat like Ricky Steamboat to evade elimination. You can just FEEL he's going to he a big star. Well, as soon as I wrote that, he was tossed.
Number 24 was Edge. MASSIVE Pop. We had reported a few weeks ago he was expected back for this show and last night that he was in town. He began whipping out spears on Judgement Day. He tossed Balor and Priest but when he was distracted by Rollins, Judgment took him out. That war isn't over.
Dominik remains.
Edge brawled to the back with Judgment Day. Rhea Ripley attacked Edge from behind, but out came Beth Phoenix, who we also reported would be returning at this show. They faced off and Rhipley was speared in the aisle. Nice moment. Security pulled Beth and Edge to the back. As I said, the battle will continue!
It looked like Producer Ken Dykstra may have hurt his leg in the melee.
Number 25 was Austin Theory, who tried to steer clear of the warfare in the aisle.
Number 26 was Omos. This will be a big test for him. GUNTHER and Omos battled. I bet that's a match you never thought you'd want to see. Omos controlled the ring.
Number 27 was Braun Strowman. That's a lot of big boys in there ready to fight. Braun and Omos, the rematch you never thought you'd want to see. They fought back and forth. Omos was clotheslined over the top to the floor.
Number 28 was Ricochet. Everyone battled.
GUNTHER took out both Drew and Sheamus.
Number 29 was Logan Paul. That leaves Cody Rhodes as #30. Everyone attacked Logan but he came back with a Buckshot lariat on Ricochet. GUNTHER tried to take him out but Logan survived. Paul nailed a series of bodyshots on Braun but ate a powerslam. Ricochet nailed a shooting star.
They gave Cody a big entrance. He hit the ring and began cleaning out. Mysterio went for the Three Amigos but was caught with CrossRhodes. He dumped Dominik to a big pop. Cody was cut off with a big, BIG powerbomb.
Ricochet and Paul each soared off the buckles at each other and Paul wiped him out in MID-AIR with an insane clothesline. That was a HELL of a sight. Cody dumped Braun. He battled with Cody. Ricochet was sent out. Paul went to the floor.
It's down to Theory, Rollins, Cody, GUNTHER, Paul on the floor.
Cody and Rollins worked together - remember their past - to eliminated Theory and then faced off with each other. Seth and Cody battled and it was really good but Paul dumped Seth. Paul vs Rollins at Mania? Paul pointed to the Mania sign. No one liked that. Cody hit him with CrossRhodes and tossed him. They all seemed to like that.
GUNTHER and Cody are the final two. Now, we are talking! They battled back and forth with GUNTHER as the bruising monster and Cody having to fight from underneath. GUNTHER almost eliminated him and then hit a superplex. Cody sent him over the top after a Cody Cutter but GUNTHER survived. Cody nailed a Dragon Screw Leg whip in the ropes and then hit Shattered Dreams in the buckles in a shout out to his brother Goldust. GUNTHER nailed a massive shotgun dropkick and powerbombed Cody. They teased that was it for Cody but he held on.
GUNTHER locked on a sleeper while Cody was on the apron but GUNTHER survived. He went for a powerslam but was hit with CrossRhodes and clotheslined over the top. This was Sting vs. Big Van Vader for 2023. MORE PLEASE!
Cody wins!
A HELL of a performance for GUNTHER, who far and away was the MVP of the match. A nice win for Cody as he seeks to tribute his father with a Wrestlemania title win.
This was so much better than last year's dreck. It was a very good, solid Rumble with a lot of storytelling as opposed to big spots. I liked it a lot but didn't love it - but there were a LOT of strong performances.
More thoughts on Page 2!
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