Pro Wrestling

Recapping The Greatest Royal Rumble

Posted on Author Jeremy Laracuente Comments(2)

Though the outset was mired in controversy in the States the Greatest Royal Rumble present the WWE with an opportunity.

The WWE isn’t one for truly ruffling feathers as there were not female superstars nor was Syrian descendant Sami Zayn apart of the Greatest Royal Rumble (GRR). However, in holding with the customs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the WWE ingratiated themselves to the point that another show from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be had in November.

While this Royal Rumble did not have the same feel as the true event in January that begins the Road to Wrestlemania. This show had an air of unpredictability, as with the first ever 50-man Royal Rumble match and having had several semi-retired wrestlers like Mark Henry, Kurt Angle and even the Great Khali in the rumble match no one was really sure what to expect. But the show began with John Cena versus Triple H.

Legend vs Legend: Triple H vs John Cena

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

This match was a good opener both guys had their moments to shine while also putting each other over. These two part-timers still keep themselves in amazing shape and therefore can still work a good match. The commentators even spoke about their “test of strength” as a reminder of the recently passed legendary Bruno Sammartino. A solid match and John Cena as WWE’s poster boy gave a nice post-match promo thanking the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their hospitality and thanking them for allowing the WWE Superstars to perform for them.

Cruiserweight Championship: Kalisto vs Cedric Alexander

Laracuente Ledger Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I believe that this match may have been the best cruiserweight match on the main roster since it’s inception. Kalisto and Cedric Alexander worked a brilliant pace and the match had its share of high spots mixed with a traditional ground game. The match is definitely one I recommend watching back.

Raw Tag Team Championships: Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt vs The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus)

Laracuente Ledger Rating:🌟🌟🌟

A solid matchup, however, a bit predictable as The Bar was moved to Smackdown Live in the Superstar Shakeup. So the Woken Union of Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt were more likely to come out on this contest. This match was a hard-hitting bout and a good farewell for The Bar’s time on Monday Night RAW.
On a bit of a side note, I love the enthusiasm that Corey Graves shows for the Woken ways of Matt Hardy

United States Championship: Jinder Mahal vs Jeff Hardy

Laracuente Ledger Rating:🌟

This contest had a very small build to it and it showed in the match. The lack of chemistry between these two combatants was apparent from the opening bell throughout the final bell. Including a terribly botched spot where Jeff Hardy went for his patented Whisper in the Wind maneuver and Jinder was not there. So as Hardy crashed to the mat, Mahal threw himself down awkwardly and it just epitomized how this entire mini-feud felt like a botch.

Smackdown Live Tag Team Championships: The Usos vs Bludgeon Brothers

Laracuente Ledger Rating:🌟🌟

This match was better then the contest we saw at Wrestlemania. The varying styles between the two teams made for a fast-paced hard-hitting bout. Unlike many of the matches on this card, both of these teams will remain on the same show and thus this feud will continue.

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: Finn Balor vs The Miz vs Samoa Joe vs Seth Rollins

Laracuente Ledger Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This match was the highlight of the event. The four competitors in this match are arguably the four best Superstars in the WWE. This match had an air of unpredictability and it did not disappoint.

Saudi Arabia Try-Outs Promo/ Daivari Brothers Segment

Laracuente Ledger Rating:🌟

The vignette package showing the tryouts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was a nice showing of the always expanding reach of the WWE. Then the segment became quite predictable as the Daivari brothers who are descendants of Iran came out and got taken out by the four young men that will be joining the WWE Performance Center.

WWE Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura vs AJ Styles

Laracuente Ledger Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟 1/2

Just another beautifully told story by AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura. In addition to the four men involved in the Intercontinental ladder match, these two men are in the conversation for the best Superstars in WWE. And any match between these two is a must watch matchup. The only problem with this match was the No-Contest finish but that just means more Styles vs Nakamura.

Casket Match: Rusev vs The Undertaker

Laracuente Ledger: 🌟🌟

The Undertaker will go down as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and not just the WWE. But at some point, it is time to hang up the boots. The Undertaker’s match (if you can even call it a match) at Wrestlemania against John Cena was difficult to watch. This match against Rusev was only a slight bit better. As The Undertaker looked like a man walking on stilts, Taker spent much of this match holding himself up by the ropes or his opponent Rusev. Again, I love The Undertaker but it is time.

WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar

Laracuente Ledger Rating:🌟🌟1/2

Now I was one of the few that felt that the Reigns vs Lesnar while being the exact same match as they always are for Lesnar and Reigns. A bunch of suplexes and F-5’s for Lesnar and a ton of Superman punches and spears for Reigns. But the fact that Reigns got color the hard way made the match feel different, at least to me. This match, however, will not get the same reaction from me this time out. This match was thought to end this current feud and allow Brock to disappear while the WWE Universal Championship the opportunity to actually mean something again. As with the Universal Championship being in Brock Lesnar’s possession does nothing for the title or for Monday Night RAW. But it was not to be as this match ended in the controversial fashion that one would expect from the WWE’s attempts to continually keep Lesnar happy. It was a lackluster matchup even by the low bar standards that have become the norm for Lesnar vs Reigns matches.

50-Man Royal Rumble Match Winner: Braun Strowman

Laracuente Ledger Rating:🌟🌟🌟

Though this Rumble match didn’t have the same feel as the match leading to Wrestlemania it was nice to have something special for such a historical event. However, aside from the magnitude of the event, this 50-Man Royal Rumble match is just too many people. The match overall has some great moments and one moment that will live on in infamy.

Below are the listing of the entrants in their order as well as their order of elimination.

  1. Daniel Bryan- 48th Elimination
  2. Dolph Ziggler- 12th Elimination
  3. Sin Cara- 1st Elimination
  4. Curtis Axel- 2nd Elimination
  5. Mark Henry- 5th Elimination
  6. Mike Kanelis- 3rd Elimination
  7. Hiroki Sumi- 4th Elimination
  8. Viktor- 6th Elimination
  9. Kofi Kingston- 14th Elimination
  10. Tony Nese- 9th Elimination
  11. Dash Wilder- 7th Elimination
  12. Hornswoggle- 8th Elimination (Although technically He never went over the top rope)
  13. Primo- 11th Elimination
  14. Xavier Woods- 15th Elimination
  15. Bo Dallas- 10th Elimination
  16. Kurt Angle- 16th Elimination
  17. Scott Dawson- 19th Elimination
  18. Goldust- 18th Elimination
  19. Konnor- 13th Elimination
  20. Elias- 41st Elimination
  21. Luke Gallows- 20th Elimination
  22. Rhyno- 25th Elimination
  23. Drew Gulak- 17th Elimination
  24. Tucker Knight- 23rd Elimination
  25. Bobby Roode- 29th Elimination
  26. Fandango- 21st Elimination
  27. Chad gable- 24th Elimination
  28. Rey Mysterio Jr- 37th Elimination
  29. Mojo Rawley- 27th Elimination
  30. Tyler Breeze- 22nd Elimination
  31. Big E- 33rd Elimination
  32. Karl Anderson- 26th Elimination
  33. Apollo Crews- 28th Elimination
  34. Roderick Strong- 30th Elimination
  35. Randy Orton- 39th Elimination
  36. Heath Slater- 34th Elimination
  37. Babatunde- 31st Elimination
  38. Baron Corbin- 38th Elimination
  39. Titus O’Neil- 35th Elimination
  40. Dan Matha- 32nd Elimination
  41. Braun Strowman- WINNER
  42. Tye Dillinger- 36th Elimination
  43. Curt Hawkins- 40th Elimination
  44. Bobby Lashley- 45th Elimination
  45. Great Khali- 42nd Elimination
  46. Kevin Owens- 47th Elimination
  47. Shane McMahon-44th Elimination
  48. Shelton Benjamin- 43rd Elimination
  49. Big Cass- Final Elimination
  50. Chris Jericho- 46th Elimination

Laracuente Ledger Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 🌟

Overall the show was a solid show that had some good moments and some that were merely closing out feuds from the Superstar Shakeup. The Greatest Royal Rumble was a groundbreaking moment in the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and therefore was a successful show.

Jeremy Laracuente

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