👑 Official Royal Rumble 2022 Thread

[jivesoulbrah]

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Saturday January 29, 2022
The Dome at America's Center - St. Louis, MO

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SCHEDULED MATCHES

30-MAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH
Participants: AJ Styles, Angelo Dawkins, Austin Theory, Big E, WWE RAW Tag Team Champion Chad Gable, WWE United States Champion Damian Priest, Dolph Ziggler, Dominik Mysterio, Happy Corbin, Kevin Owens, Kofi Kingston, Madcap Moss, Montez Ford, Omos, WWE RAW Tag Team Champion Otis, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Rick Boogs, Ricochet, Riddle, Robert Roode, Sami Zayn, Sheamus, WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, celebrity guest entrant Johnny Knoxville and five to be announced

30-WOMAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH
Participants: Aliyah, Bianca Belair, WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Carmella, WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair, WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke, Liv Morgan, Naomi, Natalya, Nikki A.S.H., WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Queen Zelina, Rhea Ripley, Sasha Banks, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi, Sonya Deville, Tamina, Brie Bella, Lita, Kelly Kelly, Michelle McCool, Mickie James, Nikki Bella, Summer Rae and seven to be announced
(If Flair wins, she selects her challenger for WrestleMania)

WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Roman Reigns (c) v Seth Rollins

WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Brock Lesnar (c) v Bobby Lashley

WWE RAW WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Becky Lynch (c) v Doudrop

Edge and Beth Phoenix v The Miz and Maryse

Announced matches may change without notice

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My favorite time of the year! No matter how awful WWE is, I always look forward to the rumble.

[Rican]

Lashley vs Lesnar?! Goddamnit I haven’t watched or cared at all in MONTHS but I’m ready to tune in and be disappointed lol

[msc]

Jan 3, 2022 22:33:59 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

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SCHEDULED MATCHES

30-MAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH
Participants: Angelo Dawkins, Austin Theory, Dominik Mysterio, Montez Ford, Rey Mysterio, celebrity guest entrant Johnny Knoxville and 24 to be announced

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Currently putting a small spanner in the old theory of a friend of mine that the Rumble winner is always one of the first people to declare entry!

Well, either that or prepare for the Montez Ford super push!

[chronocross]

Lashley vs. Lesnar is the main reason why I'm tuning in.

As for the Edge/Miz feud, I don't really care much about it and kinda hoping that Edge moves on to face Kevin Owens at some point.

[glorious83]

I understand why they’re doing big Bob vs Brock now but I wish they would have held that one until Wrestlemania.

[mistery]

It's going to be amazing watching WWE try and fill the Rumble with 30 women. I'm pretty sure if you don't count the champions, the following women are going to be in it (I'm only counting main roster):

RAW: 

- Rhea Ripley

- Nikki ASH

- Alexa Bliss

- Queen Zelina

- Carmella

- The women who don't win the triple threat match next week. (+2)

- Tamina

- Dana Brooke

- Maryse

- Beth Phoenix

That brings RAW's total of women in the match to 11. I threw in Beth and Maryse just to be safe.

Smackdown:

- Shotzi Blackheart

- Sasha Banks

- Naomi

- Shayna Baszler

- Natalya

- Aliyah

- Sonya Deville (She's listed as an SD star)

- Xia Li

That brings Smackdown's total to 8 women.

So that means we will see 19 women from the main roster, and that's assuming no returns or NXT callups. That's...really dire even compared to a year ago.

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

Jan 4, 2022 21:59:56 GMT -5 mistery said:

It's going to be amazing watching WWE try and fill the Rumble with 30 women. I'm pretty sure if you don't count the champions, the following women are going to be in it (I'm only counting main roster):

RAW: 

- Rhea Ripley

- Nikki ASH

- Alexa Bliss

- Queen Zelina

- Carmella

- The women who don't win the triple threat match next week. (+2)

- Tamina

- Dana Brooke

- Maryse

- Beth Phoenix

That brings RAW's total of women in the match to 11. I threw in Beth and Maryse just to be safe.

Smackdown:

- Shotzi Blackheart

- Sasha Banks

- Naomi

- Shayna Baszler

- Natalya

- Aliyah

- Sonya Deville (She's listed as an SD star)

- Xia Li

That brings Smackdown's total to 8 women.

So that means we will see 19 women from the main roster, and that's assuming no returns or NXT callups. That's...really dire even compared to a year ago.

Not only are they super short depth wise but that is also a very weak roster star power wise especially if Bianca wins the triple threat. If she's not in it that really only leaves Sasha and Alexa as far as girls who are big stars and pushed as main eventers who you could see being potential winners. Everyone is presented as way below or has beens like Beth and Maryse who both have barely wrestled for the last ten years.

[polarbearpete]

Jan 4, 2022 21:59:56 GMT -5 mistery said:

It's going to be amazing watching WWE try and fill the Rumble with 30 women. I'm pretty sure if you don't count the champions, the following women are going to be in it (I'm only counting main roster):

RAW: 

- Rhea Ripley

- Nikki ASH

- Alexa Bliss

- Queen Zelina

- Carmella

- The women who don't win the triple threat match next week. (+2)

- Tamina

- Dana Brooke

- Maryse

- Beth Phoenix

That brings RAW's total of women in the match to 11. I threw in Beth and Maryse just to be safe.

Smackdown:

- Shotzi Blackheart

- Sasha Banks

- Naomi

- Shayna Baszler

- Natalya

- Aliyah

- Sonya Deville (She's listed as an SD star)

- Xia Li

That brings Smackdown's total to 8 women.

So that means we will see 19 women from the main roster, and that's assuming no returns or NXT callups. That's...really dire even compared to a year ago.

They’ve had 10-15 NXT or legends in every women’s Rumble so it’s no different.

[msc]

2018 - 18 main roster, 2 NXT, 10 legends
2019 - 21 main roster, 6 NXT, 1 205 Live (Maria), 2 "no brand yet" (Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans)
2020 - 15 main roster, 12 NXT,2 legends, 1 Santino Marella
2021 - 20 main roster, 6 NXT, 4 legends

(Alexa, 2 of Liv/Bianca/Doudrop, Carmella and Zelina, Rhea and Nikki, Tamina, Dana, maybe Beth, Shayna, Shotzi, Sasha, Xia Li/Natalya/Naomi/Aliyah - all bar whichever one faces Charlotte) - and maybe Sonya Deville

It's going to be a 2020 style one again with lots of NXT. But 2020 was a good womens Rumble.

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

Jan 5, 2022 4:22:39 GMT -5 msc said:

2018 - 18 main roster, 2 NXT, 10 legends
2019 - 21 main roster, 6 NXT, 1 205 Live (Maria), 2 "no brand yet" (Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans)
2020 - 15 main roster, 12 NXT,2 legends, 1 Santino Marella
2021 - 20 main roster, 6 NXT, 4 legends

(Alexa, 2 of Liv/Bianca/Doudrop, Carmella and Zelina, Rhea and Nikki, Tamina, Dana, maybe Beth, Shayna, Shotzi, Sasha, Xia Li/Natalya/Naomi/Aliyah - all bar whichever one faces Charlotte) - and maybe Sonya Deville

It's going to be a 2020 style one again with lots of NXT. But 2020 was a good womens Rumble.

IDK I thought 2020 was the worst of the women's Rumble mainly for that reason. Just no star power at all. No Becky, no Bayley, no Sasha, no Asuka. Only big names in it were Charlotte and Alexa. Bianca was brand new to the main roster at that point so she wasn't established yet. It also wasn't booked that well. Bianca and Shayna both got strong showings and both eliminated a ton of people (IIRC both eliminated 8) however as a result hardly anyone else got to shine as they were all just quick fodder for one of those two. Charlotte winning was also a flat ending as it is any time she wins anything just because she pretty much always wins unless she's facing Becky so it was just kind of like.....meh whatever.

Really the only one that I thought was good was last years. Many of the same big names were missing again but it wasn't as bad as Bayley was in it, Bianca was more established, Rhea seemed like someone about to be a big deal, and it also had Nia who while not good had star power as she was always pushed and high on the card. It also just seemed to flow a little better and was better worked likely because there was more main roster people in it who knew what they were doing and could take good elimination bumps instead of having to over rely on NXT greenhorns and old timers who are just there for a one off. 2018 was plagued by the constant rolling out of the ring (seriously has any one found out what the hell that was about?) which was just annoying and made it hard to keep track of. 2019 had the best finish and maybe the best lineup but seemed to drag for long periods a lot. I would still it was probably second best after 2021.

[Jindrak Mark]

I had given up hope of Lesnar/Lashley ever happening so I'm glad we're actually getting to see it and in front of 30,000 or so fans on a big stage like the RR.

If Roman is cleared to wrestle here what does he even do? Smackdown has absolutely no babyface depth in the main event, especially with McIntyre injured and Hardy leaving. I guess they could throw Nakamura at him if they want the most fillery Royal Rumble title match since Hardcore Holly challenged Lesnar.

[polarbearpete]

Jan 5, 2022 13:56:48 GMT -5 Jindrak Mark said:

I had given up hope of Lesnar/Lashley ever happening so I'm glad we're actually getting to see it and in front of 30,000 or so fans on a big stage like the RR.

If Roman is cleared to wrestle here what does he even do? Smackdown has absolutely no babyface depth in the main event, especially with McIntyre injured and Hardy leaving. I guess they could throw Nakamura at him if they want the most fillery Royal Rumble title match since Hardcore Holly challenged Lesnar.

The Rumble is the perfect time for a fun, fillery type challenger. If Drew is out, I think a short King Woods feud would be fun. Shinsuke works too.

[msc]

I was thinking Reigns v Xavier due to the complete lack of other options. Maybe Cesaro or Nakamura but you feel they are needed to bulk up the Rumble at this point.

[Zen411]

I'm having trouble thinking of any blockbuster surprises for either rumble. They have been releasing so many names the last two years I can't imagine wwe is a place people would be excited to join right now.

Guys like bray wyatt, katrion kross, Braun strowman, Keith Lee returning although I can't see those guys yearning to come back. Ring of honor guys I dont know who has enough name recognition to make a big debut. Can't think of anyone that would be a big splash.

The women's rumble....asuka,Bayley, alexa bliss seem like the best for returns if they are healthy. They are running out of female legends that would be actually surprising.

[CeilingFan]

Jan 5, 2022 15:04:55 GMT -5 Zen411 said:

The women's rumble....asuka,Bayley, alexa bliss seem like the best for returns if they are healthy. They are running out of female legends that would be actually surprising.

They need to have Layla as a participant!

[msc]

Jan 5, 2022 15:27:43 GMT -5 CeilingFan said:

Jan 5, 2022 15:04:55 GMT -5 Zen411 said:

The women's rumble....asuka,Bayley, alexa bliss seem like the best for returns if they are healthy. They are running out of female legends that would be actually surprising.

They need to have Layla as a participant!

I'd be delighted to be wrong here (come on, someone, anyone?) but iirc Layla had to retire on health/injury grounds and can't wrestle anymore.

[polarbearpete]

Jan 5, 2022 15:04:55 GMT -5 Zen411 said:

I'm having trouble thinking of any blockbuster surprises for either rumble. They have been releasing so many names the last two years I can't imagine wwe is a place people would be excited to join right now.

Guys like bray wyatt, katrion kross, Braun strowman, Keith Lee returning although I can't see those guys yearning to come back. Ring of honor guys I dont know who has enough name recognition to make a big debut. Can't think of anyone that would be a big splash.

The women's rumble....asuka,Bayley, alexa bliss seem like the best for returns if they are healthy. They are running out of female legends that would be actually surprising.

For the men’s, a fresh name I’d like to see is X-Pac. Maybe an out of nowhere name like Mr. Kennedy. Samoa Joe would be fun. Maybe HBK wants to have the Rumble be his last match. Goldberg and Shane are always lurking.

For the women’s, if she’s cleared Paige would be a big addition. And then all of the injured competitors you listed, plus all of the typical legends they have used prior.

[Eunös ✈]

If Dolph Ziggler is in this years Rumble then he will officially have the outright record for most consecutive Rumble appearances.. Having been in every Rumble since 2009.. This would be his 14th Rumble in a row.

Right now he shares the record with Kane who was in every Rumble between 1999-2011.

For the longest time Dolph and Kofi were sharing the most consecutive Rumble appearances but as Kofi wasn't in last years Rumble it is now exclusively Dolph's record.

[Push R Truth]

Does the WWE remember that you need 30 people on a roster to have a Royal Rumble?

[The Rick Jericho]

I can see them doing 3 faces of Bayley.

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New Gimmick