5 Takeaways from WWE Backstage (January 28th, 2020)

Who doesn't love a good celebrity impersonation?
Who doesn't love a good celebrity impersonation?

As usual, there was a lot to get to on the latest edition of WWE Backstage. With the Royal Rumble in the rear view, its happenings were discussed as both Drew McIntyre and Charlotte Flair won their respective Rumble matches. The return of Edge and the next steps for Champions Becky Lynch and Bayley were also included.

Roman Reigns was the special guest for this week, which I thought sort of telegraphed the winner of the men's match when it was announced last week. Luckily, McIntyre got his first huge opportunity by winning the right to challenge for a title at the Show of Shows. Reigns still appeared and offered a lot of his thoughts on the passing of Kobe Bryant, what it was like pulling double duty at the PPV as well as how it felt to help pay back McIntyre.

The New Day and comedian Frank Caliendo also joined the show as it took place from the home of Super Bowl XLIV, Miami. The comedian offered up impersonations of Kofi Kingston as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jon Gruden and Charles Barkley.

Since they are former football players, both Reigns and King Corbin attended the opening day of media access for the Super Bowl. Reigns is a 49ers fan while Corbin is an avid fan of the Chiefs. It was fun to see them interact with their favorite teams while also being famous athletes in their own rights. Mick Foley's title win over the Rock from Halftime Heat was also briefly revisited. With all that was said and done, here are five takeaways from the January 28th episode of WWE Backstage.


#5 Roman Reigns Interview

The Big Dog joined the show alongside the New Day.
The Big Dog joined the show alongside the New Day.

He's a huge part of the WWE but missed out on last year's proceeding at the Royal Rumble due a recurrence of his Leukemia. Since he was able to return to action shortly after the 2019 event, Reigns was able to sit back and compare the two events.

Of his chance to be present at this year's event, the Big Dog claimed that "it was such a great story and a blessing, just to be here and healthy." He also added that "sometimes, you can take your eye off the ball and get distracted."

Reigns also was thankful to "be a part of it, a part of the show and to have that responsibility in double duty role." Since he's usually the one getting the title opportunities, Reigns also relished having the opposite role in those types of matches. Of lasting until the final two participants, the Big Dog claimed that coming back "to have that moment to get Drew to the next moment, I take pride in that."

The two men faced off at WrestleMania 35 so Reigns has worked a lot with the Scottish Psychopath. He praised McIntyre, saying that "a guy like Drew McIntyre, he's busted his [expletive]." Reigns was grateful to "be in that moment to give back to Drew" because "when I came back, they put me in his hands at WrestleMania" as Roman's first singles opponent after returning to action.

#4 Reigns Interview continued

Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns

The Big Dog had a big weekend as his match with King Corbin opened the PPV while he also lasted until the end of the elimination melee. Booker T asked him about his double duty and Roman Reigns replied that "it's tough. You get warmed up and loose but as soon as you step to the back you get cold." He didn't mind because he felt that by McIntyre winning, it was "such a big responsibility to give back all of that equity and investment that has been put in me, to give it back was for these moments."

Christian asked about having the Corbin match in a baseball stadium. Reigns replied that it was unique because "the environment can change" and that it "was a different set up than our standard hockey and basketball arenas." Reigns also just "really enjoyed to be able to walk around it and get a feel for it" during the opening match.

Since the Royal Rumble event took place hours after the tragic death of sports legend Kobe Bryant, Reigns was asked about the horrible news. As the WWE has done in the past, wrestling helped take the focus away for a few hours. Reigns felt that "it was heavy" and that he thought "the world felt the magnitude of the loss. It was such a tragic incident."

As a child, the Big Dog "was raised a Lakers fan" and "watched him throughout his entire career." Similar to what happened on September 11th, wrestling helped a little towards distracting people from an unforeseen tragedy. Reigns claimed that the WWE performers "all took it upon themselves to use that moment to be grateful for what we have, appreciative of what we have but know that have a job to do to create that distraction." He ended by saying that "we have a show to put on to make people forget (about the tragedy earlier in the day)."

#3 Thoughts on the Royal Rumble

The Royal Rumble was a great way to start 2020
The Royal Rumble was a great way to start 2020

The Men's Royal Rumble match was literally two different contests as Brock Lesnar owned the first portion while the second part belonged to McIntyre. Booker T said that he "thought it was going to be the shortest Rumble in the history of the Royal Rumble" due to the Beast's early dominance. The two-time Hall of Famer felt that "either Lesnar was going to win or someone was going to have a moment" and McIntyre had his moment.

Christian claimed that the Beast was "the threat of the match" and that what happened was what he thought would occur. Captain Charisma then gave some accolades to Lesnar, saying that "when he decides he wants to show up, Brock Lesnar is one of the very best to ever do this." Renee Young added that "he is so good that sometimes we don't remember all of the little things" he does. Booker T added that "he put on a clinic out there and he made a lot of stars."

Christian then praised the Rumble's victor, claiming that McIntyre "is a true professional wrestler in that he's a student of the game." His actions over the last year have been him "basically putting deposits in the bank and building equity." Christian went on to say that "nobody deserves this spot more in my mind than Drew McIntyre." Renee added that once he was away from the WWE, that "time off switched his mindset" and that "he thinks about every process" regarding his character and its presentation.

Since it would be hard to pick against Edge's return, the panelist all gave their other favorite parts of the night. Booker T reiterated that he enjoyed seeing McIntyre "actually have that moment" as his favorite spot. Christian picked "the call back (in the men's match) to Lesnar kicking Ricochet in the nether regions" which helped lead to the Beast's elimination. Renee liked it when she saw "Keith Lee nose to nose with Lesnar" because it was "a friendly reminder of what kind of beast Lee can be."

#2 Ladies night at the Rumble

The Man retained her title
The Man retained her title

Becky Lynch retained her title at the show and Christian claimed that "she righted the one wrong in her mind that she couldn't overcome" while also revealing he thinks "she is going to try and main event 'Mania for the second year in a row." Booker T added that Becky "went out and got the big victory" and that she "needed it a whole lot more than Asuka because the Kabuki Warriors are going to go out there and do their thing."

Charlotte Flair padded her resume by winning the women's Royal Rumble in addition to her cabinet of titles. Regarding who the Queen would challenge at the Show of Shows, Christian felt that "I've seen Charlotte and Becky" but he thinks "this incarnation of Bayley could be interesting for her to step up to face her." Booker T agreed because "Bayley needs a moment to stand out again" after turning heel and dispatching Lacey Evans.

In the ladies' Rumble match, Booker felt that he couldn't "look at Shayna and see she isn't a star." He feels that what "she does in the ring, she makes you feel a certain way" and that when Baszler "is beating up the women out there, I don't want to run into her." Bianca Belair was the stand out from NXT and Renee revealed that she made her own gear for the event. Christian added that she has "a very unique look and that she's super athletic," but "you don't have to win a match like this to become a bigger star." He claimed that because we already saw that by "by lasting 33 minutes, she already cemented herself as the future of the WWE."

Beth Phoenix competed in another Rumble. Booker T felt that instead of the Glamazon, her moniker should be the "warrior princess" after competing in the majority of the match after suffering an injury to the back of her head. Christian added that "sometimes when something like that happens it can rattle you but for her it psyched her up even more." Bayley also retained her title and Booker said that it "sets her up to do more going forward because she needs a mean streak."

#1 Edge's return to action in the Rumble

Edge returned in a moment that will be hard to top in 2020.
Edge returned in a moment that will be hard to top in 2020.

The 2020 Royal Rumble had a few extremely emotional and feel-good moments. One was obviously the in-ring return of the Rated R Superstar, Edge. Christian claimed that the WWE "is about creating moments that will stand the test of time." Since Edge's last major moment like that was when he had to retire in 2011, it's "unheard of for someone to come back from this kind of injury after nine years off in the ring."

Edge's best friend also felt that "you don't want to come back as anything less than that (the way you were before)." He also revealed that Edge "was nervous which says a lot because I (Christian) was always the nervous one" and "for him to show that just tells you the magnitude of the moment for him."

Roman Reigns rejoined the panel for the discussion as he "was in the middle of the storm with him." Reigns praised the WWE Legend as he's "always been a huge fan" and he respected "the adversity that he faced" because is was so inspiring. The Big Dog added that he knows that Edge "was so proud to participate" because "it's a blessing to be out there." Captain Charisma also added that Edge's mindset "was already that I can get in the ring with Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Aleister Black - all of these superstars he's never wrestled."

Renee Young added that she thought the "moment with AJ and Edge was something we'd never be lucky enough to see." The Big Dog closed things off by saying that "he's thinking of working with us but everyone wants a piece (of Edge)." All in all, "it was just so good to see him out there." Very true, Big Dog.