5 Things that should not happen at Royal Rumble 2022: Possible mistake with Lesnar-Lashley match, Former superstar to be treated surprisingly well?

The road to WrestleMania begins tonight at the 2022 Royal Rumble show. It's yet another WrestleMania season beginning, which means that it's also the most exciting period of the wrestling calendar year.

The wrestling world usually gets clogged with rumors and reports over what could happen, and there's usually a lot of anticipation as well. The Royal Rumble card isn't particularly stacked this year, but strong enough to draw a big crowd in attendance and watching across the world.

This list focuses on five things WWE shouldn't do at Royal Rumble 2022:

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#5. Making the Brock Lesnar-Bobby Lashley match at Royal Rumble too short

We're going to see one of the greatest heavyweight clashes in years in Vince McMahon's promotion as Bobby Lashley challenges Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. It's the dream match that is finally happening.

Lashley has been open about the fact that the main reason he returned to WWE was to face Lesnar down the line. While he thought it was going to happen in 2018 (and it should have), it didn't.

There were numerous opportunities over the years for the company to book a Lashley-Lesnar match, but it simply never happened due to various circumstances. In 2021, Bobby Lashley reached the mountaintop when he won the WWE Championship and dominated RAW for half the year.

That seemed like the perfect time to bring Brock Lesnar back, but instead, The Beast Incarnate returned for a match against Roman Reigns instead. It was only due to the circumstances of Reigns getting COVID that the possibility of a Lesnar-Lashley match became a reality.

The moment Brock Lesnar won the WWE Championship, a momentary stare took place between him and Bobby Lashley, and only one night later, the latter secured a spot in the Royal Rumble title clash against Lesnar.

WWE shouldn't take the Goldberg approach with the bout. It might be a clash of two heavyweights, but it shouldn't be presented as one that can end in just five minutes.

Both men deserve a good amount of time in the ring, and when Brock Lesnar is motivated enough, he is one of the best in the world. He is motivated right now, and the match with Lashley needs a little more time to deliver.

#4. Humiliating Mickie James in the Women's Royal Rumble match

WWE announcing Mickie James as a Royal Rumble entrant was a huge surprise, because she is the reigning IMPACT Knockouts Champion, and was even acknowledged as that. It marked the opening of the potential forbidden door, something that we could see more of in the future.

WWE should not treat James badly, but rather give her a long run in the Rumble before she inevitably gets eliminated by someone. She should be one of the last few competitors in the match given that she is the top champion of another promotion.

It will be a surprisingly good way to treat her upon her sudden one-off return.

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#3. A repeat Men or Women's Royal Rumble winner

There are only four winners in the history of the Women's Royal Rumble, and far more in the men's. The Rumble always opens up new possibilities, and it's usually more exciting when a superstar wins it for the first time.

Drew McIntyre in 2020 was the perfect example of an incredible first-time winner. Edge winning in 2021 was a good moment, but it didn't have the same impact that McIntyre's did back in 2020.

This year should feature two first-time winners of the Men and Women's Rumble matches, and not repeat winners.

#2. Doudrop winning the RAW Women's title at Royal Rumble

In a match more than a decade-and-a-half in the making, Doudrop will face Becky Lynch at Royal Rumble. While most fans may only know their story recently, the two women are veterans from the UK who will be in a big women's title match on a big show.

Doudrop is a good challenger for the RAW Women's Championship, but she shouldn't be the one to dethrone Big Time Becks. The road to WrestleMania seems to be paved out for the current champion, and hopefully, she keeps the title intact because she's the better choice to go with right now on RAW.

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#1. Roman Reigns retaining the Universal title

Roman Reigns is all set to face Seth Rollins in what could be his final Universal title defense. For 517 days, The Tribal Chief has dominated WWE, but all great runs must come to an end.

If the rumors of the Brock Lesnar-Roman Reigns match at WrestleMania are true, then one of the two men will lose their titles. In this case, it seems as though Reigns could be the one to lose it, especially since his record against Rollins in world title matches isn't great.

It's probably the right call to make right now, and it isn't a decision that WWE should change in the last minute, unless The All Mighty beats Lesnar.