'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE's first pay-per-view of 2021 is in the books. Royal Rumble was a pretty fun show, with five matches on the card.
Both Royal Rumble Matches were extremely fun, as was every title match to the extent possible. However, one of those title matches stood out. All things said, there wasn't a truly bad match at Royal Rumble 2021.
Royal Rumble 2021 was another great PPV from the ThunderDome
WWE booked some excellent moments across the board, in the two Royal Rumble Matches and elsewhere on the card. This was another great pay-per-view to take place in the WWE ThunderDome. There hasn't been a bad one since the move last summer.
Hopefully, WWE continues their momentum of good wrestling on Sundays as we head onto the Road to WrestleMania. Here is every match at WWE Royal Rumble graded and ranked, from worst to best.
#5 Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg (WWE Championship)
The opening match at Royal Rumble was between WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Goldberg, with the action coming right out of the gate. The two did not even wait for the opening bell to begin brawling with each other. McIntyre hit an emphatic spear, but the WWE Hall of Famer replied with one of his own - this time through the barricade.
The match officially began once the WWE Champion recovered and made his way back to the ring. It was a complete finisher-fest, as all Goldberg matches are. He kicked out of the Claymore Kick seconds into the match before hitting two spears and a Jackhammer on McIntyre.
However, nothing could keep the Scottish Terminator down, as he managed to hit another Claymore to get the victory. It was quick and emphatic, made much more bearable than some of Goldberg's other world title matches simply because of the outcome.
This match was the best it could have been at Royal Rumble, considering the strengths of Goldberg. However, it was still only two minutes long. That does limit how high it can be on this list. Drew McIntyre coming out on top did boost the match tenfold.
Grade: B
#4 Sasha Banks vs. Carmella (SmackDown Women's Championship) at Royal Rumble
In the only Women's Championship match at Royal Rumble, Sasha Banks defended her SmackDown Women's Title against Carmella in a pretty fun match. The two continued to showcase their fine chemistry following their tremendous clash at TLC. Carmella, in particular, looked as good as she ever has in the ring at Royal Rumble.
The in-ring work was excellent, as was Reginald's involvement in the match. He showed off his insane circus acrobatics but was ejected from ringside by the referee. Carmella then hit a suicide dive on a Banks, nearly injuring herself in the process.
The Legit Boss paid homage to her idol, Eddie Guerrero, by hitting the Three Amigos. She nearly connected with the Frog Splash, but Carmella got her knees up and then locked in the Code of Silence. She even got a near-fall after hitting two Superkicks.
In the end, Sasha Banks was able to lock in the Bank Statement and make Carmella tap out at Royal Rumble. This was an excellent showing for everybody involved - Banks, Carmella, and Reginald. The SmackDown Women's Champion looks set to sail all the way to WrestleMania with her belt.
Grade: B+
#3 30-woman Royal Rumble Match
While it may have slightly dragged in places initially, the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble Match did have many moments scattered throughout. Naomi made a surprising return at No.2 after a few months away and started the Royal Rumble with Bayley.
Bianca Belair entered at #3 and had the performance of a lifetime. She survived many near-eliminations and hung around till the end. Shayna Baszler also entered early and looked dominant. However, she was eliminated by her tag team partner, Nia Jax - who entered at No.29.
Jax got eliminated by a returning Lana, who gained some sweet revenge. Some of the other surprises included Victoria, Jillian Hall, and a host of NXT Superstars. The pick of the bunch was Rhea Ripley, who looked like an absolute star. There was some comedy as well, with Billie Kay offering to team up with a string of entrants and Alicia Fox winning the 24/7 Championship.
One of the more surprising moments of the Women's Royal Rumble Match was Alexa Bliss's quick elimination. Ripley dumped her over before she was able to change characters. In the final sequence of the match, Charlotte Flair faced off with two Superstars she previously beat, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley.
The two young stars worked together to eliminate Charlotte before engaging in a battle for the ages. This was one of the greatest endings to a Royal Rumble Match in recent memory, with Belair and Ripley going at it with full throttle. In the end, the EST of WWE stood tall and won the Women's Royal Rumble Match.
Bianca Belair lasted close to an hour from No.3 to win the entire thing, producing an all-time great Royal Rumble performance. Rhea Ripley was also incredible, entering at No.14 and eliminating seven women. This Rumble match will be remembered for the two of them, especially that final sequence.
Grade: A-
#2 30-man Royal Rumble Match
The main event of the night was, quite predictably, the Men's Royal Rumble Match. It was somewhat weirdly laid out, possibly because of the virtual fan setting. The magic of the Royal Rumble was still felt throughout, with the match beginning with a bang.
No.1 entrant Edge did not wait for Randy Orton to get into the ring as he attacked The Viper on the ramp. He and Orton had an intense battle through the first few entrants before The Apex Predator was taken to the back after suffering an "injury". There were some fun surprise entrants plastered throughout the Rumble Match.
Carlito showed up at No.8 and looked as good as ever, while Damian Priest made his supposed WWE main roster debut. He had a very impressive showing and eliminated four men, including the returning Kane. However, the most memorable return from the 2021 Rumble was Christian.
Captain Charisma returned to the ring and reunited with Edge. The two best friends stayed until the very end, which saw Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman attempt to take over. The final two entrants took out quite a few Superstars, including some favorites. Rollins eliminated Daniel Bryan, while Strowman eliminated AJ Styles.
However, in the end, Edge prevailed. He eliminated Rollins from the match but was immediately RKO'ed by Randy Orton. Just when it looked like The Viper would sneak his way to a Royal Rumble victory, the Rated-R Superstar turned the tables on him and threw Orton over the top rope.
This was a show of grit from the WWE Hall of Famer, as he lasted from the start until the end to win the 2021 Men's Royal Rumble Match. The match may have flowed slightly better than the 30-woman match and just about beats it, thanks to some major returns from Christian and Seth Rollins.
The ending may not have been as emphatic as the climax to the Women's Rumble, but it was a truly emotional moment. One that is surely among the greatest in the career of Edge.
Grade: A-
#1 Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens (Last Man Standing Match for the Universal Championship) was the best match at Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble saw Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens settle their score in an absolutely hellacious Last Man Standing Match. The two Superstars hit their big moves early on before the action spilled around the WWE ThunderDome. Reigns then sent Owens through a couple of tables from an elevated platform.
There were many near-counts in this match, with just about enough rest time to ensure it did not drag. KO and Reigns fought their way to the backstage area at Royal Rumble. From that point, this match turned into an all-out insane war. The Tribal Chief ran Owens over with a golf cart from out of nowhere.
The challenger was not to be defeated, as he rallied with a powerbomb through a table and a Senton Bomb from the top of a forklift. The intensity continued when Reigns speared KO through the LED wall before getting handcuffed to a tall structure in the ThunderDome.
The Universal Champion eventually got out of being counted out thanks to him pulling the referee down and Paul Heyman freeing him. Roman Reigns locked in the guillotine on Kevin Owens to take him out and win this brutal contest.
This match at Royal Rumble 2021 was a sensational end to a memorable rivalry. Both Superstars went through hell to win, with The Tribal Chief coming out on top thanks to his heelish ways. The spots were well-executed, and as a result of this carnage, Reigns and Owens are both better off from it.
Grade: A
