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WWE Royal Rumble 2022 was one of the company's best assembled cards in recent memory. They had two unpredictable Royal Rumble matches featuring the men and women. The Women's Rumble offered multiple returning stars and possible winners, while the Men's Rumble had the victor a complete mystery.
The company added two world title matches that had their own hooks to them. Roman Reigns put his 500-plus day reign as Universal Champion against his former Shield brethren Seth Rollins, while Brock Lesnar defended the WWE Title against Bobby Lashley in a dream match years in the making.
Becky Lynch appeared to continue her dominance as RAW Women's Champion against the up-and-coming Doudrop. Finally, Edge and Beth Phoenix made history by becoming the first Hall of Fame couple to team up to face The Miz and Maryse. It was a lineup that offered a lot of noteworthy matches and moments. Here are the five biggest takeaways from WWE Royal Rumble 2022.
5) Men's Royal Rumble Match falls flat
Brock Lesnar winning the Men's Rumble Match was one of the most newsworthy moments of the evening. Unfortunately, that was a rare success from the nearly hour-long contest. This was an edition that felt overall less than and was difficult to figure out any possible winners during the first two-thirds of the matchup.
AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura started things out to continue their rivalry from a few years ago. Johnny Knoxville was a highlight in the first half, but he wasn't there for long. Omos came in and dominated for a bit, but he was also disposed of after a bit. The next few entrants were all tag team performers or midcarders. Things didn't pick up until Drew McIntyre made his return at #21.
Some competitors that could have possibly won were next, like Kevin Owens and Big E. Kofi Kingston's yearly near elimination was botched, which hurt the timing a bit. Bad Bunny made his return at #27 and showed off his skills again. Shane McMahon made his return as well, but it was all about #30 Brock Lesnar at the end of the night.
Lesnar completely dismantled the competition and eliminated every single competitor that was in the ring. His final showdown with Drew McIntyre was a nice callback to the 2020 Men's Rumble and their WrestleMania 36 main event, but this was too brief to amount to much. Unfortunately, this main event failed on so many levels.
4) Bobby Lashley becomes a two-time WWE Champion at WWE Royal Rumble 2022
Bobby Lashley finally got the dream match he always wanted at WWE Royal Rumble 2022. These two behomeths went at it and hit their big moves. There were german suplexes, spears and F-5s at volume. For the most part, this was exactly what fans wanted, but the finish will always be the focal point everyone remembers.
Lashley used the interference of Roman Reigns to defeat Brock Lesnar and win the WWE Championship. This victory allows for the title to be featured outside of the Reigns vs. Lesnar feud. It gives Lashley his second reign with the top prize in the company and makes him the first WWE Superstar to defeat Lesnar in 2022.
3) Paul Heyman finally chooses between Brock Lesnar & Roman Reigns at WWE Royal Rumble 2022
The ending to Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley saw a dramatic shift in the main event storyline with Lesnar and Reigns. The two superstars have been building animosity with each other since Brock's SummerSlam return. At the center of this drama has been Paul Heyman. His declaration of support towards Lesnar led to him being fired as special counsel for the Tribal Chief.
Lesnar and Reigns were supposed to face each other at Day 1, but Roman's positive COVID-19 test prevented that meeting. After Lesnar won the WWE Title, Paul Heyman returned to his corner. However, the Rumble proved that this was all a ploy. Roman Reigns interfered in Lesnar vs. Lashley to deliver a spear. He then asked Heyman for the title to blast Brock and cost him the gold.
This moment was masterfully done and received a huge reaction from the St. Louis crowd. Heyman finally made his choice after all these months and it proved to make it clear that Brock and Roman will meet at the Showcase of the Immortals.
2) The focus of WWE Royal Rumble 2022 was all on the setup for Brock vs. Roman at Mania
WWE Royal Rumble 2022 was a major show centered on the ongoing feud between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. The event kicked off with Reigns defending the Universal Title against his former Shield partner Seth Rollins. The Visionary was awesome, coming out to the Shield theme and wearing Shield gear.
Roman and Seth put on a great match that had high impact action and had brilliant psychology. Rollins's mind games ahead of the show got him into Roman's head and made for some tremendous storytelling. Seth beat Roman by disqualification after the Head of the Table wouldn't let go of the guillotine choke. The post-match saw the Universal Champion repay Rollins for his steel chair beatdown.
As previously mentioned, Roman was the difference maker that cost Brock the WWE Title. This led to Lesnar inserting himself into the Men's Rumble as the #30 entrant and winning. The beginning, middle and end of the Royal Rumble 2022 were totally focused on setting up Brock vs. Roman at WrestleMania. It accomplished its goal.
1) Ronda Rousey's return to win the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble Match shifts the Road To WrestleMania
"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey is one of the most polarizing names in the wrestling world today. The UFC Hall of Famer has often been talked about since leaving WWE after WrestleMania 35. Just a few months after giving birth to her first child in September, Rousey made her return at the #28 spot.
Ronda received the biggest reaction of the night and started on the Road To WrestleMania. The Rowdy One had one of the best surprise returns in a Women's Rumble Match. She energized the St. Louis crowd and opened up a bunch of options for her WrestleMania headline matchup.
Rousey last eliminated SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair to win the Rumble. With the unfinished business between the two ladies from three years ago, this could set up their showdown once again at Mania. However, many fans will ask for the Ronda vs. Becky Lynch encounter that they've wanted for three years.
Regardless of who Ronda Rousey faces at the Show of Shows, everyone is talking about her return, whether they love or hate it. That's why Ronda Rousey's return to win the Women's Rumble Match is the biggest takeaway from WWE Royal Rumble 2022.
