Tonight is the Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View, which is the first of WWE’s Big Four events (along with WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series). Like most of the Big Four Pay-Per-Views recently along with the previous night’s NXT TakeOver, WWE jam packs the weekend with a ton of wrestling. What would a four-hour Royal Rumble be without a two-hour long Kickoff Show? Included matches are the SmackDown six-women tag team match, Sheamus and Cesaro defending the Raw Tag Team Championships, and Sasha Banks taking on the dominant Nia Jax.
Naomi, Nikki Bella, & Becky Lynch vs. Natalya, Alexa Bliss, & Mickie James
To kick off the Kickoff Show, we have a six women tag showcasing SmackDown’s Women’s Division. SmackDown does a great job at giving depth to their female Superstars, and it shows here. In this match alone, there are three different feuds. There’s Becky Lynch, who was screwed out of the SmackDown Women’s Championship by Mickie James. Nikki Bella is feuding with Natalya, who seems to be jealous of her success. The most intriguing pairing is Naomi and Alexa Bliss, who could be battling over the Women’s Championship shortly.
Becky Lynch takes out Mickie James, Natalya takes out Lynch, Nikki Bella takes out Natalya, and Naomi wins the match for her team by hitting the SmackDown Women’s Champion with a split legged moonsault. Winners: Naomi, Nikki Bella, & Becky Lynch
Predicted Winners: Natalya, Alexa Bliss, & Mickie James (0/1)
Sheamus & Cesaro (c) vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson – Raw Tag Team Championships (w/Two Referees)
Sheamus and Cesaro won the Raw Tag Team Championships from The New Day, breaking their historic title reign at Roadblock: End of the Line. Since knocking The New Day out of title contention, the tag champs have been feuding with the former Bullet Club members. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have challenged Sheamus and Cesaro for the Raw Tag Team Championships before, but came up short (like they always do). After weeks of singles action in every combination imaginable, Gallows and Anderson have earned another title shot.
There are two referees for this match with good reason. During their weeks of matches, both teams managed to use the referee’s lack of vision to help them win matches. In this case, there is a second referee outside of the ring to help prevent any cheating. This would be a great idea for pretty much every match tonight.
Sheamus accidentally knocks out one of the referees with a Brogue Kick, and the challengers are well aware. Cesaro clotheslines Luke Gallows out of the ring, and Karl Anderson rolls the Swiss Superman up while using the tights for leverage to steal the win. Winners, and NEW Raw Tag Team Champions: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
This is an interesting pick, choosing Gallows and Anderson to win the gold. Sheamus and Cesaro were just starting to get their momentum rolling, but this loss could lead to another set of brutal matches between the two. Either way, if Sheamus and Cesaro are in the same match, it is sure to be a good one. Perhaps this story could unfold more in the Royal Rumble match.
Predicted Winners: Sheamus & Cesaro (0/2)
Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax
After Sasha Banks lost the Raw Women’s Championship to Charlotte at Roadblock: End of the Line, Nia Jax would immediately target the Boss. Banks hurt her knee in her championship Iron Man match, and Jax specifically picked out the injury, leaving Banks on the shelf for a few weeks. Banks got back at Jax by costing her a #1 Contenders match against Bayley, and after Jax assaulted the Boss one more time, they now take it to the ring.
Sasha Banks doesn’t have a brace on her knee, which could mean that it is fully healed, or that the injury is exposed.
While Banks fought like she was 100%, that didn’t matter. Jax was able to withstand everything Banks threw at her, and put the Boss away with an incredible pop-up Samoan Drop. Winner: Nia Jax
Predicted Winner: Nia Jax (1/3)
To end the show, Stephanie McMahon announces that Seth Rollins is banned from the Alamodome.
