Edge won Royal Rumble 2021
WWE Royal Rumble 2021 Results and Grades: WrestleMania season officially began as the 2021 Royal Rumble was upon us.
Of course, the main talking points were the two Rumble matches. However, most of the titles were also on the line and there could be new champions heading into Mania.
We start off the 2021 Royal Rumble results and grades piece with a big WWE title match though.
Asuka and Charlotte put up their WWE Women’s tag titles on the line against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.
The champions dominated early on before Jax took control. Asuka was isolated before Charlotte made a comeback. However, Ric Flair and Lacey Evans interfered. Evans hit Charlotte with a knuckle duster and that was enough for Jax to win the titles.
Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler win
Grade C
The match was decent enough but it felt like a kick-off match and the ending was one reason why the grade was a little low.
The WWE title was on the line as Drew McIntyre defended his title against Goldberg. The two stars started fighting even before the bell rang and it was McIntyre who got the advantage once the match officially got under way.
Both stars also hit their finishers and were able to kick out of the respective moves. McIntyre dodged a spear and hit his Claymore for the win. The pair then shook hands as a mark of respect.
McIntyre beats Goldberg
Grade B
The fear that Goldberg was going to win was real but that didn’t happen. The match was always going to be short and WWE actually did a really good job, especially after some of the poor outings from Goldberg.
The SmackDown Women’s title was on the line as Sasha Banks took on Carmella in the next match. Reginald proved to be a distraction for Banks as Carmella took advantage. Banks’ hair was also tied to the ropes as Carmella kept on dishing the damage.
Reginald was thrown into Banks and the referee banished him from ringside. Both female stars did their best for the win but it was Banks who came out on top thanks to the Bank Statement.
Banks beats Carmella
Grade A
This was an amazing match as Carmella is proving time and again she has improved a lot in the ring. The Reginald bit was also fun and never took away from the performance of the main stars.
The Women’s Royal Rumble started with Bayley being joined with Naomi. Bianca Belair came in at No.3 and she went straight after Bayley.
Billie Kay came out at four but she joined the commentary team. Shotzi Blackheart, Shayna Baszler and Toni Storm all joined.
Jillian made a surprise entrance at 8 as Blackheart was eliminated. Victoria also made a surprise entrance before Santana Garrett from NXT got her chance. The Riott Squad were also there with Rhea Ripley coming in at 14.
Charlotte got her chance to shine as she came in at No.15. Dana Brooke made her move while Torrie Wilson was another surprise. Ric Flair came out with Evans and Charlotte attacked the Southern Belle.
Royce, Torrie and Bayley were all eliminated before Mickie James, Alicia Fox and R-truth all came out. Fox won the 24/7 title from a confused R-Truth.
Mandy Rose then eliminated Fox before Truth won his title back. Dakota Kai was another surprise as she started fighting with Ripley. Carmella and Tamina came out while Reginald cost Carmella a place.
Lana also made her WWE return while Alexa Bliss came out at 27. Ember Moon was 28 and Nia Jax was 29.
Natalya was the last one to come out and it was her, Charlotte, Belair and Ripley as the final four.
Belair did her bit and she won the Rumble to earn a title shot.
Belair wins the Rumble
Grade A
This was an almost perfect Royal Rumble with proper performances and some surprises along the way.
Belair winning the Rumble felt great and it will be interesting to see how things take place.
Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens went at it right from the start in the Last Man Standing match.
Reigns used a ton of chair shots on Owens but the Canadian refused to give up.
Reigns also ran KO over with a golf cart but Owens just would not give up. However, Owens started doing his bit and sent Reigns through a table. He then even jumped off the forklift and sent his rival through a table.
Reigns survived and sent Owens through the LED wall. KO almost got the win after he handcuffed Reigns strategically but the champion broke free before choking Owens out for the win.
Reigns beats Owens
Grade A
This was another great match at the Rumble as the two put on a show. This felt like a proper last man standing match too and it will be interesting to see what is next for the pair.
Randy Orton and Edge started off the battle as they went at each other. Edge put Orton through a table and then injured his knee but Orton wasn’t eliminated and was escorted to the back by the refs.
Carlito made a surprise appearance and the other stars in the ring were Mustafa Ali, Elias, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sami Zayn, Xavier Woods, Big E, Ricochet and John Morrison.
Zayn and Woods were eliminated as Ziggler tried to set up an alliance. Elias was the one who eliminated Carlito.
Damian Priest came in at 14 and the Miz came in at 15. Miz and Morrison teamed up as they formed an alliance and attacked Ziggler and Ricochet.
The Miz was distracted by Bad Bunny after the musician’s gear was destroyed. Priest eliminated Miz and Morrison before Bunny hit a splash from the top.
Riddle and Daniel Bryan were the next competitors to join as Kane came in at NO.18. Kane eliminated a couple of stars before Priest got rid of the Big Red Machine.
Baron Corbin was next as he hit a Deep six to Priest before eliminating Nakamura. Otis came out at No.20 before getting eliminated. Dominik Mysterio was 21 and took out Corbin as Bobby Lashley came out at 22.
Lashley eliminated Priest and Mysterio next. There was another surprise as The Hurricane came out next and tried to hit a double chokeslam but failed and dumped out by E and Lashley. Christian was another surprise star into the ring and it took four men to eliminate Lashley. AJ Styles came out with Omos before Rey Mysterio made a big impact.
Styles was almost eliminated before Omos saved him. Omos then eliminated E from the match and even attacked the Intercontinental Champion.
Sheamus was 27 as Omos also eliminated Rey Mysterio. The Swiss Cyborg Cesaro came out at 28 and started hitting people with uppercuts. He seemed to be teaming up with Sheamus before almost eliminating the Irishman.
The second last man to enter was the Messiah Seth Rollins, someone who had been away for months. Rollins was almost eliminated by Cesaro but just about stayed in. The last man to enter was Braun Strowman and he was ready to show off his body too.
Strowman threw Styles off the top but Omos made the save. Cesaro lifted Strowman but the Swiss got eliminated.
Sheamus was the next one eliminated by Strowman and Styles was then eliminated away from Omos. Rollins then eliminated Bryan before Riddle and the Messiah battled. However, it was Riddle who got eliminated after a curb stomp from Rollins.
The last four in the ring were Rollins, Edge, Christian and Strowman. Edge and Christian tried to double team Strowman but failed. Christian tried to eliminated Strowman but he and Strowman and got eliminated.
Edge then eliminated Rollins before Orton hit an RKO to try and get the win. However, it was Edge who got the win as he eliminated Orton.
Edge wins
Grade A
Another top class Rumble event. Some of the surprise entrants weren’t all that great but Edge getting the better of Orton’s mind games was great. It will be interesting to see who he challenges but Edge vs Reigns or Edge vs McIntyre will be fireworks.
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