By Jared Silberkleit - WWE kicked off 2010 with the annual Royal Rumble, and the PPV was a mixed bag. The Rumble itself wasn’t the best in the match’s history and the undercard will not be remembered, but the PPV was still mildly fun and enjoyable, despite probably not being worth ordering.

1.    ECW Championship: Christian(c) vs. Ezekiel Jackson

The show definitely started off well with the ECW Championship match, which overdelivered and ended up being way better than most people were expecting. Jackson hits a belly to belly slam early on before Christian is able to dropkick him off the ring apron and hit a diving lariat off the top rope to the outside. Back in the ring, Jackson regains control with a slam and sends Christian into the corner, but Christian counters a gorilla press slam attempt and stands on Jackson’s back, choking him against the ropes. Jackson sends Christian to the outside, and at this point the ref ejects William Regal from ringside for attempting to go near Christian. Jackson throws Christian in the steps and rolls him into the ring but a pin attempt fails. He then works over Christian’s back for a while by hitting a vertical suplex and a chokeslam. Jackson blocks a sunset flip attempt and hits a two handed chokeslam. Christian fights out of a camel clutch but Jackson hits a clothesline to the back of the head for a near fall. Christian fights out of a superplex attempt and hits a flying shoulder block before connecting with a missile dropkick. Jackson fights out of a Killswitch attempt, but Christian hits a big reverse DDT before missing a splash. Jackson counters the Killswitch with a backbreaker and Christian hits a big tornado DDT, but both moves are only good for near falls. Jackson has Christian in a powerslam position and slams him into the corners twice, but Christian hits a Killswitch out of nowhere for the victory. Very solid opener that was well-paced. Match Time: 12:01     Match Rating: 6/10

2.    United States Championship: The Miz(c) vs. MVP

A backstage segment with The Miz and Teddy Long set this match up. This was an entertaining yet short title match. MVP hits a lariat followed up with a suplex, but when he charges at Miz in the corner he eats a big boot. MVP hits a belly to back suplex before the action heads to the ringside area where Miz is slammed into the ring barricade. Miz knocks MVP into the announce table before stomping him and hitting a leg drop back in the ring. Miz hits a top rope double sledge for a near fall before taking MVP down with a chin lock. MVP fights out and hits the Ballin’ elbow, but Miz counters a Playmaker attempt. MVP hits a Yakuza kick and later a pounce but can’t keep Miz down. MVP counters the Skull-Crushing Finale before the men continuously go for roll-ups. Miz eventually gets a small package out of nowhere to retain his title. MVP beats up Miz post-match. Overall an enjoyable, albeit brief, title match. Match Time: 7:31     Match Rating: 5.5/10

3.    WWE Championship: Sheamus(c) vs. Randy Orton

This match basically ended up being what many internet smarks feared it would be: a dull, slow-paced, and boring match. This was a very lackluster and disappointing effort from these two. After a long stare down, Orton hits an early dropkick and uppercut before Sheamus begins to work over the arm. He slams Orton’s arm into the ring barricade outside the ring before continuing to work it over inside the ring. Orton hits a chop block and goes to work on Sheamus’s leg. Orton wrenches at the leg before Sheamus drives his shoulder into Orton in the corner. Orton kicks Sheamus in the leg and goes back to work, slamming the leg into the apron and ring post. Back in the ring, Sheamus fights back into it with a single arm DDT and a modified armbar, burying his knee into Orton’s left ear. The men trade punches before Sheamus hits a urange backbreaker for a near fall. Orton counters a powerbomb attempt and hits a spike DDT, but Sheamus dodges a punt attempt by rolling to the outside. A chase ensues, but Cody Rhodes jumps the guardrail and attacks Sheamus. Orton hits the RKO on Sheamus in the ring, but the ref calls for the bell and awards the win to Sheamus via DQ due to the interference. After the match Orton beats up Cody and also Ted DiBiase, who comes down to try and pull Orton off Rhodes. Sheamus connects with a bicycle kick and leaves before Legacy leaves Orton lying in the ring as well. Overall a very bland and plodding title match. Match Time: 12:26     Match Rating: 4/10

4.    Women’s Championship: Michelle McCool(c) vs. Mickie James

Michelle mocks Mickie for a bit and Layla comes out in the Piggy James suit, but Mickie comes out and lays out Layla. The bell rings and Michelle goes for a big boot, but misses and hits Layla on the apron. Mickie instantly connects with her jumping DDT and pins McCool to win the title. After the match the face Divas celebrated with Mickie and shoved a cake into Michelle and Layla’s faces. Not much of a match. Match Time: 0:22     Match Rating: N/A

5.    World Heavyweight Championship: Undertaker(c) vs. Rey Mysterio

This was easily the best singles match of the night, although it left you wanting more. Mysterio tries to use his quickness but Undertaker hurls him over the top rope. Taker beats down Rey for a bit but Rey counters the guillotine leg drop. Taker just knocks him down and hits the leg drop with Rey hung on the bottom rope. Rey counters a chokeslam with a hurricanrana, but Taker blocks the 619 and tries for a Tombstone. Rey fights out with several kicks but Taker hits a big boot as Rey went for a springboard cross body. The two fight outside the ring for a bit before Taker goes for a Last Ride, but Rey fights out and hits a springboard moonsault to the outside, causing Taker to bleed from the nose and mouth (the good news: no one came out to clean him up!). Taker slams Rey into the barricade before working his arm back in the ring. Taker hits a side slam for a near fall before Rey makes a comeback and hits a springboard leg drop. Rey fights out of another Last Ride attempt and hits a 619, a springboard dropkick, and another 619, but when he goes for a springboard seated senton, Undertaker catches him with a towering Last Ride followed up by a pinfall. A fun title match but I wish it was given more time. Match Time: 11:09     Match Rating: 6.5/10

6.    30-Man Royal Rumble match

The Rumble kicked off with Evan Bourne and Dolph Ziggler, who each were able to hit their finishers before Punk entered next and quickly disposed of both of them. Punk cuts a brief promo before quickly eliminating JTG, who entered 4^th. Punk gets back on the mic before The Great Khali enters the match next. Khali hits a chop and puts on the Vise Grip before Beth Phoenix, in a surprise, enters the match. Beth kisses Khali on the apron and drags him over the top rope, eliminating him. She then goes after Punk but is hit with the Go to Sleep. Punk eliminates Beth before Zack Ryder enters 7^th. Punk tells Ryder he has potential before tossing him out. Punk gets back to jawing on the mic before Triple H enters the match next. Triple H pounds on Punk in the corner and hits a spinebuster before Drew McIntyre enters. Triple H hits a high knee to McIntyre and tries for a Pedigree on Punk, but Punk fights out. Triple H blocks a Go to Sleep attempt and tosses Punk out of the ring, which I was upset about. Ted DiBiase is the next entrant and double teams Triple H with McIntyre. John Morrison enters 11^th and hits a DDT and a botched Starship Pain to McIntyre. Kane is the next man out and cleans house, side slamming DiBiase and hitting a double chokeslam to McIntyre and Morrison. He then chokeslams Triple H before Cody Rhodes enters the match.  Rhodes and DiBiase instantly go to work on Kane before Rhodes avoids being ousted by Triple H. MVP is the next man out but is jumped during his entrance by The Miz. Morrison hits a springboard kick to McIntyre and Legacy tries to eliminate Triple H, but Kane makes the save. Carlito is out next and hits back stabbers to Triple H, McIntyre, and DiBiase. The Miz then enters and hits Carlito with the Skull-Crushing Finale, but MVP hits the ring and tackles Miz over the top rope, sending both men to the floor. The two brawl before being separated by referees. Triple H goes after Carlito before Matt Hardy enters 17^th. Hardy gets some momentum but is quickly ousted by Kane. Triple H eliminates Kane and hits a couple spinebusters but fails to get the Pedigree on McIntyre. Shawn Michaels is next to enter the match and cleans house, quickly eliminating Rhodes, DiBiase, Carlito, and Morrison. Triple H and HBK double clothesline McIntyre over the top rope before John Cena enters the match. Cena hits a double shoulder block and Five Knuckle Shuffle to DX but eats a Pedigree from Triple H. Michaels then surprisingly hits Sweet Chin Music to send Triple H over the top rope for an elimination. Shelton Benjamin is out next and hits Paydirt on Michaels before Cena tosses him out. Yoshi Tatsu suffers a similar fate, getting quick momentum before being eliminated. Cena pounds on HBK in the corner before Big Show enters the match and starts to dominate both men. Mark Henry enters 23^rd and goes after Big Show. Henry hits a scoop slam on Big Show before Cena fails to hit the Attitude Adjustment on Henry. Chris Masters enters 24^th to a new theme but is launched over the top rope by Big Show. Henry and Show fight near the ropes before R-Truth enters and is able to eliminate both of them. R-Truth kicks Michaels a few times before Jack Swagger enters. Swagger powerslams R-Truth and goes at it with Michaels before Kofi Kingston enters 27^th. Kofi hits a body scisscors to Swagger over the top rope before tossing out R-Truth. Chris Jericho is out next and takes an AA from Cena. Kofi hits HBK with a Trouble in Paradise but is eliminated by Cena. Jericho hits a Codebreaker to Cena before the 29^th entrant hits the ring…..the returning Edge! Edge spears Michaels, Jericho, and Cena before throwing Jericho out. Batista is the last man out and starts dominating but eats a spear from Edge. Michaels fights with Edge on the ring apron, but knocks Edge back into the ring before Batista eliminates him. Cena dodges a Batista clothesline and sends him over the top rope, and we are down to Cena and Edge. Edge readies for a spear, Cena avoids it and tries to toss Edge out, but Edge counters and throws out Cena to win the Royal Rumble! A great moment with Edge returning, and the Rumble match was very fun and entertaining, although a bit short for a Rumble. Match Time: 49:23     Match Rating: 7.5/10

Overall PPV Rating: 6.75/10

My name is Jared Silberkleit. I am from Orange, CT and am a huge fan of pro wrestling. I mostly follow WWE and TNA but I also watch the smaller promotions such as ROH and DGUSA. I have been a lifelong WWE fan and have become a TNA fan over the past few years. Aside from wrestling, I also really love baseball and football and follow many other sports such as hockey and MMA. I have written for www.sportsgrumblings.com for roughly over a year now.

Tagged with: Against The Ropes, Backbreaker, Belly To Belly, Camel Clutch, Chokeslam, Christian C, Clothesline, Clutch, Ecw, Ezekiel, Gorilla Press, Lariat, Ring Apron, Ringside, Royal Rumble, Top Rope, Tornado Ddt, Vertical Suplex, William Regal, Wwe

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