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WWE Royal Rumble 2021 was another successful pay-per-view for the biggest promotion in wrestling. The ThunderDome era has provided plenty of enjoyable super shows. But this was the first time the January tradition took place without fans. WWE overcame this obstacle with a card that stands up to any previous Rumble show.
The talent level in the WWE at the present is among the greatest the promotion has ever had. They once again proved this with very solid wrestling up and down the show. Royal Rumble 2021 featured two brilliant Royal Rumble matches, a high stakes WWE Universal Championship Match and really good work inside the ring.
With so much of the roster appearing on this event, there was plenty to take away from this PPV. In this article, let's take a look at the five biggest takeaways from WWE Royal Rumble 2021.
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#5 WWE successfully played with the fans' expectations at WWE Royal Rumble 2021
As a fan of WWE, one must temper their expectations for what the company will do at a major event like WWE Royal Rumble 2021. On this particular night, WWE repeatedly used its history to garner more interest in several matches on this pay-per-view.
Goldberg getting a WWE Championship shot against Drew McIntyre received a polarizing reaction from the WWE Universe. The WWE Hall of Famer previously defeated Kevin Owens and The Fiend in title matches. So many fans feared that that McIntyre would lose his gold on Sunday. The company used that history to make fans believe that this result was possible, if not likely.
The near falls were used to perfection, and they made the audience believe that a new champion would be crowned at WWE Royal Rumble 2021. Although this contest fit the Goldberg formula, this bout had plenty of action. t also had the right outcome, as McIntyre successfully defended the title.
WWE also used the fans' expectation wisely in both the Men's and Women's Royal Rumble Matches. Having Charlotte Flair in the final three produced for a more dramatic finale to the women's battle royal. The climax on the men's side of things was excellent, too. Randy Orton snuck back to the ring to hit an RKO on Edge, making everyone think that he would be victorious. But Edge countered and eliminated his rival.
This storytelling gave incredible content to the fans. It is not everyday that viewers can truly give WWE credit for being smart. But these three cases displayed brilliant booking. As a result, the fans were engaged in every match at WWE Royal Rumble 2021.
#4 Christian's return was a special moment at WWE Royal Rumble 2021
The surprise return is an automatic pop in any Royal Rumble Match. Despite some fun appearances from Victoria and Carlito on this show, the return of Christian was one of the best parts of the entire event. After seven years of retirement, "Captain Charisma" looked like he hadn't missed a day in the ring.
Christian has accomplished a lot in his storied career, but most fans had to feel robbed when his in-ring was suddenly cut short. He endured various struggles with concussions that forced him into an early retirement. But at WWE Royal Rumble 2021, every fan could smile and almost shed a tear by seeing a beloved hero return to the ring.
The touching moment with Christian hugging Edge in the middle of the ring is one of the iconic moments of WWE Royal Rumble 2021. Christian's return made the final result even more satisfying. It also added to the joy for the fans, as Christian was moving well and worked hard during his time in the Men's Rumble.
Recent reports from PWInsider suggest that Christian will be working a part-time schedule for WWE. This development will allow his moment in the Men's Royal Rumble Match to become even more important. This contest needed more emotion. That is exactly what Christian provided in one of the best moments of this pay-per-view.
#3 Edge's mission to prove his endurance continued at WWE Royal Rumble 2021
When fans watched Edge's "WWE 24" special, he stated that he did not want to come back to rest on his laurels. Instead, he wanted to push himself to his limits ahead of the 2020 Royal Rumble. Since his return at last year's event, Edge went over 35 minutes at WrestleMania 36 and almost 45 minutes at WWE Backlash. He topped those feats on Sunday.
By starting as the first entrant, "The Rated R Superstar" faced another mountain that he had to conquer. His rivalry with Randy Orton was at the forefront, as Edge's former friend entered the match as the second entrant. But the WWE Hall of Famer interacted with many superstars in the match.
The aforementioned hug with his best friend Christian brought a jolt of emotion into the Men's Royal Rumble Match. It set a beautiful tone for the final stretch of this contest. Edge eliminated Seth Rollins and immediately received the RKO from a returning Orton. It seemed like Edge would fall short at the goal line. But Edge countered at the last second and threw Orton over the top ropes to win the match.
This Iron Man effort was remarkable, considering that Edge had been out for over eight months with a serious injury. It was amazing to watch a man who had been on the shelf come back to perform for over 58 minutes. That's a credit to Edge's stamina at his advanced age. WWE Royal Rumble 2021 will be remembered as a night where Edge fought his way back to WrestleMania to reclaim the title he never lost.
#2 The women of WWE took over the show and showcased the diversity of the roster at WWE Royal Rumble 2021
WWE Royal Rumble 2021 featured a different kind of card. The WWE women's division has long been touted as one of the most stacked rosters in all of professional wrestling. At this pay-per-view, the company decided to give the ladies half of the matches, as three out of the six contests scheduled featured the talented females.
On the WWE Royal Rumble 2021 Kickoff show, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler defeated RAW Women's Champion Asuka and Charlotte Flair to regain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. Jax and Baszler received an assist from Ric Flair and Lacey Evans. The pair cost Charlotte this bout. Regardless, all four women worked hard to deliver a solid match.
On the main card, Sasha Banks successfully defended the SmackDown Women's Championship against Carmella once again. Although this rematch from WWE TLC felt unnecessary, it showed how much Carmella has improved in the ring. It also showcased Banks as one of the best performers in the entire company.
Later, the Women's Royal Rumble Match was a superbly booked spectacle that fully displayed the diversity of talent on the current roster. The start with Bayley, Bianca Belair and the returning Naomi gave this bout a lot of adrenaline right off the bat. Billie Kay brought some comedy to the match, too.
Surprise returns and NXT debuts kept things moving along, as Rhea Ripley dominated by eliminated seven superstars.
Bianca Belair's performance was phenomenal. The final three of Belair, Ripley and Flair was a wise decision that gave the final stretch of the contest extra weight. The exchange between Belair and Ripley made it clear that WWE was making a statement that "this is our future." From start to finish, this Women's Royal Rumble Match took over this show in every way.
#1 Bianca Belair shined bright at WWE Royal Rumble 2021
The final two participants in the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble Match offered a clear preview of WWE's future. Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley delivered a compelling conclusion of the battle royal. In a rare case for this match, the showdown at the end had two superstars that could realistically win. Plus, fans would have been happy with either potential victor.
The two women worked together to eliminate the dominant Charlotte Flair. Considering the storyline heading into last year's WrestleMania, this progression was poetic justice. The sequence with Belair and Ripley avoiding elimination gave fans a very tense moment, as it was unclear which star would gain the upper hand.
Their competitive clash was thrilling, and it increasingly drew the fans in with every passing second. Belair clotheslining Ripley over the top rope to win was a wonderful ending. It was further elevated by "The EST's reaction. She cried and celebrated her victory with a passionate display of her raw emotions.
The tears running down her face as she talked made Belair even more endearing. She delivered a fantastic babyface promo, and she is now a firmly established star on WWE SmackDown. The Royal Rumble has long been used as a vehicle to create new superstars, and the 2021 women's battle royal brilliantly accomplished that goal with Belair.
