Welcome back to the series! This is a detailed WWE Royal Rumble 2010 match review. The concept of the Rumble is unique, and I’m having alotta fun reliving the classics.
#1 (’88) – #2 (’89) – #3 (’90) – #4 (’91) – #5 (’92) – #6 (’93) – #7 (’94) – #8 (’95) – #9 (’96) – #10 (’97) – #11 (’98)
#12 (’99) – #13 (’00) – #14 (’01) – #15 (’02) – #16 (’03) – #17 (’04) – #18 (’05) – #19 (’06) – #20 (’07) – #21 (’08) – #22 (’09)
WWE Royal Rumble 2010 – Philips Arena
(Atlanta, Georgia – January 31st, 2010)
The under card for Royal Rumble 2010 was funny because it featured several championship matches, yet none ran longer than 12 1/2 minutes. The main points we can take from it are:
- The ECW World Heavyweight Championship opened the show, and was the last time it would be defended on PPV. Christian retained against Ezekial Jackson by hitting the Killswitch after William Regal failed to interfere.
- The Miz retained the United States title against MVP, in what some critics said was a poorly booked and rushed match.
- In the WWE Championship title encounter between Sheamus and challenger Randy Orton, the latter was disqualified due to Cody Rhodes’ interference. Orton attacked both Cody & Ted DiBiase for costing him the title.
- The buildup for the Women’s Championship match was surrounded in controversy. LayCool had been bullying Mickie James for weeks by (implying she was fat) repeatedly calling her Piggy James. The pair dressed up in pig outfits and continued harassing her, but Mickie got her revenge and won the Women’s Championship in 20 seconds. McCool regained the title less than a month later, and James was fired in April because WWE wanted to “move in a new direction with their women’s division”.
- A rare encounter between The Undertaker and Rey Mysterio, saw The Deadman counter the West Coast Pop in to the Last Ride to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. According to the Observer, The Undertaker had just recovered from arthroscopic knee surgery less than two weeks before the pay-per-view. It was also the very last time The Undertaker retained a World Heavyweight title on PPV in his career.
It also marked the last time the ECW brand would be represented at a Royal Rumble event. 3 ECW superstars entered the Rumble, each lasting an average of only 36 seconds. Three days later, Vince McMahon proudly announced the demise of ECW. It would make way for a new revolutionary program we all came to know as NXT.
Royal Rumble 2010 Roundup (#1-5)
Always enjoyed the records they include in the promo video. Like in 2009, Justin Roberts kicks us off with the introductory explanation of the rules. We begin with SmackDown’s Dolph Ziggler and Raw’s Evan Bourne making his Rumble debut. They have a stare off and look at the WrestleMania sign before exchanging blows. After almost being eliminated, Ziggler hits the Zig Zag on Bourne, but he fights back and goes Airboune! The Straight Edge Savior CM Punk makes his way to the ring as #3, and soon eliminates both Ziggler & Bourne! Punk gets on the mic and thanks everyone for joining him tonight in what will be the most historic moment his straight edge society has ever seen. The other superstars, they can be saved if they have the courage the fans lack. JTG is here.. but he only lasts 25 seconds and Punk’s back on the mic.
Not everybody can win the Royal Rumble match, just like not everyone can be saved. There are people here who may never have the reserve and dedication in their hearts to follow in his footsteps. Tonight, he becomes the first ever straight edge Royal Rumble winner. Oh boy it’s The Great Khali, and his demeanor quickly changes. Punk pleads with Khali, saying he can make him greater. He asks Khali to raise his right hand, which he does. Punk asks if he accepts straight edge in to his life. Khali rescinds the invitation by palm striking Punk on top of the head. He gets Punk in the Vice Grip before the countdown for the next entrant begins. Here comes the second ever woman to enter the Royal Rumble match, Beth Phoenix! She runs frantically to the ring and squares up to Khali.
#6-9
Khali picks Phoenix up and places her on the ring apron. She kisses him! It gives her the chance to eliminate Khali! Punk runs at her but eats a wicked clothesline! The Glamazon’s all over him! She picks him up and looks to eliminate the SES leader, but Punk squirms out of it and gives her the GTS.. despicable. He trash talks her as the next entrant is imminent. No worries, it’s only ECW’s Zack Ryder in his Rumble debut. As Ryder walks to the ring, Punk unceremoniously dumps Beth’s lifeless body to the outside. Punk gets on the mic and tells Zack he has potential. He uses the question of if he’d like to join the straight edge society as a distraction to nail Ryder in the head with the microphone.
While aggressively working over Ryder, the crowd begin to chant “CM Punk” for this dastardly, yet entertaining heel. Punk grins maniacally after eliminating Ryder, he’s in full control of this match. On the mic again, he asks who’s next? It doesn’t matter as he’s better than all of ’em. It’s time to play the game.. here comes a serious contender. As Triple H slowly makes his way to the ring, Punk screams it’s “My Time!”. They have a brief stare down before HHH takes control. Just before the next entrant, Triple H slams Punk down with the spinebuster. It’s the chosen one! The Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre making his Rumble debut. You could say the transformation of McIntyre from 2010 to 2019 is almost miraculous.
#10-15
The Game cuts McIntyre off. He then tries The Pedigree on Punk, who counters it in to a GTS attempt.. which is also countered in to Triple H eliminating Punk! Drew & Hunter fight til Ted DiBiase enters at #10. Ted makes no impact at all as he runs in to Triple H’s clothesline. Eventually, DiBiase & McIntyre get their acts together and double team The Game. John Morrison is here and takes out both DiBiase and McIntyre. Morrison goes for Starship Pain on McIntyre, but hardly connects at all (he’s still doing that in 2019). Triple H runs him over with a clothesline, leaving all four men down before the next entrant. Kane is #12 for his 12th Rumble! Kane literally flies in to the match with a flying clothesline on HHH. Double Chokeslam on McIntyre & Morrison!
Kane tries eliminating DiBiase but Triple H stops him, so he goes for a ride via chokeslam. Cody Rhodes is #13 and saves his partner DiBiase from being eliminated. There;s been no eliminations for a while, and the action is hotting up. HHH saves Kane from Legacy, and Matt Striker explains how that’s a good idea. MVP is #14, but The Miz hits him from behind with the United States title. Carlito’s out to spit in the face of those who don’t want to be cool, and crazy to think this is fifth and last. He was released from contract in May due to a violation of the Wellness Program, as well as refusing to attend rehab to get over an addiction to pain killers. Nevertheless, he makes a decent impact on the match attacking all comers, including Kane and Triple H. Everyone’s getting their backs cracked.
#16-21
The Awesome Miz is ready to go. He’s in the match no longer than a few seconds before MVP rushes out to attack and eliminate both Miz and himself! Matt Hardy hits Twist of Fate on Drew, Side Effect on Cody, and waits to hit something on Ted from the turnbuckle.. but Kane uppercuts him to the outside and he’s eliminated in 20 seconds. Triple H eliminates Kane too! The Game kicks it in to a higher gear with spinebusters on everyone. Business picks up as Shawn Michaels joins the fray as #18. And right away he eliminates Carlito. Shortly after, Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase follow in Carlito’s footsteps. John Morrison tries stopping HBK, but also finds himself facing a man on a mission. D-X work together to get rid of Drew McIntyre, leaving only The Game & The Showstopper; that is til John Cena enters #19.
In what must have been a botch, Cena accidentally drops Triple H’s body on to Michael’s head. Super Cena takes it to D-X and drops a double knuckle shuffle. He wants to eliminate HBK, but HHH saves his buddy and downs Cena with the Pedigree. Sweet Chin Music to Triple H! And he’s eliminated! Michaels has turned on his partner.. wow. Here comes the 2nd ECW representative Shelton Benjamin for his 8th Rumble in a row. The Gold Standard takes on Cena & Michaels and gains the advantage. Benjamin almost executes his finisher on Cena, but is caught and thrown over the top to the outside. Oh my god it’s Yoshi Tatsu! The last ever ECW representative in a Royal Rumble. Like Benjamin, he gets some offense in before Cena gets rid. Oh no.. it’s The Big Show! Cena’s understandably dejected.
#22-30
Show waltzes in and takes over proceedings. Michaels & Cena try double teaming him, but to no avail. 400 Ibs of Mark Henry heads to the ring to battle Show, and the two giants face off. Henry & Cena team up on Show, and Henry slams him. Cena goes for the AA on Henry but is flattened. Chris Masters appears and goes after HBK. His next target is the Big Show.. he almost locks in the Master Lock, but Show eliminates him like a little pest. R-Truth wants to know “What’s Up!?”, and to everyone’s surprise, while Show & Henry are working to get rid of the other, Truth enters the ring and eliminates them both! Truth is in command now, as he works over Cena & HBK before the next entrant.. #26 Jack Swagger in his Rumble debut; and he’s got a crazy look on his face.
Lots of power moves from Swagger, but Michaels fights back some before the next entrant. Kofi Kingston’s in, bounces around the ring, and drops the Boom Drop on Swagger. Kingston finds an innovative way of eliminating Swagger, and he shifts focus to R-Truth and soon eliminates him. The ‘Mentalist Mastermind’ Chris Jericho is here, and what a difference a decade makes. He doesn’t make much impact though, as his old rival Shawn Michaels knows what to do. HBK tunes up the band for Sweet Chin Music.. but eats Trouble in Paradise instead! Cena spots this as a chance to back drop Kofi over the top to the floor. Codebreaker on Cena. It’s EDGE! Returning from injury! Spear to Jericho! To Michaels! And to Cena! Edge is back with a vengeance. Jericho’s eliminated. There’s one more man to come.. and it’s The Animal Batista in destruction mode.
Final Four
Spinebuster on Edge, and clotheslines to Cena & Michaels. A few powerslams later and Batista is standing tall.. spear from Edge! Michaels & Cena go back to fighting each other. Elbow Drop to Cena. HBK is on fire right now, he really needs to win. He tunes up the band and gives Cena & Batista Sweet Chin Music. Edge gets close to elimination, but HBK fights him off on the apron. Batista notices and frantically fires shots at Michaels and eliminates him! He’s distraught, HBK needed this win so he could get a rematch with The Undertaker, but that’s unlikely to happen now. Michaels gets back in the ring but the ref tells him to get out; but he doesn’t want to and gives the ref Sweet Chin Music. He’s in sheer disbelief as another ref tells him to get out. He finally does and walks to the back dejected.
Cena & Batista fight. The Animal fires a strong clothesline at Cena but he ducks and sends Batista flying over the top to the floor. Edge is waiting for Cena to turn around.. he goes for the spear but Cena kicks him. Cena runs at him, but Edge sidesteps and throws him over! The Rated R Superstar has done it! He’s returned from a serious injury months ahead of time and won the Royal Rumble! Edge deserves this win after everything he’s done in his career. The original plan was for Batista to win and go on to face Cena at WrestleMania, but the idea to put Edge over was Chris Jericho’s, and Vince McMahon agreed. And as has become tradition, Edge points at the WrestleMania sign and fireworks go off.
Conclusion
Similar to 2009, in the fact that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the overall landscape of WWE at the time; yet the roster still managed to deliver an enjoyable Royal Rumble experience. And unlike previous years the winner wasn’t so predictable, as any of the last four could have easily gone on to win and headline WrestleMania. There were some good moments here, although it felt like the ECW guys were a total waste of time. CM Punk carried proceedings in the early going, and Triple H would take over til HBK & Cena had arrived.
The most noticeable thing about this Royal Rumble event is how rushed it is. Not taking the rest of the card in to account, this match was one of the shortest in the history of the Royal Rumble. Take out the first Rumble, and the 1995 Rumble (when participants entered super quickly), and you can say this was the shortest 30-man Rumble to date. It’s rare, but this one lasted less than 50 minutes. I’m not sure why it turned out this way, but the whole of Royal Rumble 2010 felt rushed. Despite that, it gained generally positive reviews from critics and fans, and it sold more buys than the previous. So in the end, and on this day.. I see clearly that Royal Rumble 2010 was a success, and the match is worth revisiting if it’s been a long time since you’ve seen it.
After all, a lot can change in a decade! Thanks for reading guys. Continue to the shared link if you’d like to read my old review on WrestleMania XXVI:- WrestleMania XXVI
