WWE Greatest Royal Rumble PPV Results: 4-27-18
Results courtesy of
PWTorch.com (direct link to Keller's complete report).
(1) TRIPLE H vs. JOHN CENA
Triple H walked to the ring without any special fanfare. Cole said Cena and Triple H asked to be in the opening match so they could have the honor of being the first match in this historic setting. Cena came out onto the stage with a lot of kids dressed in his merchandise.
They opened with a test of strength, which Cole called “old school.” He compared it to the late Bruno Sammartino. Hunter broke up the test of strength by kicking Cena, then mocked the “You Can’t See Me” routine. The crowd reacted to that with boos. Cole discussed how infrequently these two have wrestled over the years, but said their first match was in 2006. Byron said, “This is trademark Triple H, a slow, methodical pace.”
Hunter whipped Cena hard into the the corner turnbuckles and then strutted around. Graves said he was soaking up the moment, knowing he is in full control. The first near fall came after a knee driver to Cena’s face. Cole sold it like a possible finish. Cena countered a Pedigree attempt with an AA attempt, but Hunter held onto the top rope. Cena then gave Hunter a side slam and went into the You Can’t See Me routine. The crowd cheered as he held his hand up. Hunter countered with a back suplex which Cena sold he was knocked out by a sledgehammer. Hunter delivered a Five Knuckle Shuffle for a near fall.
They fought at ringside briefly where Cena shoved Hunter into the ringpost. Cena leaped off the top rope, but Hunter caught him mid-air and slammed him with a spinebuster for a two count. Cena kicked out. Hunter hit another spinebuster for another two count. Byron said how familiar they are with each other. Graves said they have likely studied tapes. (What are “tapes”?) Cole said “as we said earlier” it’s the first time in either years they’ve gone one-on-one, which almost seemed like a counter to Saxton saying they were so familiar with each other.
Cena went into the You Can’t See Me routine again. Cena then hit the AA for very near fall. The crowd popped, thinking it was the finish. They showed kids in the crowd reacting with shock and excitement. Cena went for another AA, but Hunter countered with a Pedigree for a believable near fall. Cena followed up with an STF. Hunter countered into a crossface mid-ring. Cena stood while in the hold and delivered an AA. He catapulted Hunter into the corner and then hit another AA for the win.
WINNER: Cena in 16:00. (**)
Very much what you’d expect from these two. Very basic, with a reliance on signature moves and spots the fans would be familiar with. They didn’t anything too risky.
(2) CEDRIC ALEXANDER vs. KALISTO – Cruiserweight Title match
During ring introductions they went to a three man announce team from Saudi Arabia. The lead announcer looked not a day over 14 years old. Cole said Kalisto began his career with a tour through Saudi Arabia. Cole noted Cedric hasn’t had a “televised match” since WrestleMania, and wondered if that would be a factor. (Not sure why televising his match would make him less rusty than wrestling matches that aren’t televised.) Cole cited the standing ovation Cedric got in the Cruiserweight Classic Tournament against Kota Ibushi which led to Triple H signing him. Kalisto did a springboard flip dive off the top rope a minute in. Cole said this is the first singles match between these two.
After a wide overhead shot they showed the Saudi Royal Family has space reserved at ringside, which included some empty seats. Cedric nailed Kalisto with a high dropkick to the head. Then they settled into a bearhug on the mat. Kalisto dazzled Cedric with a flip to the apron and then round kicked him in the head. Cedric tried to come back with a tilt-a-whirl move, but Kalisto also countered and scored a near fall mid-ring.
Cedric and Kalisto battled on the top rope, and Kalisto came out with a flip power move for a near fall. The crowd wasn’t responding nearly as much to these near falls and big moves as they did with Triple H and Cena. Cedric hit a Lumbar Check to counter the Selida del Sol for the win.
WINNER: Alexander in 11:00 to retain the Cruiserweight Championship. (**1/4)
Analysis: Nice match. They sprinkled in some more graceful athleticism than in the opener.
(3) MATT HARDY & BRAY WYATT vs. THE BAR – WWE Raw Tag Team Championship
As Byron struggled to explain what happened to Bray, Cole jumped in and curtly said, “He fell in a lake and came out awoken.” It almost seemed like he was exasperated with Byron’s befuddlement at what happened. Cole said since they are guaranteed new champions, tag team titles in WWE will have changed hands in ten countries as of tonight because Braun Strowman & Nicholas vacated them because Nicholas had fourth grade class to attend. Graves touted the chemistry between Cesaro & Sheamus. Cole listed past Raw Tag Team Champions and said The Bar has held them more than any of them. Bray and Matt played to the crowd to encourage applause, but did so in a weird way, as Graves noted.
Cole said Sheamus & Cesaro are part of Smackdown Live at this point, but would return to Raw if they win this match. Cole said he’s not sure if the Saudi Arabian fans are sure what to make of the Leader of Worlds. Byron said, “Count me in on that.” Graves said it’s a long process, but everyone will eventually understand everything “except for you Byron.” Graves said Bray was freed of Sister Abigail who was a wicked succubus. Cole wondered if Bray’s finisher is still called Sister Abigail, then. Bray did the crab walk and then hit Sheamus with the Sister Abigail. He then tagged in Matt, who gave Sheamus an elevated Twist of Fate with Bray for the win.
WINNERS: Hardy & Wyatt in 9:00. (*1/4)
Rudimentary match built around the quirks of the wrestlers more than seeming like a championship caliber battle. But it was fine for this spot on the card.
(4) JEFF HARDY vs. JINDER MAHAL (W/Sunil Singh) – U.S. Title match
The crowd booed when he introduced Singh from the stage. Cole wondered about how Jinder will react to two losses this month on Raw, to Hardy for the U.S. Title and to Chad Gable. Cole said in 43 years of U.S. Title history, only two wrestlers have had a shorter reign than Jinder. Graves chided Cole for throwing salt in the wound. Hardy leaped off the ringside barricade early. Members of the Saudi royal family right on the other side of the barricade were standing with their backs turned during the spot, which looked peculiar. “What good is having a friend if they won’t help you cheat in a fight, Byron?” asked Graves. Replied Byron, “Apparently we have different lives.”
Jinder took over and dominated with what Graves called “Ruthless Aggression.” Jinder told Cole that he is the hometown wrestler because his hometown is only 2,300 miles away, whereas Cameron, N.C. where Hardy is from is 6,800 miles away. Graves said, “You can’t argue with those numbers. Math is math.” Hardy avoided a gut-buster and made a comeback and scored a near fall. Sunil distracted Hardy, giving Jinder an opening. He rolled up Hardy with a yank on his jeans for a near fall. Hardy fired back with a Twist of Fate. Jinder shifted into perfect position for the Swanton Bomb, but otherwise couldn’t move as Hardy climbed to the top and landed it. Hardy stood and applauded mid-ring as he celebrated and soaked up some cheers from the fans.
WINNER: Hardy to retain the U.S. Title in 6:00. (*1/4)
Another rudimentary house show level match. A step above “going through the motions,” but not by much.
