Amaar Burton
So maybe you haven’t watched pro wrestling since Hulk Hogan was in his prime. Maybe the last time you followed pro wrestling, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was the biggest star in WWE instead of the biggest star in Hollywood.
Don’t worry, though; you can get right back in the game with just one show.
If you’re only going to watch one pro wrestling show in 2021, make it the WWE Royal Rumble, which streams live on Jan. 31 on the WWE Network.
WWE’s Royal Rumble Vs. WrestleMania
The Royal Rumble isn’t the biggest or most popular WWE event. That title still belongs to WrestleMania every year. ‘Mania has that Super Bowl vibe, but the Rumble is actually the best show to watch for a lapsed fan that hasn’t paid attention to wrestling in a while, for a brand-new fan who’s trying to catch up on the current product, or even for a non-fan who found themselves at your house for a WWE watch party.
In other words, the Royal Rumble is the perfect show for mixed company.
The best thing about the Royal Rumble is that it’s easy to follow for anyone aged 8 to 80, and just about every relevant wrestler and story line in WWE will be featured on that one show.
The men’s Royal Rumble match and the women’s Royal Rumble match are the two main events of the show. Thirty wrestlers enter the ring, all of them trying to throw their opponents over the top rope. When you go over and both feet hit the floor, you’re eliminated. (Kofi Kingston has made a career out of incredible near-eliminations.) The last man or woman standing is rewarded with a championship match at WrestleMania.
Superstars On Deck At The Royal Rumble
Every year, the Rumble matches are where new and rising stars make a name for themselves (watch out for Bianca Belair this year), a legend or two makes a surprise return, and the finish is typically wild.
This weekend’s Royal Rumble card also has Universal champion Roman Reigns defending his title against Kevin Owens in a “Last Man Standing” match; WWE champion Drew McIntyre defending his title against iconic veteran Goldberg; and women’s tag team champions Charlotte Flair and Asuka defending against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.
This Year’s Rumble Is Different
Of course, this Royal Rumble will look and sound a little different thanks to COVID-19. The show is scheduled for Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., where there will be a limited number of fans compared to the typically sold-out events in years past.
With fans or without, however, this show should still be one of the year’s highlights.
If you’re already a fan and you’re trying to convert your friends, or if you’re a novice and still not sure what this pro wrestling stuff is about, put the Royal Rumble on your schedule this weekend.
