WWE: Royal Rumble 2017 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

WWE: Royal Rumble 2017 Blu-ray Movie Review

Remember the Randy.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 11, 2017

Note: The analysis portion of this review -- general thoughts and scoring matches -- was written the morning after 2017's Rumble aired on the WWE Network in hopes of offering a more immediate reaction to the event itself rather than one tinted or tainted by what's occurred in the window between the event's airing and its Blu-ray release. Video, audio, and supplemental reviews were written after re-watching the program on Blu-ray. Spoilers follow.

See? WWE still knows how to put on an amazing Pay-Per-View. While most of the outcomes weren't all that unpredictable -- the WWE still clinging to Charlotte as women's champ, Cena tying the record, Owens retaining, no real surprises in the Rumble beyond one gigantic middle finger to the fans (more on that below) -- it was nevertheless a fantastic show, not necessarily for story advancement beyond some of the future feuds and matches set up during the Rumble for the immediate future, Mania, and maybe even beyond, but rather for the intensity of action. Few, if any, Pay-Per-View events manage this much excitement, so many amazing matches, so much skill, grace, and violence. Every one of them a winner, few of them with any serious disappointments, excluding the several expected jokes and bits of nonsense dotting the first half or so of Rumble entrances. It was a fast-moving, high energy show, rocking San Antonio's Alamodome ("it's electric!" as Michael Cole would say...ad nauseam) in one of the best PPV's the company has put on in some time. What a way to kick off WrestleMania season!

Everyone loves Roman Reigns...in this position.

Without further ado, a brief analysis and grade for each main card Rumble event:

RAW Women's Championship Match
Charlotte (Champion) vs. Bayley

Bayley may be a hugger, but she wasn't in a loving mood coming out to face the ever-dominant Charlotte, the reigning RAW women's champion who, despite coming onto the scene in her father's footsteps, has emerged as the face of women's wrestling while Bayley seems to still be climbing her way to the top. The match was excellent, as expected. Both women are talented performers, though slotting them to lead off the show seems only to diminish what they did in the ring considering all of the action (and a couple of controversies) to follow. Nevertheless, it was a big draw match that didn't disappoint, at least beyond the outcome. WWE continues to push Charlotte as the practically unyielding Women's champion. It'll be interesting to see if Bayley remains in the title picture through WrestleMania. Charlotte almost certainly will.
Grade: A-

WWE Universal Championship Match (No Disqualifications)
Kevin Owens (Champion) vs. Roman Reigns

The WWE's favorite whipping boy was once again in the middle of a title shot picture against current WWE Universal Champion (horrible title name and belt design, FWIW), Kevin Owens (awesome wrestler and deserving champion, FWIW). It was fought under no disqualification rules, which, of course, meant that even with Owens' best friend and current United States Champion Chris Jericho suspended high above the ring in a shark cage, there would be mayhem on the ground and that Jericho would find some way to come to his friend's aid in a moment of need. The match was excellent. There should be more no-DQ matches, because who doesn't like a stack of chairs and a pile of broken tables? Owens mocked and taunted Reigns throughout. Owens and Reigns pounded one another, flew through tables, crashed through chairs, took the action into the seating area for a while, and slammed through announce tables. It was as violent as the WWE gets its current form, and more so with Jericho dropping Owens brass knuckles at an opportune time. Of course Reigns would avoid the three-count after taking a brass knuckle sandwich to the face, but it was a surprise interruption that would tilt the match in Owens' favor at the end. Certainly it didn't at all jive with what WWE would do with the characters in question later on in the evening, but it kept the belt on the more popular wrestler. Owens is a natural, and Reigns is great, too, when he's just taking it to his opponent, receiving as much punishment as he takes, and keeping his mouth shut.
Grade: A-

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
Rich Swann (Champion) vs. Neville

The fledgeling Cruiserweight division got a much-needed shot-in-the-arm with Neville's re-introduction and heel turn. The former main roster babyface, known for his ripped physique and high-flying "Red Arrow" maneuver, has nicely filled the role of the division's antagonist. He was pitted against up-and-comer Cruiserweight champion Rich Swann in a match that was the night's weakest, though still strong by any other measure. Both men are immensely talented and delivered a satisfying back-and-forth affair that resulted in Neville taking the belt.
Grade: B+

WWE Championship Match
A.J. Styles (Champion) vs. John Cena

When have these two superstars clashed on a Pay-Per-View and it not be the match of the night? Wow. If the Styles-Cena rivalry doesn't go down in WWE history as amongst the top handful of all time, then it'll be a disservice to it at best and a travesty at worst. Amazing on-mic chemistry and terrific, epic, in-ring pairing, they never fail to bring down the house. The crowd was into it from the beginning, with the usual split-decision between Cena and Styles and the match a technical marvel with both men taking and giving punishment, dishing out finishing moves, and kicking out time and again at the last second. It was an amazing match, professional wrestling excitement and artistry at its best. With the eventual victory, Cena cemented his place in WWE history as a 16-time WWE champion, tying Ric Flair's mark. It would be a shame of the WWE let the Cena-Styles rivalry slip into the history books. Belt or no belt on the line -- and the smart money is on Cena losing the belt to Bray Wyatt sooner rather than later to set up a Randy Orton-Bray Wyatt WrestleMania match -- the chemistry is too good and the action too fantastic to end now. Sure they probably need to branch out at this point, but the WWE would be smart to come back to it as often as possible.
Grade: A+

Royal Rumble Match

The Rumble match is always predictably unpredictable. It's predictable in that one or two relatively early entrants will hang around until the end (this year's hanger-oner: Chris Jericho), a few silly entrants will lend some comic relief through the first dozen or so to come down the ramp (which was insanely long at the Alamodome...it sometimes seemed like it took half of the time between entrants for the superstar to make it to the ring), and most of the big guns would be held back until the final half-dozen or so (in this case Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, and The Undertaker). And, as usual, there's room for praise and criticism. Braun Strowman cleaned house but was eliminated too quickly. One could contest that there were too many fluff entrants in the first dozen or so. And the big elephant in the room was Reigns' entrance at number thirty, bucking tradition, angering fans, and with his elimination of the The Undertaker, seemingly erasing the burgeoning feud with Strowman. The WWE universe is understandably up in arms with Reigns' entrance at the coveted final spot, which did end an otherwise tremendous event on a sour note. Nevertheless, all is well enough, assuming WWE takes the route of most logical sense to WrestleMania, which includes Lesnar and Goldberg battling for the title currently carried by Kevin Owens and Bray Wyatt facing off against Randy Orton with the title, and the future of the Wyatt family, and Bray's own push to superstardom, all on the line. Grade: B+

WWE: Royal Rumble 2017 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Royal Rumble 2017 features the typically strong WWE Home Video presentation. The 1080i, 1.78:1-framed transfer does show some compression artifacts, particularly in darker backgrounds deep up into the crowd, but the main image proper looks terrific. Skin textures couldn't be much sharper or more revealing on the format. Pores, veins, tattoos, facial hair, everything stands out with precision replication. Crowd signage and faces are clearly visible several rows deep, and electronic signage is likewise sharp. Even little stains and imperfections in the mat are clearly visible. Colors are bold. Multicolored attire, flashy digital signs, crowd clothing and handmade signs, and digital logos pop. Black levels are deep and flesh tones accurate. It's certainly a fairly big step up from the Network stream, particularly, of course, in terms of stability.

WWE: Royal Rumble 2017 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Royal Rumble 2017 features the WWE standard-issue Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack (Spanish language earns an LPCM 2.0 track). The English track is fine. Beyond commentary, intro music and crowd noise are the most prominent elements. Music is adequately aggressive, in some places more strongly prioritized than in others, but guitar riffs and low-end notes in the various themes -- Charlotte, Owens, Styles, Reigns, and Cena, for example -- offer quality front-end spacing, light surround drift, but not an exceptional sense of environment replication or serious bass. Cena's introduction, as an example, is a bit muddled as music, crowd jeers, and his own vocals are mixed together without much in the way of balance. Various slams on the mat and crashes around the ring are presented with honest authority and weight. Crowd chants and general ambience are nicely spaced and invigorating, particularly as the crowd dual-chants for Cena and Styles. Ringside commentary is clear and center positioned, well prioritized above crowd din and wrestling action, and only a little sharp-edged, at times.

WWE: Royal Rumble 2017 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Royal Rumble 2017's supplements are broken down into two categories: Special Features and Blu-ray Exclusive. This set also ships with a Topps trading card featuring The Rock staring down Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32.

Special Features:

• Royal Rumble Kickoff Show: Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella, & Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, & Natalya.
• Royal Rumble Kickoff Show: RAW Tag Team Championship Match: Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson.
• Royal Rumble Kickoff Show: Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax.

Blu-ray Exclusive:

• An Iconic Showdown (1080i, 11:00): Goldberg and Brock Lesnar meet in the ring but are interrupted by a special guest. From Monday Night RAW -- January 23, 2017, the week prior to Royal Rumble.

WWE: Royal Rumble 2017 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

2016's Royal Rumble is an early contender for PPV of the year. Great matches galore and a Rumble event that had its share of missteps but that, ultimately, delivered and should set up an interesting main event at Mania that will hopefully put Bray Wyatt over for good. WWE Home Video's Blu-ray is typical in terms of technical presentation. Recommended.