10 Snap Judgements Following WWE Royal Rumble 2017
The here and now.
Billed as one of the biggest editions of the show ever, the 2017 Royal Rumble provided an explosive start to the 'Road to Wrestlemania', with new conflicts set in motion and some of the huge matches for the 'Show of Shows' seemingly now locked in place.
Up and down the card, the company paid off several weeks of relatively solid television in front of 52,000+ San Antonians in the company's first visit to the monolithic Alamodome since the 1997 edition of the show twenty years ago.
Whilst it's virtually impossible to make assured predictions in WWE's frenetic and ever-changing landscape, what highs and lows did the show leave with audiences in the immediate wake of the action?
Because really, what's the point in measured considerations at this time of year anyway?
10. Nobody Cares About The Smackdown Midcard
There proved a rather prophetic moment on last Tuesday's edition of Talking Smack, as Smackdown Live commissioner Shane McMahon was at a sudden loss for words when asked who he thought could win the Royal Rumble from the blue brand.
Despite an inadvertently wise prediction about the Wyatts, it was awkwardly apparent that the meatier end of the Rumble was being supplied by Raw's bulging midcard and stolen unattached names.
Beyond the victor, the booking of the Royal Rumble match did little to favour the Tuesday show.
Most of Smackdown Live's main players were shabbily managed, with those supposedly bolstering the match left making up the numbers.
There will be other days in the sun for Kalisto or Mojo Rawley, but the subpar treatment of Dolph Ziggler, The Miz and Intercontinental Champion (and 2016 runner-up) Dean Ambrose were disappointing to see.
On Smackdown Live, The Miz could believably be slotted back in to the WWE Title picture, whilst Dolph has begun a heel turn with the expressed purpose of dispelling his 'loser' tag, and Dean Ambrose looks to rebuild his career with the secondary strap after falling short of topline expectations in 2016.
Hopefully a forgettable night for the three can be hidden away as the show rebuilds for Elimination Chamber.