6 Match Star Ratings For WWE Royal Rumble 2021

6. KICKOFF: Asuka & Charlotte Flair Vs. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler - Women's Tag Team Title Match

Turn Charlotte Flair heel, Jesus Christ.

When she isn't no-selling her Rumble elimination with a smile, as if to say that it took two women to eliminate her - the one dent in an otherwise near-flawless babyface coming out party - she relishes being in control. It's almost involuntary. She can't help but break out in a smug grin whenever she does something that puts her in a position of power, as with here, when she subdued Shayna Baszler on the mat. She actually laughed. It's incredible.

We were afforded the shortest and most cruel glimpse into the alternate universe Asuka Vs. Baszler dream match - Baszler yanked her up from the apron and smashed a shin into her chest in one fluid motion - before Nia Jax halted the momentum with a rest hold.

Boilerplate Kickoff fare is almost generous because what's the dynamic here? Jax and Baszler don't get along. Flair and Asuka don't feel remotely like a tag team. When Asuka sold, you were never left with the impression that Flair was desperate to tag in and help her friend. She effectively said she was using her to get first dibs on her title, which didn't help either. The action wasn't particularly great. Whenever a WWE commentator caveats the name of a move with "...of sorts," you know.

Ric Flair and Lacey Evans brought about the finish, to further that sh*t-show of a storyline, and the team that don't get along are your Tag Team champions.

That describes both sets of Tag Team champions on RAW.

Star Rating: ★★¼