8 Things 2021 WWE Royal Rumble Lifted From 2020

8. Opening Arena Fight

Many things have changed for Roman Reigns since he was last spotted at a Royal Rumble event, but he still encountered a flash of deja vu in 2021. 'The Big Dog' not only found himself opening the Big Four PPV but also competing in a very similar stipulation match.

In 2020, a babyface Reigns battled with King Corbin in a Falls Count Anywhere match, which saw the bitter foes duke it out all across an empty arena until 'The Guy' got the upper hand (and some toilet humour in).

One year later, 'The Head of the Table' defended the Universal Championship against 'Mr. Jump Off Everything' Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match.

The decisive decision might have been based on a knockout instead of a pin or submission, but the contest was much the same as the year before. Rather quickly, Reigns and his opponent left the ring and fought tooth-and-nail around a crowd-less venue.

There's nothing inherently wrong about gimmicky No DQ matches, but perhaps WWE could do better by not placing them in the same place on the card multiple years in a row. If Reigns' new thing isn't going to be opening arena fights every year at the Rumble, maybe creative could, you know... at least use different performers.