Report: WWE "Scoffed At" THIS Divisive Royal Rumble 2023 Moment
Much of Royal Rumble 2023 went down well backstage in WWE - but not THIS...
While WWE was reportedly pleased with Royal Rumble 2023 on the whole, Hardy's performance at the 28 January premium live event didn't receive such a positive reception within the promotion.
Fightful Select reports that the country singer's short appearance was "scoffed at" backstage in WWE.
Hardy appeared prior to Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens' Undisputed WWE Universal Championship main event, playing single 'Sold Out' with his band. The performance drew a less-than-stellar reception from fans and critics.
As well as being played live in the arena, 'Sold Out' was this year's Royal Rumble theme, featuring in many a video package.
In terms of what went well with the Rumble, Fightful notes that WWE was delighted with the business side of things, having pulled a $7.7 million live gate. Sponsorship revenue was more than double the event's previous record, as confirmed by Paul 'Triple H' Levesque at the post-show press conference.
On the creative side of things, The Bloodline, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn's show-closer was described as a "curtain sellout", with personnel gather around monitors, watching the arena-shaking angle. There was a "very laid back" atmosphere backstage, too.