10 Biggest WWE Talking Points Coming Out Of Royal Rumble 2018

5. No Surprises At The Top

Brock Lesnar
WWE.com

Both of WWE's top champions emerged victorious last night. First, AJ Styles opened the show against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, pinning the former with a quick roll-up, before Brock Lesnar vanquished Kane and Braun Strowman in a sloppy monster brawl later in the show. Nothing surprising there, but the outcomes essentially tell us that WWE have been working towards two specific WrestleMania 34 main events for months.

Outed by Dave Meltzer last spring, Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns now feels like a dead cert. It was reported ahead of the event that Roman would fail to win the Rumble, and that WWE would get to the bout through other means, which now seems to be the case. Similarly, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles has been teased from the moment 'The King Of Strong Style' joined the main roster. Now, after his post-victory call-out, we're getting it in New Orleans.

WWE have been locked into the same course for the best part of the year. Perhaps the WWE Title bout wasn't earmarked as early as the Universal clash, but Lesnar and Styles' successful defences show that the bookers remain as single-minded as ever.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.