7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Royal Rumble 2023

Downs...

4. New Look, Old Problems?

This guy isn't quite sure what to make of the whole "Pitch Black" match. It was all spectacle, but did feel a bit hollow due to the heavy Mountain Dew branding. That brand dominance was slightly regrettable due to the fact this was Bray Wyatt's first match back since rejoining WWE late-last year.

Wyatt's new look was a neon-drenched twist on The 'Fiend' more than anything, and it does seem like this is something fans have seen before (albeit with some quirky new neon wrinkles). Being brutally honest? Your writer wanted to like this, but found it hard to justify giving the match an 'Up'.

It was just sort of there.

Look, it'll be interesting see where Wyatt goes next. The same could be said for LA Knight, because he's more than held up his end of the bargain throughout this feud, but the whole 'Uncle Howdy' thing better have some kind of resolution soon, and it's unclear how much tolerance fans will have for more bouts like this one.