WWE Royal Rumble 2018: Star Ratings For All 6 Matches
2. Brock Lesnar Vs. Braun Strowman Vs. Kane - Universal Title Triple Threat Match
Ugly - but good ugly - this match was very much the expected pale imitation of the superb SummerSlam Fatal 4-Way headliner. It was more fascinating than fantastic, regardless of whether the much-replayed curio of an early exchange fell into work or shoot territory. Braun Strowman drilled his knee into the side of Brock Lesnar's head, to which the Beast responded with a skull-rattling receipt. That is more literal description than metaphor; the slow-motion replay captured both an unhappy expression on Lesnar's face and the rippling flesh on Strowman's.
In any event, this exchange imbued the match with the sense of danger Lesnar's best matches deliver - though it lacked the dynamism and heat of his classics, sagging as it did in the middle. Still, Strowman drilled Lesnar full-force in the face with a ridiculous front dropkick. That moment alone killed off any notion that this was to approach dreaded "methodical" territory.
Tables didn't break cleanly; pinfall attempts were not broken up at the last second. This wasn't an hermetic masterpiece, nor was it gripping throughout what was a mercifully brief duration. It was, however, closer to success than failure. Lesnar looked legitimately terrifying. Strowman bettered his No Mercy disappointment. Kane was a passenger.
That came as a relief.
Star Rating: ***