How WWE Should Book Greatest Royal Rumble 2018

 

**Hey everyone! I love to write and I love wrestling so ever since Night Of Champions 2015, I have been fantasy booking WWE PPV's in detail, and have been a wrestling fan since 2005. If you want, you can read some past editions of these by clicking on my name and searching. Without further ado, here is How WWE Should Book Greatest Royal Rumble 2018**

 

> PRE-SHOW:

 

* We get our hall of fame panel of Renee Young, Booker T, Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross. Throughout the hour, we get video packages, interviews, and the panel give their predictions for the show and hype up the matches. **A Social Media Lounge segment is announced earlier in the day with the returning REY MYSTERIO. Use #AskMysterio**. I don’t know of any kickoff matches as of the time of be beginning this post on Tuesday night, but if I had to move one match from the main card to the kickoff it would probably be either the Cruiserweight or the United States Title match, but I’ll just have everything on the main show portion for now. We get inset box-promos with lots of the participants of the GRR throughout the kickoff, and we get the social media lounge with Rey.The panel gives their final predictions for who will win the Rumble match, and we get a wide shot of the arena as the main show begins.

 

> MAIN SHOW:

* This is going to be a very early World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event live on the WWE Network for just $9.99 in the King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Once again, in case it slipped your memory, this World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event will indeed be streaming live on the WWE Network for just $9.99 in the King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Hope you got it now. Let’s go.

**1ST MATCH: The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) vs. Deleters Of Worlds (Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy) (Tag Team match for the Vacant WWE RAW Tag Team Championships)**

* Bray and Matthew are out first followed by The Bar. **The match goes 10 minutes**. No descriptions really needed for this match, both teams take turns dominating and do some crazy combination moves. Bray and Matt get the win and the titles after the Wheelbarrow-Twist Of Fate combination as Matt pins Cesaro. Bar are on SmackDown now, so absolutely no point in having them win. Bray and Matt are gaining traction and this only makes sense. Their first challengers would be Ziggler and McIntyre, another new team that’s doing absolutely great things. They would fight at Backlash, which I’ll have my full card for at the end of this post.

**WINNERS by Pinfall and NEW WWE RAW Tag Team Champions: Deleters Of Worlds (Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy)**

* We get an ad for Tapout.

**2ND MATCH: Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Jinder Mahal (Singles match for the WWE United States Championship)**

* Jinder is out first followed by Jeffery Nero. **The match goes 13 minutes**. It’ll be interesting to see the reaction Jinder gets. Whether it’s positive or negative, there’s really no other option here than to have Jeff retain. He’s only just began his reign, he’s still a fan favorite, they’ve been teasing a feud with Orton, and he’s been on top of his game lately and none of that should be for nothing. I think Jeff could carry Jinder to one of his better matches ever just like AJ Styles did, so that’s why it’s this long. Jeff hits a Swanton Bomb after a hard fought match to retain.

**WINNER by Pinfall and STILL WWE United States Champion: Jeff Hardy**

 

* We get a backstage interview with John Cena. Cena talks about the downward spiral of his life lately; he failed at every opportunity to find his Road To Wrestlemania, so he had no choice but to call out The Undertaker, two titans of sports entertainment who had never met at Wrestlemania before. His confidence ended up getting the best of him as Undertaker pinned his shoulders to the match in just 2 ½ minutes. And most of all, he just broke up with the love of his life, Nikki Bella. Cena says he’s gonna right his wrongs tonight and cuts an intense promo.’

 

**3RD MATCH: Rusev vs. The Undertaker (Casket match)**

 

* I feel like this is a good spot for this match on the card, it’s not exactly the biggest match of all time but it involves Undertaker, and I feel like this is still a house show format even though it’s on the network, and I feel like house show card order should be unexpected and out of the norm. WIth Taker going 2 minutes at Mania, I’m not sure how long he can go nowadays, so **the match goes 8 minutes. Rusev is out first followed by Taker**. Rusev hits Taker with a few Machka Kicks but Taker doesn’t go down. Taker hits strikes and punches, lighting up Rusev and throws him across the ring, **Near the end of the match, Aiden English tries to run in to save his friend but eats a Chokeslam where he is raised 772 football fields into the air, and then slammed down onto his head and neck with the velocity of a meteor entering this atmosphere**. Undertaker hits a Tombstone on Rusev and then boots him under the top rope, closes the casket, and gets the win. Rusev isn’t gonna beat The Undertaker. I don’t care what time, place, or match it is. I never understood everyone saying that Rusev would be buried by losing here, he’s already not treated the best but being in a match with Taker is an insane privilege. This will be great for what it is.

 

**WINNER by Closed Casket: The Undertaker**

 

**4TH MATCH: The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. The Usos (Tag Team match for the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships)**

* The Bludgeons are out first followed by The Usos WITHOUT NAOMI. NO. NO NAOMI THIS TIME. PLEASE. I just rewatched their Battleground 2014 match, and my god is it fantastic.**The match goes 17 minutes**. The logical simple booking is to have the dominating team in The Bludgeons go over after they hit a Double Celtic Cross finisher to both Usos, and then have them go on to battle New Day at Backlash, and once again go over. The team to eventually defeat the monsters would be Sanity, but not for a while. Sanity need to be truly introduced to main roster fans.

 

**WINNERS by Pinfall and STILL WWE Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions: The Bludgeon Brothers**

 

* We get a video package of the week that the WWE Superstars have had in Saudi Arabia, compiling all the sights and meals in the area.

 

**5TH MATCH: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Finn Balor vs. The Miz vs. Samoa Joe (Fatal 4-Way Ladder match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship)**

 

* Rollins is out first, followed by Miz, then Balor, and finally Joe. **The match goes 22 minutes in the longest match besides the Rumble of the night**. These guys won’t exceed the caliber of the NXT North American title Ladder match, but they could certainly get close. There’s frogsplashes, Coup De Graces, sentons, Skull Crushing Finales, military press slams, dropkicks, powerbombs, DDT’s, through, on, and into ladders. Miz and Joe are both on Smackdown, and the titles shouldn’t switch shows this fast. It just doesn't’t make sense, and Balor shouldn’t win it now. Rollins is the most profitable out of these 4, so just have him climb a ladder here and retain, retain against Miz at Backlash, and move on to someone else.

 

**WINNER and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: Seth Rollins**

 

* The commentators thank the artist of the official theme song of the show.

 

**6TH MATCH: John Cena vs. Triple H (Singles match)**

 

* HHH is out first followed by Cena. **The match goes 12 minutes**. Both of these guys can still absolutely GO, so this could be a great final encounter between of the biggest ever. Lots of finishers, lots of signature moves and matwork ensue.I was thinking that they might give Cena the win because of what he’s been through lately, but I really think the plan is to have Taker go until Survivor Series this year and have his last match in the main event of the show he debuted at in 1990, Cena goes on a downward spiral in his wrasslin career in Kayfabe until that point, challenges Taker one last time, and the two battle in the main event of Survivor Series in Taker’s last match. Plus, HHH just lost at Wrestlemania 34, so he could use a win to further elevate the next guy that beats him. Trips hits a huge Pedigree on Cena for the win.

 

**WINNER by Pinfall: Triple H**

 

* We go up to the kickoff panel for their thoughts on the show so far. This is also the point where I’d have that 15 minute intermission/prayer break that I heard they would do, if it has to happen.

 

**7TH MATCH: Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Kalisto (Singles match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship)**

* Cedric is out first followed by Kalisto. **The match goes 11 minutes**. I wish these two could have all the time in the world but with a 50-man Rumble later in the night with anything other than 60 second intervals, it’s about the most possible. Cedric gets the easy win with a Lumbar Check.

 

**WINNER by Pinfall and STILL WWE Cruiserweight Champion; Cedric Alexander**

 

* We get an ad for Backlash next week.

 

**8TH MATCH: AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Singles match for the WWE Championship)**

 

* Nakamura is out first with his incredible new theme followed by the champ that runs the camp. **The match goes 19 minutes**. These two had an.. underwhelming Mania match to say the least. Heel Nakamura makes it such a more interesting dynamic and I feel like these two will be translated a lot better in a setting like this. **The match ends when both men are brawling and AJ goes for a Phenomenal Forearm but Nakamura pushes the ref in the way. The ref is knocked out cold and AJ tries to revive him. Nakamura sneaks up behind him on his knees and tries to hit one last nasty Low Blow to finish AJ off, BUT STYLES CAME PREPARED. AJ IS WEARING A CUP AND NAKAMURA SELLS HIS HAND AND ARM BEING SHATTERED. AJ locks in a Nakamura Style ARMBAR and another ref runs down for the tap out win**.  It’s always interesting when wrestlers win a match with moves they don’t usually do, and this is a good opportunity for that. It’s not over though, these two would have one more battle a week later at Backlash in a NO DISQUALIFICATION match. Low blows are indeed fully allowed at Backlash.

 

**WINNER by Submission and STILL WWE Champion: AJ Styles**

 

**9TH MATCH: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (Steel Cage match for the WWE Universal Championship)**

 

* Brock is out first followed by The Gigantic Dog. **The match goes 16 minutes**. Not too long and not too short. The two have an absolute sprint and beat the piss out of each other. Throwing each other into the cage walls, finishers, punches, yanked off the walls while trying to climb. I beg that this storyline of terror finishes already. The inevitable is coming, people. Just accept it. Reigns wins the belt after 8,467 spears and escapes the cage to win the title to beat Brock without pinning him.

 

**WINNER by Cage Escape and NEW WWE Universal Champion: Roman Reigns**

 

**10TH MATCH: 50-Man Greatest Royal Rumble Match**

 

* In the past for Rumble matches, I have huge tables detailing every elimination in order, every entrant, every method of elimination, but I just did it in January and am very tired of tables indeed, so I’m just going to detail the first 2-3 entrants, the big interactions of the match, the surprises, and the final 4, final 3, final 2, and the winner. LET’S GO.

 

* In the past few years #1 and #2 have been completely random, ala Cass and Jericho in 2017 and Rusev and Balor in 2017. **The first two entrants are Bray Wyatt and Kevin Owens respectively. Two big guys who have never really fought but could make some magic together**.

 

* Some big interactions in the match: Daniel Bryan vs. Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman vs. The Undertaker, Pretty much every big guy in the match vs. The Great Khali, Bryan/Mysterio, Rollins/Mysterio, Rollins/Taker, Taker/Aleister Black, among others.

 

* Among some big surprise entrants are Rey Mysterio and Khali, who have kinda been announced but kinda not, Aleister Black, the returning Jason Jordan, Johnny Gargano, Undertaker, Kevin Nash, swap some in or out. You never know who might be in Jeddah.

 

* The final four end up being **Braun Strowman, Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan, and The Miz**. Miz eliminates Jericho. **Final 3 are Bryan, Braun and Miz**. Bryan gets the best of Miz and eliminates him via #PunchingHisFace. **The final two in the Greatest Royal Rumble (EVER) are Braun Strowman and Daniel Bryan**. It’s familiar territory for DB as it’s now a David vs. Goliath scenario. **The two exchange blows for 4-5 minutes and BRRRRAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUNNNNNN wins after Bryan goes for the B+ Running Knee, but Braun catches him mid-air and hoists him up in Running Powerslam position and dumps him over the top. The two shake hands after the match and Braun celebrates**.

 

**WINNER of the 2018 GREATEST ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH: Braun Strowman won by last eliminating Daniel Bryan**

 

> Final Results:

 

No. | Results | Stipulations | Times

:--|:--|:--|:--|

1 | Deleters Of Worlds (Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy) defeated The Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) by Pinfall | Tag Team match for the Vacant WWE RAW Tag Team Championships | 10 minutes

2 | Jeff Hardy (c) defeated Jinder Mahal by Pinfall | Singles match for the WWE United States Championship | 13 minutes

3 | The Undertaker defeated Rusev | Casket match | 8 minutes

4 | The Bludgeon Brothers (c) defeated The Usos by Pinfall | Tag Team match for the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships | 17 minutes

5 | Seth Rollins (c) defeated Finn Balor, The Miz and Samoa Joe | Fatal 4-Way Ladder match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship | 22 minutes

6 | Triple H defeated John Cena | Singles match | 12 minutes

7 | Cedric Alexander (c) defeated Kalisto by Pinfall | Singles match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship | 11 minutes

8 | AJ Styles (c) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura by Submission | Singles match for the WWE Championship | 19 minutes

9 | Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar (c) | Steel Cage match for the WWE Universal Championship | 16 minutes

10 | Braun Strowman won by last eliminating Daniel Bryan | 50-Man Greatest Royal Rumble Match | 95 minutes

 

> MY CARD FOR BACKLASH 2018 AFTER THIS SHOW (May 6th, 2018; Newark, NJ)

No. | Matches | Stipulations

:--|:--|:--|

1 | Roman Reigns (c) vs. Samoa Joe | Singles match for the WWE Universal Championship

2 | AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura | No Disqualification match for the WWE Championship

3 | Seth Rollins (c) vs. The Miz | Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship

4 | Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Randy Orton | Singles match for the WWE United States Championship

5 | Nia Jax (c) vs. Alexa Bliss and Mickie James | 2-On-1 Handicap match for the WWE RAW Women's Championship

6 | Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte | Singles match for the WWE Smackdown Women's Championship

7 | Deleters Of Worlds (Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy) (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre | Tag Team match for the WWE RAW Tag Team Championships

8 | The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. The New Day | Tag Team match for the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships

9 | Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Buddy Murphy | Singles match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

10 | Big Cass vs. Daniel Bryan | Singles match

 

That was how WWE should book the Greatest Royal Rumble. E V E R. If you enjoyed reading, tell me what you liked and didn't like, and what from this post you'd like to see actually happen on the show. I'll be back again next Saturday, with my "How WWE Should Book Backlash 2018" post, so be sure to look out for that. Enjoy the show, everyone.