The WWE landscape looks drastically different heading into the 2022 Royal Rumble than it did just a month ago in the lead-up to Day 1 on New Year’s Day. A positive COVID-19 test for Roman Reigns moved Brock Lesnar over to Monday Night Raw’s WWE championship match, which he went on to win. Now, rather than continuing their bitter rivalry, they’re each defending their respective world titles Saturday night in St. Louis.
Reigns faces longtime rival and former ally Seth Rollins. Lesnar defends against Bobby Lashley. The big looming question is whether Reigns and Lesnar will line up again on the road to WrestleMania 38, and the way these two matches play out will be telling in that regard.
There’s also the matter of the mandatory title shot guaranteed to the winner of the Royal Rumble match. If both Reigns and Lesnar retain, that winner will be added to the mix.
Both WWE’s women’s champions will be in action as well. Becky Lynch defends her Raw championship against Doudrop, while SmackDown champion Charlotte Flair enters the Rumble match — joining Lesnar and Reigns as the only WWE world champions to do so in the modern era.
The card is rounded out by a matchup of married WWE mainstay couples, as Edge and Beth Phoenix battle The Miz and Maryse.
Follow along throughout the night for live results and analysis as Tim Fiorvanti breaks down each match.
Still to come:
WWE championship: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Bobby Lashley
WWE Universal championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins
WWE Raw women’s championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Doudrop
Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. The Miz and Maryse
Women’s Royal Rumble
Men’s Royal Rumble