[2015-01-25-WWE-Royal Rumble] Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins vs John Cena

[cactus]

This has a crazy pace which rarely slows down that makes this an absolute treat to watch. Everyone brought something unique to the table. Cena is the powerhouse babyface, Rollins is the sneaky high flyer who will try and steal a victory and Lesnar is the video game end boss. Lesnar and Cena are great as always, but I thought this was breakout performance for Rollins. He uses his insane atheism  to make this mostly hoss fight stand out. He successfully pulls off that counter to the AA that made CM Punk fall on his arse on MITB 2011 and I think he hits the first ever phoenix splash in a WWE ring. The match loses some steam after Lesnar is taken out by the sick announce table spot, but this is still a classic between three of the best wrestlers of the 2010's. 

★★★★½

[DMJ]

I haven't seen this match in forever and I never did a full review on my blog, but I did "score" it at 4.5-out-of-5 and include it in my database.

Stone Cold called it the best triple threat match he'd ever seen on his podcast soon after and I remember watching it with non-fans who were also thoroughly engaged (the last Rumble party I think I ever hosted/attended, not that they were ever an annual event). 

 

[Chess Knight]

Found this to have several cool ideas, and a triple threat where all three are decently active for most of it is nice, but I came away disappointed with the match. I know Lesnar is Lesnar but he straight up no sells the AA aside from maybe looking sweatier and redder after it. Then he gets laid out near the steps for a moment and instead of Cena taking the opportunity as quickly as he can, he's having to take even longer on the five knuckle shuffle because the crowd are more boo-ier than normal (who's fucking idea was it to have this Reigns victory Rumble in Philly??). Lesnar being the looming threat makes a three way actually super interesting to me when I usually don't care for them, and I think with him out for a bit they missed an opportunity to have Cena try to really bum rush Rollins before Lesnar gets back up (or have try to Rollins bum rush Cena). I liked the elbow drop spot that ACTUALLY (almost) takes Lesnar out though, even if I started drifting away during the Cena vs. Rollins bit. I wouldn't say this wasn't good because it does have a lot of positives (they did a great job of diversifying Lesnar's suplex routine with having two guys, and shout out to Rollins' awesome knee on both opponents), but really did feel it missed a few opportunities that could have pushed it up.

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar vs John Cena vs Seth Rollins - Royal Rumble 2015

I was there live for this bad boy with my brother in Philly. I remember there’s a blizzard on Friday in Boston but we braved the elements driving down to see two of all-time favorites: Brock and Cena kick some ass in their prime. I have never watched the match back until now ten years later. Does it hold up or should I have left the memories alone?

Hell Yeah it holds up brutha! Probably the best Triple Threat of all time! Each wrestler stays true to their unique character. Brock Lesnar is the Horror Movie Monster. The Creature from the Black Lagoon, always stalking, always rising. John Cena is the valiant hero trying to slay the Beast by any means necessary. Seth Rollins is the coward using sneak attacks to insert himself. It is awesome.

The reason why the match works isn’t because they changed the formula it is because of the characters. Yes they work at a break-neck pace and everything feels hot. It is still a spot fest just a very well-done one. It is the characters that enhance the viewing experience and take this from Eye candy to emotionally stirring.

Brock Lesnar had a fucking Bitchin’ 2015! He starts off ROARING! The Horror Movie Monster is getting the babyface shine and the Philly crowd is loving it. Cena is still very much disliked and Rollins has some ROH street cred bur his cowardly character keep the fans from being full-throated in their support.
 

Brock is Unstoppable just trucking Rollins and throwing Cena around. The high spot of this segment is CHUCKING Noble & Mercury like they were nothing. I like the first big chink on the armor. Brock applies the Kimura. Cena being the valiant hero that he is Bob Backlund his way out. However Seth Rollins LEAPS onto the Pile with a knee bowling everyone over. That is the perfect microcosm of the match. 

Cena snaps off an FU on a weakened Lesnar but Rollins that little  fucking sneak throws Cena out and only gets a one. Perfect character work. 

Through some outside work, Cena and Rollins end up alone. Cena works through his finish stretch. Another reasons the match works well is that it feels like one long finish stretch from beginning to end. When Cena goes for the Five Knuckle Shuffle we get the first of the Horror Movie Monster popping up from behind and demolishing someone with a suplex. 
 

The next big high spot and the one burned in my memory because out seats were looking over the bottom right turnbuckle (hard cam perspective) was Brock plucking Rollins out of the air into a F-5. Saying I was able to see Brock Lesnar live multiple times in my life is a blessing.

Another thing that worked well in this Triple Threat was the use of saves to protect the finishers. Very expertly timed.

It is time slay the Beast or so we think. Three FUs and a Curb Stomp. Brock is loopy. CENA TACKLES BROCK THROUGH THE BARRICADE! SICK! Brock keeps getting up. Cena throws him into steps and Rollins DRIVES AN ELBOW THROUGH THE HEART OF TYE BEAT FROM THE TOP ROPE THROUGH THE ANNOUNCER TABLE! KILLER!

So what stops this from being a 5 star classic is the Cena/Rollins solo stretch. It is very standard 21st Century main event wrestling. My turn, your turn big bombs. It wasn’t bad but it took something unique and made it feel ordinary. Liked the use of Mercury and Noble. Cena having to expend energy neutralizing them with a stacked FU gives Rollins the time make a serious push for victory. Busting out the Phoenix Splash here was genius. GOD could Lesnar’s timing be any better. One of the best Horror Movie Monster pop up and decimations. It was electric. I liked sneaking in the one hope spot of Rollins using the MITB Case stomp but Brock plucks him again for the F5 win. From Brock return to the F5 was maybe two minutes but absolutely electric 2 minutes. 
 

Maybe the best 21st Century-style match ever. I want emphasize the word STYLE. Plenty of matches in 21st Century are better but they are 20th Century style matches. This kicked some serious ass. Bravo to each man playing their character to perfection. **** 1/2