Biggest Takeaways From 2023 WWE Royal Rumble Results

WWE kicked off its Road to WrestleMania 39 on Saturday night in San Antonio with the Royal Rumble, a four-hour event that set in motion the feuds and Superstars that will define this year's Showcase of the Immortals.

Cody Rhodes won the men's Rumble match while Rhea Ripley cashed her ticket to a championship bout with her win in the women's event.

Those victories, as well as other hot topics created by the Royal Rumble, highlight these biggest takeaways.

Triple H's First Royal Rumble Features Several WrestleMania Previews

Triple H booked his first Royal Rumble matches Saturday night and started strong, delivering a version of the men's match that was compelling despite a foregone conclusion of a winner and spun off several programs for WrestleMania season.

We saw the return of Edge and a measure of revenge against The Judgment Day. That is a program that dates back to last summer and encompasses a beatdown at Extreme Rules, complete with a Con-Chair-To to The Rated-R Superstar's Hall of Fame wife, Beth Phoenix.

Then there was the return of Logan Paul, complete with a mid-air collision with Ricochet that dominated social media. The subsequent elimination of Seth Rollins gave fans a look at a potential high-profile match for The Visionary, who appeared to be the odd man out in terms of WrestleMania plans.

Dominik Mysterio apparently beat down his father, Rey, to keep him from entering the match and intensifying that program, while Bobby Lashley eliminated Brock Lesnar to add the latest chapter to a feud that dates back to last year's Royal Rumble.

Of course, it was the triumphant return of Cody Rhodes that dominated the headlines as he overcame intercontinental champion Gunther to earn his way to the main event of WrestleMania 39.

Was the match perfect? No. There were pacing issues, but it was clear that Triple H had a plan regarding the stories he wanted to feature and wove them into the 30-man match as well as one could have hoped for.

For someone who has had input in years past but not overseen the execution of a Rumble match in the role he currently occupies, this was a strong first effort. And more importantly, fans have a reasonable expectation of what they can expect come April 1-2.

Bray Wyatt Evolves Character But Still Feels Like A Gimmick

The Mountain Dew Pitch Black match that saw Bray Wyatt defeat LA Knight was certainly a thing that happened.

The images of Wyatt's neon-painted face and colorful contacts under the blacklight that filled the Alamodome were cool, but the match was way too much like the overly produced nonsense that doomed the previous incarnation of the character.

The lighting, a new mask, pyro, fire and a flying Uncle Howdy screamed gimmickry rather than storytelling devices as the match obscured the line between the two.

All of the work done to tell present the narrative of Wyatt descending back into the darkness he sought to escape was undone by the bells and whistles that have reportedly driven some top stars to be hesitant to work with him.

Seth Rollins, in particular, struggled in the wake of his feud with The Fiend for months before discovering the Visionary character that we see today.

What we saw Saturday night will not inspire those with doubts to be any more excited to work with Wyatt. The theatrics have to be reeled in to avoid condemning himself to a similar fate as his previous run.

Some showmanship is OK. We know as much from some of the legendary angles with The Undertaker and Kane. The more over-the-top stuff, though, simply doesn't work. Need evidence? Rewind the above video and watch Uncle Howdy throwing himself off the platform and ask yourself if it's effective or stupidly funny.

That one spot overshadowed the debut of a new mask, seemingly representing a new level of depravity for the former WWE champion, which is at the center of the story the performer himself is attempting to tell.

Asuka Reinvention Gives Her Fresh Start Under New Regime

Asuka made her return to WWE Saturday night at the Royal Rumble, drawing an enormous reaction before revealing a new look reminiscent of the one she used during her time in Japan as Kana.

Looking like a clown from hell, she unloaded on those in her way and lasted all the way until the final three of the women's match. An errant misting of Liv Morgan spelled her downfall, as eventual winner Rhea Ripley booted her off the apron and to the floor.

Despite her runner-up status, Asuka is poised for the main roster run she has deserved since her call-up in 2017, when she was half-heartedly built up to be beaten by Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34.

Speaking of The Queen, it appears she could use a dance partner for this year's Showcase of the Immortals. Might she and The Empress of Tomorrow run it back at SoFi Stadium?

There are few more interesting options that would be able to back up the build with an incredible in-ring performance.

Rhea Ripley Finally Reaches Potential, Cashes Ticket to WrestleMania

Credit: WWE.com

For years, Rhea Ripley has been on a quest to find herself in WWE.

Emerging from the Australian wrestling scene, she turned heads with her performance in the inaugural Mae Young Classic and underwent several changes in her appearance en route to winning the NXT UK and NXT women's titles.

A call-up to the main roster had her donning black leather and studs in an attempt to differentiate herself from others on the roster, even though she did that between the ropes by combining powerful force with heavy-hitting strikes.

A heel turn in 2022 and an alliance with Finn Bálor and Damian Priest allowed her to showcase more of her natural charisma and personality while continuing to evolve her look. The Mami nickname and on-screen partnership with Dominik Mysterio helped her truly get over while helping establish the second-generation competitor as a true heel.

Saturday night in San Antonio, after years of searching for that one element here or character tweak there, she was rewarded for finally putting it all together. After entering the women's Rumble match at No. 1 and setting a new endurance record, she outlasted Asuka and Liv Morgan to set herself up for a title shot at WrestleMania 39.

Based on teases and interactions on Raw over the last few months, she will likely challenge Bianca Belair for the red brand's top prize.

A win over The EST of WWE would serve as the culmination of Ripley's long journey of evolution and self-discovery. After years of trying to establish who she was and why fans should invest in her, she finally realized her potential and now has the full support of WWE's top officials behind her.

This is going to be the year of The Eradicator. Her women's Rumble victory is just the beginning.

WWE Must Call An Audible, Go With Jey Uso or Sami Zayn to Dethrone Roman Reigns

In the much-anticipated blowoff to Sami Zayn's Honorary Uce storyline, the beloved underdog struck undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns with a steel chair before enduring a beatdown that left him lying in the center of the ring, with his best friend, Kevin Owens, battered and handcuffed to the ropes mere feet away.

Just as importantly, it highlighted a schism within The Bloodline as Jey Uso walked out on brother Jimmy, Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman and The Tribal Chief to close out the show.

The enormous pop for Zayn's chair shot and Uso's walkout, coupled with the passionate "F--k you, Roman" chants that filled the Alamodome suggest one thing: Triple H must call an audible and go with either Zayn or Jey as the Superstar to dethrone Reigns.

Yes, Rhodes won the men's Rumble match in an emotional comeback, but what has played out elsewhere over the last eight months has been nothing short of magical pro wrestling storytelling.

It has been an extraordinary soap opera of loyalty, betrayal, family feuds and the tyrannical egotism of the heel central figure.

Or just another day at the WWE offices. Just kidding...mostly.

Zayn is as popular as he has ever been would make a fine suitor for Reigns' opponent at WrestleMania 39. Jey, on the other hand, has two years' worth of storytelling to channel into a showdown with the man who forced him to acknowledge him at the conclusion of their epic two-match pay-per-view series in 2020.

Rhodes is back from a devastating injury, has made it a personal goal to win the WWE title that eluded his father and would make for a great opponent for Reigns.

That would be great on any other night, but not after the conclusion of this extraordinary storyline.

Rhodes will have his time sooner rather than later. For now, the spotlight belongs to Zayn, Uso and Reigns as they start to put a bow on one of the greatest programs ever produced by WWE.