WWE Royal Rumble 2012 Results: Ranking the Matches from Least to Most Exciting

The Royal Rumble is probably the second most anticipated WWE Pay-Per-View event each year. The 2012 Royal Rumble event did produce some exciting moments and some surprises.

This event included a 30-man Royal Rumble, a WWE Championship match, and a World Heavyweight Championship match.

Here is the list of the six Royal Rumble matches from least to most exciting.

6. Brodus Clay vs. Drew McIntyre

Result: Brodus Clay defeats Drew McIntyre

This match was not even worth the 1:05 that it lasted. The most predictable match of the night was completely pointless.

The most exciting thing about the match was Brodus Clay's introduction. Clay defeated McIntyre the same simple way he has beaten all his opponents since his return. This match buried McIntyre even further and proved that Clay is pretty limited.

Clay has to start doing more than the same routine, or else he will start getting old and boring really fast.

It would have made more sense to have Clay in the Royal Rumble.

5. 8-Diva Tag Team

Match Result: Beth Phoenix, Natalya and The Bella Twins defeated Kelly Kelly, Eve, Alicia Fox and Tamina

Although the Divas division has become almost irrelevant, this match was actually kind of exciting.

And with Kharma returning at the Royal Rumble, the Divas division is in for a huge overhaul.

The highlight of this match was when there was a brawl outside the ring and Kelly Kelly jumped off the top rope to the outside, on top of all the divas. 

4. Triple Threat Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship

Match Result: Daniel Bryan defeated Mark Henry and Big Show

This World Heavyweight Championship match opened the show. Mark Henry has had a nagging injury and was limited in this match. 

There was some exciting moments with all three men using the cage to their advantage. Although the title was never going to end up with anyone than Daniel Bryan, the ending seemed to be a botched.

Big Show was holding onto a dangling Bryan, until Bryan slipped out of his hands and fell victoriously to the floor. It felt as if Big Show was supposed to bring Bryan back into the ring but he lost a hold of him.

This match ended a little prematurely but still had its exciting moments.

3. John Cena vs. Kane

Match Result: John Cena fought Kane to a double-countout

The match was a back-and-forth brawl between Cena and Kane. Every time Cena would usually enter his "Super Cena" state, Kane was one step ahead and didn't allow him to gain any momentum.

The two most exciting moments in the actual match came when Cena was attempting a 5-Knuckle Shuffle and Kane grabbed him by the throat  when he leaned down. The other came when Cena finished the 5-Knuckle Shuffle from the top ropes.

The match would officially end with a double-countout which seemed to cripple the excitement.

However, the brawling continued all the way backstage and resulted in Kane breaking into an injured Zack Ryder's room and dragging him into the ring to deliver a tombstone. Then Cena tried to help Ryder and Eve, but he was choke-slammed himself.

This storyline is still not over and it will be interesting to see where the WWE goes with this. Cena's match with the Rock at WrestleMania is coming up, and has he completely embraced the hate like Kane said he would?

2. 30-Man Royal Rumble

Match Result: Sheamus eliminates Chris Jericho to win 2012 Royal Rumble

Obviously, any match that features 30 men which include some of the top superstars and surprise legends, all competing for a shot at a WrestleMania match, will be extremely exciting.

For me, this Royal Rumble was missing something. Many expected a huge return from someone like Shawn Michaels or Undertaker. When the number 30 entrant was being counted down, I was anticipating hearing the Undertaker bells and the lights to shut off. Big Show was a big (no pun intended) let down.

However the ending made up for all the disappointment because Chris Jericho didn't win. Jericho and Orton were the two favorites going into the event and when it came down to Sheamus and Jericho, I thought there was no shot that Sheamus could win. It made sense for Jericho to win and face CM Punk at WrestleMania. 

However Sheamus shockingly eliminated Jericho and won the Royal Rumble. He finally got back the momentum that he had a few months ago. It will be exciting to see where the WWE goes with this, and the sky is the limit for Sheamus in 2012.

1. CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler for WWE Championship

Match Results: CM Punk defeated Dolph Ziggler

These two have put on some really entertaining matches over the past couple of weeks and their match at the Royal Rumble did not disappoint.

One of the best moments of the match came when CM Punk reversed a huracanrana into a spinning power bomb.

As expected John Laurinaitis had an effect on the match. After the ref was "accidentally" knocked out, CM Punk made Ziggler tap out. The match was not over because neither the ref nor Laurinaitis saw this.

Many felt Ziggler would win the match after Laurinaitis screwed over Punk. That almost happened as Ziggler hit Punk with a Zig Zag as Punk was arguing with Laurinaitis. Punk tapped out as everybody held their breath for three seconds. 

Punk would then win after a "GTS" to Ziggler as both the official ref and Laurinaitis counted to three.