There's just something special about Royal Rumble. The event finds that professional wrestling sweet-spot of just a bit over the top, not too
flashy, and a whole lot of fun. While there's something to be said for the hype and excitement of WrestleMania, the hardcore nature of Extreme
Rules,
the fun of TLC (tables, ladders, and chairs) matches, and all of the rest of the WWE pay-per-view and Monday and Friday night lineups that extend
beyond the regular man-on-man match ups and story lines, the Royal Rumble simply captures the essence of what the WWE is all about. This is an
event where (this year) forty wrestlers descend into the ring -- one at a time and not all at once -- at a set ninety-second interval to battle one
another. The rules are
simple: stay in the ring until the end. No frills, no running around backstage, no weapons of mass wrestling destruction, just a whole lot of confined
excitement
between some of the world's biggest, meanest, and most determined athletes. Certainly, there's no doubt it's all calculated ahead of time, right
down to
"would wrestler X be better for the sport coming into the match at number 24 or 23?" but it's not the predetermined nature of the sport that sells,
it's
the energy and enthusiasm of the performers. Bash the WWE for staging the outcomes, but praise the wrestlers for a dedication to self and industry
as they compete in one of the most physically grueling and challenging sports in the world. "Fake" though it may be, there's no denying the
physical
abuse and raw skill necessary to compete, and there's perhaps no better showcase for that skill than the Royal Rumble, an event that keeps every
wrestler on his toes in the WWE's most dynamic, fluid, ever-evolving landscape, all confined to one twenty foot-by-twenty foot squared circle.
Rumblers.
Short fight card, sweet match-ups. Royal Rumble's 2011 event isn't a dazzler in the same scope of Sports Entertainment's biggest events,
but it throws top-named wrestlers out onto the mat with regularity, first in two highly-anticiapted match-ups between four of the WWE's brightest
stars, and later in the forty-man main event where fresh meat runs down the ramp and into the squared ring for a ridiculously entreating clash of
wrestling titans who toss one another about the ring with the only goal of surviving through to the end, to stand tall when all others have fallen, to
earn
an opportunity for WrestleMania greatness. The evening kicks off with a matchup between Dolph Ziggler and Edge, the angle in this one being
acting General manager Vicky Guerrero's banning of Edge's signature "spear" move. Fan favorite Randy Orton battles the showy, cocky Miz in the
evening's second bout, an entertaining but ultimately routine clash that never quite seems elevated beyond the average high-profile matchup
viewers
might see on RAW or Smackdown. The obligatory Diva's match precedes the main event, a dazzling headliner that includes pretty much every
Superstar one might want to see (The Undertaker is a notable absentee). The event begins with CM Punk and
some tomfoolery between his "New Nexus" amigos and the rival Corre before the refs straighten things out and bring Daniel Bryan into the mix.
Superstars of all shapes and sizes -- from The Great Khali to Hornswoggle, from Kofi Kingston to Husky Harris -- enter and exit the ring, and the
usual array of high profile Superstars, including John Cena, Randy Orton, Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus, all compete in a spectacle of
larger-than-life humanity vying for a shot at WrestleMania legend.
Royal Rumble 2011 delivers a typical WWE pay-per-view on Blu-ray experience. The main program on the disc is the PPV event
reproduced for home video, nothing more and nothing less. The event is entertaining, nothing extraordinarily memorable or historic, but rather an
all-around performer that delivers first-rate WWE action from beginning to end. Boston's TD Garden houses a great show; the WWE certainly knows
the meaning of "spectacle," and there's no end to the music, pyrotechnics, flashy electronic signage, and excellent camera work that captures some
amazing action shots, both up-tight and medium-distance. The story lines aren't particularly interesting this go-round -- the best they could come
up with results in nothing more than the usual shenanigans; did anyone really think Edge would get through his match without utilizing his banned
move? -- and the event relies more on sheer wrestling prowess, spectacle, and raw entertainment to get through the evening. There are some
highlight moments to be sure, including the towering figure of The Great Khali wiping out New Nexus, a Hornswoggle-John Cena alliance, and a John
Morrison move that would make even Kofi Kingston pause and applaud the insane athleticism required to pull it off. No, this isn't a particularly
memorable Rumble, but it's an awful lot of fun, and at the end of the day "fun" is pretty much all the WWE needs to succeed.
The following four matches comprise the 2011 edition of Royal Rumble:
World Heavyweight Championship Match: Edge vs. Dolph Ziggler.
WWE Championship Match: The Miz vs. Randy Orton.
Fatal 4-Way Match for the Divas Championship: Natalya vs. Eve vs. Michelle McCool vs. Layla.
40-Man Royal Rumble Match: Participants include (in order of ring entrance) CM Punk, illegal entrance by The Corre and The New
Nexus, Daniel Bryan, Justin Gabriel, Zack Ryder,
William Regal, Ted DiBiase, John Morrison, Yoshi Tatsu, Husky Harris, Chavo Guerrero, Mark Henry, JTG, Michael McGillicutty, Chris Masters, David
Otunga, Tyler Reks, Vladimir Kozlov, R Truth, The Great Khali, Mason Ryan, Booker T, John Cena, Hornswoggle, Tyson Kidd, Heath Slater, Kofi
Kingston, Jack Swagger, King Sheamus, Rey Mysterio, Wade Barrett, Dolph Ziggler, Diesel, Drew McIntyre, Alex Riley, Big Show, Ezekiel Jackson,
Santino Marella, Alberto Del Rio, Randy Orton, and Kane.
Royal Rumble 2011's 1080i high definition transfer isn't quite as crisp as the 2012 version -- things seem to get better by the year with the WWE new
releases, if not by the release -- but it holds its own and delivers a satisfying presentation, background warts and all. Viewers will note a general
crispness and strong attention to detail. Close-ups reveal amazing skin textures, clothing (what little of it there is) intricacies, tattoo details, and even
little imperfections on the mat. Strong clarity allows for even distant audience members and their signs to appear nicely defined and both recognizable
and readable. Colors are well balanced, and there's no shortage to be found on wrestler attire, electronic signage, and throughout the crowd. Light noise
is evident, ringing is visible along the ropes, and moderate blocking is easy to spot across darker backdrops. The image often captures a slightly hazy
appearance, but even then the overriding crispness and attention to detail are evident. This isn't a perfect transfer, but WWE fans should be pleased
with the results and the knowledge that things are getting better as time goes by.
Royal Rumble 2011 features the WWE-standard Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Also included is the audio from the Spanish-language feed,
presented in LPCM 2.0. The 5.1 English track demonstrates a general proficiency and liveliness. There's a fine sense of immersion into the stadium.
Music flows with surprising clarity and vigor through the stadium speakers, and crowd applause, chants, and general background murmurs nicely envelop
the home listening audience. Ringside commentary plays with satisfactory clarity, and in-ring and in-match microphone commentary -- even the shrill
Vicky Guerrero -- comes across with all the clarity and accuracy listeners could want of a release like this. Heavier sound effects impress; the hard
crashes and stomps onto the mat ring out with a precision thud. While this lossy track lacks the absolutely dynamic and seamlessly realistic sense of
immersion that's often found on other recorded "live" events -- like Rock concerts -- presented via lossless audio on Blu-ray, the end result is a satisfying
presentation that might not transport the listener to the front seat but that at least recreates the environment with some accuracy and attention to
detail.
Royal Rumble 2011 contains a trio of bonus features revolving around pre- and post-Rumble events. A DVD copy of the event is also
included.
Todd Grisham Interviews Eve (1080i, 1:03): Royal Rumble -- January 30, 2011. Home video exclusive.
Alberto Del Rio's Royal Rumble Celebration (1080i, 10:35): Monday Night RAW -- January 31, 2011.
Monday Night RAW (1080i, 1:28:53): Includes Edge is Ready for RAW; John Morrison & Mark Henry vs. King Sheamus & Alberto Del
Rio; WWE Divas
Championship Match: Natalya vs. Melina; Nexus in the Locker Room; Josh Matthews Interviews John Cena; Edge vs. The Miz; Josh Matthews Interviews
Wade Barrett; 6-Person Mixed Tag Team Match: Daniel Bryan, Nikki Bella, & Brie Bella vs. Ted DiBiase, Maryse, & Alicia Fox; Nikki & Brie Bella Argue Over
Daniel Bryan; Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov vs. Husky Harris & Michael McGillicutty; and The Loser's Group is Out of the Royal Rumble
Match:
CM Punk vs. Wade Barrett. From January 24, 2011.
2011's edition of one of the WWE's premiere events -- the Royal Rumble -- won't go down in the record books as one of the all-time great evenings in
Sports Entertainment history, but it's a satisfying little diversion that's home to first-class wrestling and a plethora of stars that no other evening
throughout the wrestling year can match. Names like Cena, Orton, Del Rio, Kane, Sheamus, Edge, Mysterio, and Kingston comrpise just a sampling of
the Superstar talent on display, and that alone is reason enough to watch, never mind that they are all performing at peak efficiency. If nothing else,
this Blu-ray release of Royal Rumble 2011 both adds another piece to the complete WWE-on-Blu-ray collection, and it's also good enough to pop
in for a relaxing evening of classic wrestling action. The disc features quality video and audio as well as a few extras, including a complete episode of
Monday Night RAW. Recommended.
WWE Royal Rumble: Other Editions
2-disc set $16.29
1-disc $9.77
Blu-ray bundles with WWE Royal Rumble 2011 (1 bundle)
