Royal Rumble 2016: five things we learnt, including why Triple H winning was best for business, but roster is wafer thin
All the focus will now be on the road to WrestleMania
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Your support makes all the difference.Triple H winning the title was best for business
It was always going to happen. Setting up a title match at WrestleMania which Roman Reigns will inevitably win, having Triple H win the Royal Rumble was best possible outcome out of this year's participants, and the only outcome that made any sense for long-term plans. More money in the chase, as they say.
Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose can step up
With many of the WWE roster out injured and with no signs of returning for WrestleMania, the performances of Kevin Owen and his rival, the Intercontinental champion Dean Ambrose in both their match and in the Royal Rumble clearly show they can step up and be key players in this year's WrestleMania. A match against former NXT rival Sami Zayn was teased for Owens during the Rumble, as was a programme with the debuting AJ Styles. It was a clever move for Owens to eliminate Styles.
Brock Lesnar needs to take on Bray Wyatt, not Braun Strowman at Mania
The feud between Brock Lesnar and the Wyatt family continues to gather pace. But his WrestleMania match needs to be against their leader Bray Wyatt, not member Braun Strowman. The giant Strowman eliminated five people in the Rumble, more than anyone else but now is the perfect time for the WWE to push Wyatt to another level. A WrestleMania win over Lesnar would immediately make him one of the big players at a time when the WWE has so few.
Banks made a statement
An intriguing story line from the Divas division emerged after Charlotte Flair beat Becky Lynch. Sasha Banks, the former NXT women's champion walked down to the ring and then attacked both Lynch and Flair. One of the most over Divas on the roster, Banks left with her stock even higher after the Rumble.
The pre-show showed just how little the depth of talent is
Former world champion Jack Swagger was part of the tag-team, alongside Mark Henry, who won the qualifying match to feature on the pre-show. In that match they defeated The Ascension and The Dudley Boyz. Together they lasted a combined 45 seconds in the Rumble. Swagger lasted 15 seconds, Henry lasted 30. All this showed was the lack of depth on the roster at the moment.
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