WWE Royal Rumble 2017 Review: Results, Analysis, and Grades

WWE.com

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
Rich Swann (c) vs. Neville

Result: Neville defeats Rich Swann via submission to win the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The cruiserweight division hasn’t met expectations. The in-ring work hasn’t been close to what it was in the Cruiserweight Classic, putting a damper on what these athletes are supposed to be in WWE for. Getting them over with the main roster fans on a show that airs after SmackDown doesn’t do them any favors either. So Swann and Neville came in with quite the task at the Royal Rumble.

The feud between Swann and Neville got billed as personal and definitely seemed like it when this match began. Both men, especially the Cruiserweight Champion showed some anger with his stiff kicks and aggressive lariats.

This would be all about Neville, however. He had been the star of the cruiserweight division in previous weeks and showed off here. His superplex and submission hold ended up doing Swann in and crowned him the fourth WWE Cruiserweight Champion.

A very good match from both here, but the crowd didn’t care much. It may have to do with the presentation of the cruiserweight division and awkward placement of 205 Live, so most of the fans inside the Alamodome may have never watched this feud transpire over the past six weeks.