IT doesn’t happen until January 29 next year, but the anticipation for the Royal Rumble is already huge.
The 30-man over-the-top-rope match is one of the highlights of the WWE year – with the winner traditionally going on to challenge for the title at WrestleMania.
Goldberg was the first person to be confirmed as an entrant to the Royal RumbleIt should be an easy formula to get right, but not every Rumble match is a success.
With WWE’s True Story of the Royal Rumble documentary on DVD & Blu-ray next week, I’ve taken a look back at the match’s greatest moments and biggest failures – and what the the upcoming Royal Rumble needs to deliver.
The Winner Main Events WrestleMania
SOUNDS obvious, but with the introduction of the Universal Championship, it’s not.
At WrestleManias between 2003 and 2013 – when WWE last had two “top” titles – six Royal Rumble losers or runners-up went on to actually main event WrestleMania (and main event means the last match, not a title match sandwiched in the middle of the card, no matter what WWE tells you).
That trend did irreparable damage to the prestige of the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania and WWE’s titles.
The upcoming Rumble is WWE’s chance to prove that winning the match means what it says.
Lesnar Should Eliminate Goldberg
Brock Lesnar is out for revenge on Goldberg after he was beaten in 87 secondsAFTER Paul Heyman’s announcement this week that Brock Lesnar will enter the Royal Rumble, it’s obvious that WWE is working towards another match between Lesnar and Goldberg at WrestleMania.
The Rumble should be used as an opportunity for Lesnar to eliminate Goldberg and score back a much-needed point.
WWE is enamoured with Goldberg right now.
It was bad enough that he was booked to destroy Lesnar in 89 seconds at Survivor Series – a clear message to the locker room about how old timers are the real superstars – imagine how bad it will be if Goldberg actually wins the Rumble and the championship at WrestleMania.
NXT Superstars
SURPRISES and returns are all part of the Rumble match.
But rather than bring back has-beens for a quick nostalgia pop, WWE should tap its pool of talent at NXT.
It doesn’t mean bringing them up full time to the roster, but imagine how much Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe, Tye Dillinger, or Shinsuke Nakamura would freshen up the match (not to mention the pops when they debut – just look back at AJ Styles’ debut last year).
Spots, Spots and More Spots
Rey Mysterio was the winner of the 2006 Royal RumbleA ring-full of wrestlers actually makes for the most boring Rumble matches (see 2008 and even the much-loved Rumble 2000 – punch-and-kick affairs that are duller than people remember).
The best Rumbles consist of carefully planned spots, one after another, with the steady stream of competitors given a specific purpose rather than just taking up ring space.
The first half of the 2006 match is a great example, as numbers one and two Triple H and Rey Mysterio battle each other and team to fight off each new entrant – top psychology that sets up the closing moments for eventual winner Mysterio.
Start Something New
FOR the 29 Superstars who won’t win, the Rumble is a way to begin a new programme.
It sounds like lazy booking – two wrestlers fall out after one eliminates the other – but it works.
It’s also a legitimate reason when there’s so much at stake in the Rumble match.
Chris Jericho and AJ Styles’ feud earlier this year started at the Rumble, as did Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle’s legendary rivalry back in 2005. When done right it’s the perfect way to set up a WrestleMania undercard match.
Women In The Rumble
WWE’s women’s division could be entrants in the Royal RumbleI’M not suggesting the women go toe-to-toe with male superstars – this isn’t the Attitude Era – but there’s room for some spots involving its current female roster, perhaps drawing a few numbers in succession to show their stuff.
The best Rumbles are always made up of exciting, tightly booked segments (think of the hardcore section in 2001 or CM Punk’s Nexus dominance in 2011).
It’s the next logical step for the women’s division after a groundbreaking 12 months of headlining events and even competing in Hell in a Cell.
Make A Star
THE format of the Rumble – a new competitor in every two minutes, elimination determined by going over the top rope – is a chance to establish someone as a dominant rising star, without them having to pin top stars or be pinned to lose.
Diesel did in 1994, Stone Cold Steve Austin did it in 1997, and even Roman Reigns in 2014 – each notching up the eliminations on their way to becoming legitimate headliners.
The smart money’s on Braun Strowman (no doubt WWE hopes we’ve forgotten than happened last year too, and it failed). Samoa Joe would be an ideal candidate for this, if he’s called up for the night.
A Surprise Winner
THE fans turned on WWE at Royal Rumbles 2014 and 2015 – won by Batista and Roman Reigns respectively – for a simple reason: they could see the winner coming a mile off.
It smacked of lazy, self-aggrandizing booking and the fans unsurprisingly rejected it.
This doesn’t mean chose a random winner who’s not over enough or doesn’t have the momentum to contend for a main title (Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus in 2011 and 2012) but to put some thought into the build, making it an open playing field between a number of potential winners.
Or even someone who we didn’t even know was entering…
A Finn Bálor Return
Finn Balor was ruled out for the Royal Rumble but could return early from injuryWHAT a surprise it would be if Bálor was medically cleared in time for the Rumble.
A surprise “Demon” entrance would be an instantly classic moment and – after winning the Universal Championship at SummerSlam, only to vacate it through injury the next night – the story of the underdog returning to claim what’s his tells itself.
Assuming Kevin Owens retains the title until WrestleMania, a title match between would be electric.
Another Shield Reunion
WE actually saw it happen first at Survivor Series – when Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose joined forced to drive AJ Styles through an announce table.
And Royal Rumble will mark the first time since that all three men will be on the same card.
The Rumble could see the three team up once again – another tease and step towards the trio’s inevitable second run together.
The True Story of the Royal Rumble is on DVD & Blu-ray Monday 5th December.
WWE NXT match stopped by referee after spot goes brutally wrong during TV taping
