The Royal Rumble. The single most exciting time of the year, the beginning of the road to WrestleMania. The past couple of years, the Royal Rumble match has seen WWE make some pretty damning mistakes for which they were rightly criticised.
Bootista winning in 2014 was horrible. Everyone saw it coming. Daniel Bryan not being in the match was a poor decision. Obviously, fan backlash would lead to Bryan winning the title at WrestleMania but WWE didn’t learn. Roman Reigns was not ready to main event Wrestlemania. He has really improved over the past year which is a good thing because he really, really was very, very bad.
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The 2016 edition marks the first time in a long time that I’m excited for a WWE event. Sure, The Authority vs Babyface angle is a decade and a half old, but Vince McMahon has indeed helped bring some extra legitimacy to Roman Reigns.
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After ‘fighting against the odds’ and retaining his title on RAW with Vince as special guest referee, the announcement that Roman would have to defend his title in the Rumble match was quite shocking, but it was smart from a storyline perspective. It pushes the whole ‘overcome the odds’ shtick and genuinely stacks the deck against Roman.
Also, it is unique and a first time ever match which is always exciting. For those wondering, Ric Flair’s win was for the vacant WWF/E title and thus, this will be the first time that the Rumble will see the title defended. And yes, I am excited for it.
Okay, now to the booking bit. I am not a Roman Reigns hater, but, and here me out here, he should not walk out the WWE champion. A story of redemption and him winning the title at WrestleMania and fighting against injustice etc. etc. is far better and has more potential.
For once, I would like to see WWE use some logic. Don’t give Roman no.1 or no.2, give him no 5. Make No.1 - No.4 the Wyatt Family. Now, have Roman put up a brave fight. Eliminate Rowan and Harper because of ‘good luck’ and as he is attempting to attack Bray, have Braun Strowman put him in the bearhug and eliminate him. Yes, I don’t think Strowman can wrestle either, but WWE like him so what the hell.
Now, I’d start throwing in a few lower card stars to be fed to Strowman and Bray- Fandango, Adam Rose and Heath Slater. Then, a couple of alumni returning- Road Dogg and Nash would be decent.
At this point, the crowd will get frustrated with the Wyatt Family and Strowman will become tired... So we will bring out in consecutive numbers - Rusev, Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus. You can have Rusev and Alberto wait outside for Sheamus and then have a brawl. Kalisto, Titus O’Neil, the Usos, the Dudleys and the New Day should all enter and I feel that no.27 which is usually considered lucky should be.....
BAAAARRROOOOOCCCCKKKKKKK LLLEEEESSSSSNNNNAAAAAARRRRR!!!!!
Lesnar will come in and destroy everyone. Eliminations left, right and centre. No 28- Triple H; now, everyone thinks Trips should win the title. But that is ridiculous. He is past his prime. The question remains who Roman will face at Wrestlemania.
No.29 – Dean Ambrose. At this point, Chris Jericho will be in the ring and Dean will make a beeline for and eliminate him from the match after a Dirty eDeds. Jericho will be pissed and look for redemption, culminating in a match at Wrestlemania.
Now, no. 30 is the big one for me. Have The Rock enter the rumble. Shock the crowd and do a mega cactus clothesline to take out himself and Triple H leading to a Wrestlemania match with Reigns. Trips saved for Summerslam.
Kalisto is important here. Hear me out. This is about making new stars as well. With so many people out injured, have Sheamus eliminated by a combination of the New Day and have Brock throw ADR over the rope. Give Kalisto the job of jumping about and having near eliminations like Shawn Michaels used to. The New Day attack Kalisto and he manages to take out Kofi and Xavier before Big E throws him over.
This will leave a final four of Lesnar, Ambrose, Big E and Kevin Owens. Now, Chris Jericho runs in and attacks Dean Ambrose, turning heel. Dean survives and as he attempts to hit Jericho with a Dirty Deeds, Kevin Owens grabs him and throws him over.
Now, Big E tries to take out Owens with a cheap shot but he survives. Owens hits him with a pop-up powerbomb and Lesnar laughs it off. He picks up Big E and F-5s him. He throws him over the top. Final 2 - Brock and Owens. Suplex city, people! before Owens blocks one and throws him over but Brock holds on, grabs him by the shoulder and Gorilla Presses him over the top.
Brock Lesnar is WWE champion and the stage is set for a showdown with Roman Reigns which the authority will try and stop but Roman will win his way to a rematch in the main event of Wrestlemania 32. Roman Reigns will walk out the undisputed WWE Heavyweight Champion of the World.
