Official 2013 Royal Rumble Discussion Thread (Classic Vince McMahon Intro Video Inside)

[Cool King]

I've not read the thread but I'll add "my two cents" or whatever.

I enjoyed the PPV, it was good from start to end and a great PPV to kick off the 2013 PPV calendar.

Del Rio vs Big Show was actually not bad. It had some good spots and the whole duck tape thing is a good way to continue the Del Rio/Big Show feud which will most likely end at Elimination Chamber.

The Tag Team Match was what it was. It was your average Tag Team Match and I actually thought Team Rhodes Scholars were going to win. Seeing as they didn't, I get the feeling they will win the titles at the next opportunity they get. They're pretty much due to be champions at this point.

The Royal Rumble Match was great and I'm actually happy Cena won. Out of the final four, I wanted Cena to win. If Orton had made it to the final four, I would have wanted him to win, but final four, it was Cena. Mostly because I knew Ziggler wasn't going to win, not while being Mr. Money In The Bank anyway. I didn't want Sheamus to win as he had won last year and I'm not really that big on Sheamus, though I have grown to like him a bit more recently, and I just didn't want Ryback winning as it would have been just too obvious. I actually thought he would win when it was the final four.

I'm sure it's just me and I'll probably get someone commenting on this, but to me, everything just seems far too obvious when it comes to Ryback. :-\ So I was pleasantly surprised when Cena won.

As for the entrants, I won't lie, I marked out like a bitch when Jericho's music hit. I had no idea he would be there. I liked the way Jericho replied to the "You've still got it" chants with "I've never lost it, baby!". I don't expect him to be around for that long though as Fozzy are touring Australia around the end of February/beginning of March.

Goldust was another good surprise and I loved the "Goldust" chant he got. Bo Dallas is terrible. I'm not a fan and I knew he'd get a "Maven Movement" and eliminate a big name. This big name had to be Wade Barrett. I can see Bo Dallas being involved with Barrett now and probably go after the Intercontinental Championship, which I really hope he doesn't win. Also, it's probably just me, but I think Bo Dallas has a really annoying face and he kind of just looks like Michael Jackson during Jackson's time as a white man. If not 100% Michael Jackson, then some kind of really bad impersonator anyway.

I also was surprised that The Godfather was an entrant, though him only lasting around five seconds was a bit bad but I guess it was to be expected. It was great seeing him though. Kofi Kingston's chair spot was great. I think we can all expect some crazy spot from Kingston during every Royal Rumble match now. I actually though he was going to take the top lid thing of the Spanish Announce Table off and place it on the floor and walk over it into the ring. If he did that, then technically, his feet wouldn't be touching the floor.

CM Punk vs The Rock is something which I get the feeling will have people divided. As for me, I'm a bit "conflicted" myself. I'm happy that The Rock won and I don't really care that CM Punk's streak has ended, because having it ended by The Rock is pretty great and nothing to bitch about. It's better than having it ended by some "Flavour Of The Month" name or whatever.

I'm just not sure I liked the way The Rock won it. If The Rock had hit The People's Elbow and got the three count, then cool, that would have been great. It's just the fact that he told Vince McMahon, the boss, what to do and restart the match, and then won in about minute, kind of takes the "wow" from his win. :-\

Though that was my thoughts immediately after the match. I've had time to sleep now and recap what happened and I think it's not all that bad. It's still bad to some degree, but it's not all bad. I get the strong feeling that it'll be revealed some time down the line that it wasn't The Shield that put The Rock through the table, but it was Brock Lesnar. I thought that it was Lesnar as it was happening.

I get the feeling that the incident could lead down two different routes. Keeping in mind if it was Lesnar that put The Rock through the table.

Route 1: Lesnar is revealed as the guy who put The Rock through the table and it all falls into place that Paul Heyman was behind The Shield and Brad Maddox without Punk's knowledge, so Punk could remain as Champion for as long as possible. We could then have some kind of heel stable consisting of CM Punk, Lesnar, The Shield, Maddox and Heyman.

Route 2: The same as Route 1 but with Punk not being happy with Heyman doing all that behind his back, which could lead to Punk turning face again and possibly going against the heel stable of Lesnar, The Shield, Maddox and Heyman.

But overall, I really enjoyed Royal Rumble and I see nothing to complain about other than Bo Dallas eliminating Barrett and possibly getting a shot at the Intercontinental Championship, but I'm sure most of you would have done that anyway. :p

[Triple Naitch]

Jericho must be so happy that he finally has a return that wasn't spoiled by the Internet.

[Keith]

Chris Jericho comes back after a couple of months, comes in at #2 in the Royal Rumble, and lasts for over 45 minutes. That is crazy. He's one of the greatest of all time.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

Yeah Cool King makes a vaild point. Bo Dallas eliminating Barrett and possibly wasting Barrett's time in a feud is definitely the worst part of the ppv.

[Skippord]

unless Wade Barrett in fact murders Bo Dallas

[Triple Naitch]

Already a new Jericho shirt on wwe.com.

[Cool King]

Already a new Jericho shirt on wwe.com.

http://demandware.edgesuite.net/aaiw_prd/on/demandware.static/Sites-wwe-Site/Sites-main/default/v1359346380823/images/large/77086.jpg

Well, that's getting bought. :y:

[Cool King]

Yeah Cool King makes a vaild point. Bo Dallas eliminating Barrett and possibly wasting Barrett's time in a feud is definitely the worst part of the ppv.

Bo Dallas is the worst part of anything he's involved with.

[Cool King]

So much hate for Bo Dallas on TPWW.

[Keith]

I just read Brock Lesnar signed a new 2-year deal with WWE.

Hmm. Makes you wonder if he'll somehow be connected to last night's WWE Chmpionship match.

http://i49.tinypic.com/wlvrlu.png

[#1-norm-fan]

Fucking great PPV.

I'm pretty excited about the prospect of Cena finally getting his win over The Rock at WrestleMania. And doing it with the title on the line, no less.

[The Fraze]

Not sure I can handle Cena beating The Rock. Punk I would have been "ok" with, but not Cena...not John Cena. Fuck. Totally against a twice in a lifetime match also.

[Innovator]

2nd Annual Once in a Lifetime

[Innovator]

Wrestlemania XXX:

Once in a Lifetime: With a Vengeance

[VSG]

WWE Presents: A Lifetime is a Year

[The Fraze]

All probable titles for the documentary dvd.

[Shadrick]

A Good Day To Twice In A Lifetime.

[Keith]

Like I told Providence Peep, Rock/Cena took place last year in April. The world ended on December 21. So this is a whole new life we're living.

So the "Once in a Lifetime" thing still holds true.

[Splaya]

I just read Brock Lesnar signed a new 2-year deal with WWE.

Hmm. Makes you wonder if he'll somehow be connected to last night's WWE Chmpionship match.

http://i49.tinypic.com/wlvrlu.png

It makes things more interesting. I am assuming that the new deal is by appearances again and not a full time gig. If it's appearances, they can basically front load the deal full of appearances in case he decides to go mental again and leave and void his contract.

[Keith]

When Brock Lesnar becomes WWE Champion, some people are gonna flip-out.

"What?! Another part-timer?! Man, fuck this shit!"

[whiteyford]

Yeah Cool King makes a vaild point. Bo Dallas eliminating Barrett and possibly wasting Barrett's time in a feud is definitely the worst part of the ppv.

Bo Dallas is like Billy Gunn x1000.

[VSG]

Heel-ish move there

[Corporate CockSnogger]

Bo Dallas looks like the offspring of Gimli and Legolas.

[whiteyford]

GIVE ME YOUR ADDRESS!!!!

[NormanSmiley]

my 2 pennies...

the del rio bret hart thing seemed forced.. i would never say those two remind me of each other...

the del rio/show match to me would have been that much better if del rio was a heel. the heel escapes by tying the faces feet to the ropes forcing a ten count after his stooge was thrown into the wall looks much better for storytelling. not to mention would have caused more intrigue to the rumble final four when only faces were left

the tag match was fine, no complaints.

great perfomances in the rumble from zig and jericho. jericho saying i never lost it baby i think was alot of our fave moments.

a couple opportunities i think were missed with barrett and sheamus being in so long to really slug it out and open up a story line.

the bo dallas thing didnt impress me, he didnt do anything in the rumble just sat in a corner.

not surprised cena won but the least you could do for the kiddies cena is break a sweat and make it look like it wasnt all planned out 6 months ago john boy

Orton needed to be in the final two. ryback is over and a novelty no reason to waste #30 on him just to eliminate him, bring him in at 15-20 let him eat some people up and get eliminated being caught off guard. Orton on the other hand needed a good showing if they are going to flip him heel and be in the main even picture

punk rock was good. like both guys so it didnt matter to me how it ended. its not how i would have wrtten it but im not concerned about ratings, workrate, and i would never take the gertner gimmick of just disagreeing with everyone so i look like an asshole, nor would i ever have let my face get as fuck as that fucking kid

[Lock Jaw]

When Brock Lesnar becomes WWE Champion, some people are gonna flip-out.

"What?! Another part-timer?! Man, fuck this shit!"

No. The IWC still likes Lesnar, so they will be all "Yyyyeah Lesnar this is so badass"

[#1-norm-fan]

Not sure I can handle Cena beating The Rock. Punk I would have been "ok" with, but not Cena...not John Cena. Fuck. Totally against a twice in a lifetime match also.

I was against it if they did another long build. As time has gone by though I've gotten more and more into the idea.

[#1-norm-fan]

By the way, Del Rio and Ricardo are fucking awesome as faces.

[Lock Jaw]

http://i.imgur.com/6VelXaG.jpg

[Lock Jaw]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/5175ec7e7011b0b255c4af47cfc22e93/tumblr_mhboxzWHIu1qlbkk6o1_500.jpg

[Schlomey]

Just finished the show and I'll go out on a limb and say that this years Royal Rumble match was easily the best of all time. Regardless the winner the match itself was awesome and the surprise entrants were great.

Punk vs Rock was good but I'm sad Punk isn't champ anymore but I don't even think I saw it ending any different.

Tag match was good.

Del Rio vs Big Show was just ok for me. Hated the face wnning with a heel tactic but otherwise it was fine.

No diva match so that was a plus.

[JimmyMess]

With all the old stars they brought back (Carlito, Helms, Benjamin, Henry) for the Rumble only to not use any of them, they should have gone with the 40 man again.

[Keith]

They could've done a 40-man Royal Rumble easily.

But if they were gonna have Cena win, it didn't make much sense, because he's not a young up and coming guy who would benefit from winning a 40-man RR (like Alberto Del Rio benefited in 2011). He's already got a legacy.

Now, if Ryback or Dolph Ziggler would've been slated to win, they could've benefited from winning a larger battle royal.

[Cool King]

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/9272/1359399844419.gif

[Rock Bottom]

Fucking great PPV.

I'm pretty excited about the prospect of Cena finally getting his win over The Rock at WrestleMania. And doing it with the title on the line, no less.

Better if it was Ryback

Rumble was great, what a really really shit tastic ending to Punk/Rock though, absolute garbage from two guys who know better than to do stupid shit like that. garbage, 1/10'd the whole match for me.

The rest of the PPV was reeeeeeeeeally good.

[Rock Bottom]

I'd be pretty pissed if I was CM Punk and I dropped the title like that. It's up there with Hogan and Yoko.

[Innovator]

All they have to say is that it was Lesnar and not the Shield and Punk has a legit gripe.

[Rock Bottom]

Yeah, absolutely, but that isn't the only thing wrong with it.

Punk was supposed to kick out of a rock bottom through a table, but the match itself never recovered from the botch. Whoever made the decision to put Vince in the match and then end it with a peoples' elbow shouldn't be anywhere near the WWE title.

They need to have a rematch on Raw or something, it was one of the worst matches I've seen from either of them. Punk kicking out of a table finisher but not a peoples' elbow, the stupid, unnecessary shield interference and reversal (you want the Shield in there, you don't need to do dumb shit like that), etc.

Just took the steam out of the whole thing. Sucked the life right out of it. I hope both of them get their shit together, what an awful match to end a great show.

[Poit]

More specifically, it wasn't an awful match - far from it - but just the ending sucked.

[Vastardikai]

Watched the Rumble with some folks who haven't followed WWE in a while.

*Bret Hart cameo was awesome.
*As they had never seen Cena-Batista, they thought the finish to Del Rio-Show was clever.
*We had a good laugh over the "Jacked up Freddie Mercury" reference of Cody Rhodes.
*Big E. Langston was referred to as "The guy from Living Color"
*After Ziggler's promo, someone said "I don't know who that guy is, but I already want to punch him in the mouth. He did a good job."
*They didn't know Jericho had been gone for a while, so they didn't sell that surprise. Goldust and the Godfather was big.
*Someone asked to explain why people hated Cena, and I think it was pretty much consensus that his character is the hot girl's douchebag boyfriend.
*Ryback was referred to as Methberg by one friend. During the final staredown, the HUGE "Feed Me More" chants impressed one of my friends. "This guy's over as FUCK!"
*I laughed about the whole Spanish Announce table bit.
*We were very pro-Rock, because we were drinking beer while watching it.
*The restart to the finish was well received, as we were very Pro-Rock. I did say I am not looking forward to Cena-Rock II.

[James Steele]

I hope they do something interesting with Rock/Cena II and improve upon last year if they do just do the rematch.

[James Steele]

The kiddos do gotta be freaking the hell out about John Cena finally winning the belt back after not having it for over a year and a half.

[James Steele]

Triple H hasn't been World Champion in almost 4 years, and I believe that would be a far more epic moment. (Especially after having his arm broken twice within a 6 month period)

[Innovator]

I hope they do something interesting with Rock/Cena II and improve upon last year if they do just do the rematch.

I hope finally, after enough prodding by the Rock, Cena finally changes something about his character. The goofiness cost him last year.

[CSL]

Better if it was Ryback

Rumble was great, what a really really shit tastic ending to Punk/Rock though, absolute garbage from two guys who know better than to do stupid shit like that. garbage, 1/10'd the whole match for me.

The rest of the PPV was reeeeeeeeeally good.

Punk and Rock - definitely in charge of booking the finish

[parkmania]

Time for my thoughts:

- Bret's cameo was really forced, but Ricardo's reactions totally redeemed the segment for me. Bret also looked REALLY bad/old.

- Show/Del Rio was a solid match with some good spots, but the ending smacked of Batista/Cena's LMS a few years ago where the writers and agents went "Oh shit, how do we get out of this without making either man look bad?"

- Tag Match - again, a good solid match. If Rhodes Scholars don't get another shot at Elimination Chamber; or if they do and come away enpty-handed again; they should be the ones to fracture instead of Hell No.

- Big E. better get a chance on the mic soon where he's not doing a character voice, or else everyone's gonna start calling him "Big E. Lashley" or "Bathturd V2.0".

- Did it feel to anyone else that Godfather might have broken Santino's :01 record?

- I NEED a .gif with Kofi's save combined with Little Mac with the caption "Nigga stole my chair"

- I'm not on board with the sacrificing of over a year's title reign just to try and sell WM out quicker. The stadium's gonna sell out anyway, the financial difference between doing it in 1 hour vs. 2 days vs. 1 week is negligible, and Vince is too hung up on making records to make good long-term decisions.

- Rocky may or may not be a part-time champ, we'll see soon enough, but it hasn't been since Hogan days that we've seen one. In fact, it's only been a couple years - not too many people were overly upset about Undertaker's last reign IIRC.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

Don't see the problem with the duct tape finish, myself. People often say they want to see wrestlers act a bit more logical in their matches. What's wrong with the thought that someone knowing they had a tough Last Man Standing match, used a tactic they've seen worked in the past.

[CSL]

yeah, nothing wrong with it. Just a reason to complain

[#1-norm-fan]

Better if it was Ryback


I love Ryback. He doesn't fit in either title picture at WrestleMania though. Cena was the right choice.

[James Diesel]

I hope finally, after enough prodding by the Rock, Cena finally changes something about his character. The goofiness cost him last week.

Fixed. And somehow it didn't cost him shit. They need to open their fucking eyes and see the obvious shit that's stinking up the building. :nono:

[#1-norm-fan]

And seriously, nothing wrong with how Del Rio won. I'm gonna be that guy and mention Eddie again. It was FUN when Eddie would use some underhanded tactics to embarrass a heel (Untying his boot against Angle... COME ON. lol). And it was fun to watch those two likeable fuckers last night use some underhanded tactics to embarrass a cocky monster heel Big Show.

[Cool King]

- Did it feel to anyone else that Godfather might have broken Santino's :01 record?

Watching it live, I thought he may have, but he actually only lasted three seconds.

[#1-norm-fan]

He took too long to get his old bag of bones over the top rope.

[parkmania]

And seriously, nothing wrong with how Del Rio won. I'm gonna be that guy and mention Eddie again. It was FUN when Eddie would use some underhanded tactics to embarrass a heel (Untying his boot against Angle... COME ON. lol). And it was fun to watch those two likeable fuckers last night use some underhanded tactics to embarrass a cocky monster heel Big Show.

If Del Rio used that kind of stuff more often I'd agree with you, but it just stank of desperation - not on Del Rio's part, but the writers'. I might have missed something during my multi-tasking, but it appeared to be the plan from the get-go with them, not a "we've tried everything and still can't keep show down - OMG! Duct tape! This'll work!"

[Droford]

Ricardo should have run to the back and driven out a forklift

[NormanSmiley]

Wrestlemania doesn't make stars..


See Savage/Steamboat from WMIII
See Shawn from WM12
See Steve Austin from WM13
See Edge/Xtian dudleys and hardys from 16 & 17
See the guy who won the main event from WM20

those men became made @ mania. your stature can grow leaps and bounds on that stage and it doesn't have to come from the ME position.

So you can have your CM punk sucks and your HHH sucks gimmick to irk people all you wish around here but if you think stars aren't made @ mania your opinion becomes pretty useless

[Bad News Gertner]

Edge/Christian, Dudleyz Hardyz didn't get made stars. They just stayed where they were.

Savage and Steamboat were already stars

Austin I'll somewhat agree, although King of the Ring had more to do with it

HBK was already a star


Again, I'm the pulse of the WWE and you are wrong.

[#1-norm-fan]

You don't exactly make stars at Mania. You have their journey come to a head at Mania because it's the biggest show of the year and you want an ultimate climax. A guy's gotta be pretty big already for that to matter though.

[Shadrick]

Did you just say that a guys gotta be pretty big already if you want the ultimate climax?

[James Steele]

Yup.

[James Steele]

http://www.wwe.com/f/wysiwyg/image/2012/07/venis_article_1.jpg

[XL]

Wrestlemania doesn't make stars. It settles feuds. After Wrestlemania the reset button is hit.
Mania hasn't settled feuds for years now. They must have misplaced the reset button cos Backlash/Extreme Rules has been booked around Mania rematches for the most part for years.

[#1-norm-fan]

Did you just say that a guys gotta be pretty big already if you want the ultimate climax?

:yes:

[Cool King]

http://i44.tinypic.com/5pihjb.jpg

[whiteyford]

Don't see the problem with the duct tape finish, myself. People often say they want to see wrestlers act a bit more logical in their matches. What's wrong with the thought that someone knowing they had a tough Last Man Standing match, used a tactic they've seen worked in the past.

Honestly, when I saw there wasn't a stage to bump from, I figured they'd use cuffs.

[Fox]

Mania hasn't settled feuds for years now. They must have misplaced the reset button cos Backlash/Extreme Rules has been booked around Mania rematches for the most part for years.

I think the only feuds that have been truly settled at WrestleMania over the past few years are Undertaker/HBK/Triple H and HBK/Flair.

The last time a guy got "made" at WrestleMania was probably WrestleMania 22 where Mysterio won the World Title and could finally be put into the category of a World Champion. But I suppose he was "legendary" before that, so I don't know.

[MIZantine Empire]

I'd be pretty pissed if I was CM Punk and I dropped the title like that. It's up there with Hogan and Yoko.
hate seeing so many people say this. punk has the luxury of being able to say he did something not alot of people at all can say. he WAS the main event, AFTER the rumble match. i would say not a bad place to be when you are participating in a match that takes place after the pay per views solid main gimmick

[Team Sheep]

I didn't mind the duct tape finish the first time they did it as it was something new. Doing it again two years later though is a bit cheap. Dunno if I want to pay to watch the next last man standing match if there's the potential for that cop out finish again.

[The Fraze]

I was hoping for a much more fast paced match, with a ton of near falls at the end. The Fraze is a near fall whore, hate when matches are over booked to sell injuries. It reminded me of The Rock vs Rikishi from Survivor Series 2000 when The Rock had to sell the shit out of his "sternum injury."

[CSL]

you'll get the near falls and the pace in the rematch

[The Fraze]

you'll get the near falls and the pace in the rematch

Was discussing this exact thing with Tb1 during Raw. They'll do in the rematch what they should have at the Rumble. Unfortunately, I'm sensing a Cena interference. Not sure about that, though. Thinking Cena comes in and AA's Punk because he wants his rematch vs The Rock, then turns around into a Rock Bottom.

[CSL]

I dunno, I'll think we'll get Rock over clean and decisively whilst making Punk look like a baws. Then the Cena/Rock build will start the following night. Or maybe Punk will "gain the upper hand" via heel stuff and Cena will "make things fair" etc

[#1-norm-fan]

I feel like they've got to do something to keep Punk looking good. Even though a lot of people hated the end, having him pin The Rock and make claim that he won the match and that should have been that was an excellent way to keep Punk seeming relevant and not just the guy who kept the title warm for 400+ days for Rock.

[BigCrippyZ]

I feel like they've got to do something to keep Punk looking good. Even though a lot of people hated the end, having him pin The Rock and make claim that he won the match and that should have been that was an excellent way to keep Punk seeming relevant and not just the guy who kept the title warm for 400+ days for Rock.

:roll:

I'm not necessarily the biggest Punk fan, especially compared to some of the crazy Punk marks, but if you really think that Punk was just keeping the title warm for Rock by holding it for 400+ days, you might as well quit watching. That's all anyone who has the title does, keep it warm for the next guy, no matter how long it is. For fuck's sake, it's a scripted show with a predetermined "world champion".

[Juan]

Bottom line, like Punk or not, he brought legitimacy back to the WWE championship, which in turn, made Rock's win all that more special. If Rock had beat someone like The Miz or even someone like Alberto Del Rio or Sheamus, it wouldn't have been nearly as special.

I'm a huge Punk fan, but I think the whole Punk/Rock feud was booked perfectly.

[#1-norm-fan]

:roll:

I'm not necessarily the biggest Punk fan, especially compared to some of the crazy Punk marks, but if you really think that Punk was just keeping the title warm for Rock by holding it for 400+ days, you might as well quit watching. That's all anyone who has the title does, keep it warm for the next guy, no matter how long it is. For fuck's sake, it's a scripted show with a predetermined "world champion".

You should think about what I said in context.

Clearly booking-wise Punk wasn't just "keeping the title warm" for The Rock. I meant it in the context of if Rock had just beaten Punk clean and moved on it would have been clear that Punk was just champ still so that Rock could have someone good to take it off of. As if he was just... keeping it warm... for lack of a better term... for The Rock.

As it stands, he actually lost it in a way that made him look like the kind of guy who is a viable contender still and a guy maybe even still should have continued his reign. Not a guy who just held on to it until Rock came back and Vince said "Punk who!? ROCK'S BACK! TAKE THE TITLE OFF THE SKINNY GUY!"

Punk could have simply been beaten and forgotten about while Cena and Rock fought. As if he was nothing more than the guy who held it for Rock to take it. He wasn't treated that way. They left him looking like a valuable main eventer. That's the point I was making.

[Shadrick]

I feel like they've got to do something to keep Punk looking good. Even though a lot of people hated the end, having him pin The Rock and make claim that he won the match and that should have been that was an excellent way to keep Punk seeming relevant and not just the guy who kept the title warm for 400+ days for Rock.

I tell marks this shit and they just don't wanna hear it.

[The Fraze]

Actually really looking forward to Elimination Chamber, for Rock/Punk only. I felt more intensity at the beginning of their Rumble match than I did with Rock/Cena. Although, different circumstances and different type of match. Cena is such a fuckin' goof, wouldn't care if his career ended years ago.