I like Drew, but I'd rather someone else get a surprising win. I think if it's going to be someone you wouldn't expect a face would be easier to build up for Mania.

Kofi has been getting a pretty good push in the past few months. Him winning the Rumble would be great... especially if Orton wins the belt at the Rumble.

MVP, although an established mid carder, could be exciting too. The only real downfall, while not being booked as a jobber, he hasn't really done anything too exciting in the past year. I still think he can be champ. No one would expect him to win and he can easily be built back up in a couple of months. You can easily rely on the "I screwed up and paid my debt to society. Don't make the same mistakes I did" stuff.

Miz has actually become awesome. I wouldn't be against him winning. I never thought I'd say that. Would be better if Cena was champ going into Mania.

Matt Hardy. He changes heel and face every 3 months, but he still gets a lot of crowd support.

I don't think McIntyre is at that level even if he was at 100% health at the moment...I just think he is too green in the ring too many fans including myself. While he does garner high praise and backing from guys like HHH and HBK which goes a long way with Vince...the gentleman needs proper build and proper time to pay his dues if you ask me. I say lets revisit this a few years down the road after he's been tested over and over again and still see if he has those tangibles.

I wouldn't be shocked at all about McIntyre. He does have strong fundamentals. That being said, I wouldn't be shocked if one of the losers from the Rumble's Title matches coming back into the Rumble and winning it all.

Hornswoggle will win then join CM Punk's stable

I do agree with that. But just look at Sheamus. If the WWE actually does The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (which seems most likely at this point in time), then Sheamus vs. Triple H actually has a very good chance of happening. Now, if Sheamus is in a main event at WrestleMania, then why can't Drew McIntyre be?

I'm not saying it's right, per se. I'm just saying that the "paying your dues" thing is not an overriding factor when it comes to what might actually happen when it comes to pushing a guy that Triple H and Shawn Michaels like. I mean, let's compare Sheamus and Drew McIntyre right now:

Size:
Sheamus is billed as being 6'6, 272lbs. Drew McIntyre is billed as being 6'5, 250lbs. That's some area that Sheamus has the advantage in, but Drew is far from being a "small guy."

Experience:
It's hard to trust Wikipedia, but Drew McIntyre apparently began training at age 15, making his professional debut in 2001. This means he's been wrestling in front of crowds for nine years (if this is accurate). Sheamus' page lists his debut as being 2002, but it seems he was still training around the place in 2004. Both have been signed with the WWE since 2007, McIntyre actually appearing as a regular character on their main TV shows.

Age:
While there can be pros and cons listed for being both a younger and a older wrestler, Drew McIntyre is only 24 years old. He's already approaching his third year with the WWE. How long do you consider someone a rookie for? Sheamus, comparatively, is 32, and just a little bit younger than John Cena. He's also older than Randy Orton.

Mic Skills:
While neither man is really noted as being brilliant for their promo abilities, neither man is horrible. They have pretty clear, confident and concise vocal abilities. I'd say it's very close between them, with Sheamus probably getting the slight nod.

Ring Skills:
While Sheamus being featured on RAW -- a show where wrestling is less featured -- must be taken into consideration, Drew McIntyre appears to be the better overall wrestler. Sheamus is by no means terrible, but McIntyre has a cleaner, crisper style.

Basically my point is this: Perhaps neither should be, don't get me wrong, but if Sheamus can win the WWE Championship, I don't see why Drew McIntyre could not. Especially considering I'd give him the nod in 3/5 of the categories I listed above (although Sheamus does, admittedly, win in areas that are probably more "important" to the brass in the WWE).

I think the biggest thing standing against McIntyre right now is actually Sheamus, funnily enough. While McIntyre winning the Rumble would probably tie-up all the other big stars in their respective matches (Triple H/Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho/Edge, Randy Orton/Ted DiBiase/Cody Rhodes, Rey Mysterio/CM Punk, etc.), it leaves Sheamus without a clear opponent. I can see the WWE taking a big chance with one of their title matches, but I can't see them doing it with two. So if McIntyre were to get a push right to the top, then I think it could come at the expense of Sheamus' push, which is not something I can see happening.

Sheamus would need to face an established star for the WWE Title, and there is just no one left. Truthfully, the biggest name left would be Big Show, and he's currently a heel. If they turned him face, maybe, but would that be a big enough match for WrestleMania? The other option would be to bring in Rob Van Dam or Jeff Hardy, but who knows what is going on with those two. They could also do Sheamus vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels, which actually feels like a big enough match, but the Triple Threat seems perfect for Legacy's upcoming program. Unless they have Cody Rhodes duck out of the match, and instead serve as a special guest referee between Orton and DiBiase, which could work.

Other than that, the only real option is to take the WWE Title off Sheamus before WrestleMania -- which might happen anyway. But then what do you do with Sheamus? Put him in a random match against a big guy like Kane (RAW vs. SmackDown!), and have him go over, whilst ultimately being an afterthought of the PPV? Probably not. But logically, I think that Sheamus being the current WWE Champion is probably the biggest obstacle against Drew McIntyre. Well, that and Occam's razor. :shifty:

If someone did this, I think the one that would annoy me the least would be Christian. That will not happen, but I would mark out like a little bitch if Christian came out of nowhere, and won. The Undertaker vs. Christian? Sheamus vs. Christian? Can't see either of these matches happening. I could see Chris Jericho winning the World Heavyweight Championship from Taker at Elimination Chamber, and that being a match Christian would fit into, but again, it's just not even as likely as McIntyre winning.

Maybe if Edge won a World Title somewhere, and Christian challenged for that? But behind Christian being the idealistic choice, The Undertaker would probably be the most realistic. That way, Shawn Michaels can try to win the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber, and get The Undertaker to come to RAW and face him. But you would imagine The Undertaker going back after the World Heavyweight Title. Unless Shawn Michaels kept attacking The Undertaker, or something. But then who would Rey Mysterio face? Rey vs. CM Punk just feels like a match "too small" to be for a World Heavyweight Title. Plus, Batista is obsessed with the big gold belt. My gut tells me that we would get Rey defending against Batista, Edge and Chris Jericho in a Fatal 4-Way Match. The WWE has recently loved their clusterfucks for the WrestleMania "main event" they don't put on last.

So going with a wrestler competing for a World Title actually winning the Royal Rumble after they lose their match, I think The Undertaker winning would probably lead to:

WWE Championship
Shawn Michaels (c) vs. The Undertaker

World Heavyweight Championship
Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Batista vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge

I would love to see Edge make a return to the rumble and win it...

If Edge won and challenged Sheamus, I would actually be pleasantly surprised. It's more likely that Edge would cash in against the World Heavyweight Champion, only for Chris Jericho to win the belt at Elimination Chamber. My personal preference would see Edge winning, only to be the first man in history to use the Rumble shot to secure an ECW Title Match at WrestleMania XXVI against his brother and former tag team partner, Christian. The only achievements Edge has not obtained in his career yet are that of Rumble Winner and ECW Champion -- so I think you have the best set-up for it right now. That would require the WWE to actually care about ECW as a brand, however.

I was just thinking about the Rumble before, and I have to point out -- The Undertaker has made it pretty clear he doesn't want to face Shawn Michaels again. Wouldn't it make sense for him to cost Shawn Michaels the Rumble? It'd be quite an interesting twist to the match, if the lights go out during the Rumble, a gong goes off, and then The Undertaker is standing behind Michaels, and tosses him over the top rope.