How this years Royal Rumble SHOULD be (IMO)

[NeanderCarl]

With the brand extention still going, I think this year the WWE should have two simultaneous Royal Rumbles in two seperate rings, one for Raw, one for Smackdown, with 25 men in each match, and entering every 2 minutes alternatively, at a minutes difference between rings (a Raw guy will enter the Raw ring, then a SmackDown guy will join his ring one minute later)

This is the only way we could get the old Royal Rumble feel back, where you know WWE is going to throw a few surprise entrants into the mix (Drew Carey, Honkytonk Man, Haku etc.) With just 15 men from each show, there really is no room to do this anymore, nor to showcase the lower card guys who don't normally get on PPV shows. With 25 spots on each show, Vince could say that the G.M.s have, say, 3 "wildcard" spots each, where they can choose wrestlers not under contract, who are allowed to represent the brand for one night only and maybe earn a title match at Mania. Also, we would then have two Rumble winners to challenge for their respective brands titles at Mania.

I realise this may be too similar to WCW's World War 3 concept, which was invariably a confusing mess, but with carefully planned booking, this really could work.

Either that or increase the number of Rumble entrants to 40, entering every 90 secs.

[Dorkchop]

It's not a good surprise if we're told there will be a specific number of surprise entrants in the Royal Rumble. I'd much prefer to not have any 'surprise' entrants mentioned. Don't even mention a surprise entrant, and make it a real surprise. If I say 'surprise' and 'entrant' one more time, I'm going to lose it.

[NeanderCarl]

Good point but if you know there WILL be unannounced entrants in the Rumble wouldnt that make you more likely to buy the PPV, rather than take a chance and be mildly disappointed to the see the match go by-the-numbers?

[94 SVT Cobra]

I mean come on guys we ALL know who the 30th man is in the rumble or the surprise entrant....its CHIRS JERICHO!!!!

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by Dorkchop It's not a good surprise if we're told there will be a specific number of surprise entrants in the Royal Rumble. I'd much prefer to not have any 'surprise' entrants mentioned. Don't even mention a surprise entrant, and make it a real surprise. If I say 'surprise' and 'entrant' one more time, I'm going to lose it.

Indeed. I'd rather see most of the entrants unnamed in the first place...Make it feel like anything could happen...Even though we know better.

I mean, half the people in the rumble don't mean shit anyway...We'll probably get Venis and S2H lined up to job, so it's no big deal.

[Somebody's Gotta Die]

I doubt that the concept of a 30-man Rumble is going to be abolished this year, so there is certainly a way to make the match a good one...

The ideal 15 for RAW would be:

1) Kurt Angle (unless he wins it soon, which would be good, then put Cena in there)
2) Shawn Michaels
3) Kane
4) Big Show
5) Ric Flair
6) Chavo Guerrero
7) Shelton Benjamin
8) Triple H
9) Edge
10) Carlito
11) Chris Masters
12) Tatanka
then...
13) The returning Rob Van Dam
14) Special appearance from Dusty Rhodes
15) Special appearance from Hulk Hogan

*** Guys like Trevor Murdoch, Gregory Helms, Rene Dupree, Tomko or Snitsky all need more exposure before being in the Rumble match...

And the ideal 15 for SMACKDOWN! would be:

1) The UnderTaker
2) Chris Benoit
3) Rey Mysterio
4) Matt Hardy
5) Bobby Lashley
6) JBL
7) Randy Orton
8) Booker T
9) Boogeyman
10) Juventud
11) Roadwarrior Animal
12) Paul Birchall
then...
13) The returning Chris Jericho (SD! definitely needs him)
14) Special appearance from Goldust (bring this guy to SD! permanently, he was always entertaining)
15) Special appearance from Roddy Piper

With legends like Hogan, Piper and Rhodes in the match, there is certainly a special feel... The return of RVD will certainly get a huge reaction... Not to mention the returns of Goldust and Chris Jericho to the ring... This is definitely key in helping SD! due to the injury of Kennedy, quittings of Hassan and Christian, as well as the unfortunate passing of legend Eddie Guerrero...

Have Austin come out and distract Hogan leading to a possible altercation afterwards setting up their legendary match at WrestleMania... Roddy Piper can be used as an obstacle for Randy Orton, although I would have him overcome all the odds and win the match... His time is now and hopefully he goes over UnderTaker at Armageddon... Orton should be the one to eliminate Taker in the Rumble match, IMO...

I'd give Jericho, Goldust and RVD strong showings... Dusty would certainly be entertaining as well...

Emphasize the dominance of certain superstars, with guys like Bobby Lashley, Paul Birchall, Rey Mysterio, Chavo, Benjamin, Kane and Big Show having especially strong showings...

The final 6 should be: Randy Orton, Kurt Angle or John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Rey Mysterio, Rob Van Dam and Chris Jericho... This would certainly push a new generation of superstars in the company... The final 4 should be: Orton, Angle or Cena, Rey and RVD... Orton eliminates RVD and Angle tosses Rey out of the match... Orton and Angle have a stand down and battle for a few minutes before Orton wins the match...

[loopydate]

World Title Match: John Cena vs. Edge

Edge uses the Money In The Bank contract to win the World Title after the NYR Elimination Chamber. Cena uses the rematch clause, and it's set for the Rumble. Cena wins it back to set up Cena vs. HHH @ WM22.

WWE Tag Team Title Match: Batista and Rey Mysterio vs. MNM vs. The Mexicools (Psicosis & Super Crazy) vs. FBI (Nunzio & Vito)

Since the plan seems to be Batista vs. Orton at WM22, then this match should happen. Batista can protect his injuries in a clusterfuck tag match by letting the other seven guys do most of the work. Either MNM or the Mexicools walk away with the gold in this one.

United States Title Match: Chris Benoit vs. Booker T

Match Seven of the best-of-seven series. Benoit manages to pull off three straight wins to even the series. Not really sure who goes over here. Doesn't really matter, since they'll likely feud through WM anyway.

Women's Title Match: Trish Stratus vs. Victoria vs. Mickie James

Continue to tease the Trish/Mickie tension through NYR into this triple threat match where Mickie pins Vicky (hey, that rhymes!) to win the title.

Royal Rumble Participants

RAW
Big Show
Carlito
Chavo Guerrero
Chris Masters
Daivari
Eugene
Kane
Kurt Angle
Matt Striker
Ric Flair
Rob Conway
Rob Van Dam
Shawn Michaels
Shelton Benjamin
Triple H

SmackDown!
Boogeyman
Hardcore Holly
Heidenreich
JBL
Juventud
Kid Kash
Lashley
Matt Hardy
Orlando Jordan
Paul Burchill
Randy Orton
Simon Dean
Sylvan
Undertaker
William Regal

Maybe have the final three come down to HHH, Orton, and Flair. Since they seem so keen on repeating history, they can re-do the finish to RR '92. Flair and HHH form an uneasy bond to take Orton out, but HHH turns on Flair and throws him out. While H is distracted by Flair, Orton comes up from behind and dumps him out to win it.

Orton should last a long time, but I hate the idea of him being #1 or #2. Have him come in at, like #11, where he still has to last 40+ minutes to win, but the "entering first and overcoming the odds" has been done to death.

RVD should be the #30 entrant and be completely unannounced. The arena will go nuts when "One Of A Kind" hits. Sylvan will win this year's Bushwhacker Luke award for coming in, then getting thrown right back out by somebody like Hardcore Holly.

[Skippord]

I'd have RVD win in a complete shock to all smarks everywhere

[NeanderCarl]

15 guys from each show just isn't enough anymore. Maybe one day, as the RR is such a PPV draw, they will have two seperate Rumble PPVs, one for Raw and one for Smackdown?? Would anyone pay for both if that were to happen?

[loopydate]

No.

I sort of had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to come up with 15 SD guys for my Rumble match. Nobody's going to consider Burchill, Simon Dean, or Sylvan legitimate title contenders. Of course, to be fair, Ken Kennedy would have replaced one of them if he weren't injured.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I had an outline for the Royal Rumble all planned, but things changed, so I've made changes myself. Here is how I would book the Royal Rumble Card:

Royal Rumble Match
RAW Entrants:
1. John Cena
2. Shawn Michaels
3. Chris Masters
4. Big Show
5. Ken Doane
6. Elijah Burke
7. Nick Nemeth
8. Val Venis
9. Chavo Guerrero
10. Gregory Helms
11. Danny Basham
12. Snitsky
13. Tyson Tomko
14. Shelton Benjamin
15. The Rock (if they can't get him as an unadvertised surprise entrant, have Kane enter)

SmackDown! Entrants:
1. JBL
2. Rey Mysterio
3. Matt Hardy
4. Kurt Angle (have him put his position on RAW on the line in the Elimination Chamber)
5. The Undertaker
6. Randy Orton
7. Bobby Lashley
8. Rob Conway (have him lose a "Loser Leaves RAW Match" sometime, he could use the change)
9. Paul Burchill
10. Orlando Jordan
11. Paul London
12. Brian Kendrick
13. Chris Benoit
14. Doug Basham
15. Chris Jericho

*If you don't want Chris Benoit to do double-duty, and you can't get Chris Jericho, you can have Jamie Noble and Nunzio enter in their places.

-I'd have it be a Rumble of surprises. Lashley eliminates The Undertaker and Randy Orton relatively easily, but is dumped out by Chavo Guerrero. Guerrero & Helms are in the match for a long time, as is Paul London. Paul Burchill and Shawn Michaels develop a kinda feud while they're in there, etc. As for who the Final Four are, it really depends on whether or not you can get The Rock or Chris Jericho as surprise entrants.

-I'd have Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit & Paul London as the final four. All SmackDown! guys, yes, but it would be interesting to see something weird like this happen. Chris Benoit is eliminated first by some heelish Kurt Angle tactics. London takes a sick bump to get eliminated by Kurt Angle (a belly-to-belly overhead suplex clear over the top rope?). This leaves us with Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio as the final two. Where you go from here is up to you. Angle vs. Batista? Angle vs. Randy Orton? Angle vs. The Undertaker? Angle vs. Edge? Mysterio vs. Edge? Mysterio vs. Triple H? Mysterio vs. Randy Orton? Mysterio vs. The Undertaker? There are heaps of possibilities from this scenario, and it is unpredictable.

WWE Championship
Kane vs. Triple H

-Unlikely, I know, but I'd have Kane win the Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution. Shortly after they lose the World Tag Team Championship to Elijah Burke and Nick Nemeth of The Spirit Squad. Anyway, Triple H wins this match with help from 3 Minute Warning.

WWE United States Championship
Booker T vs. Chris Benoit

-This is the final match in the Best of Seven Series, and the series is won by Chris Benoit somehow, makin git four straight victories against Booker T.

Money in the Bank Match
Edge vs. Ric Flair

-I'd have Edge put the Money in the Bank Title Shot on the line here. Edge retains cleanly against Flair, and announces his title shot will take place on the return of Saturday Night Main Event.

Grudge Match
Rob Van Dam vs. Carlito

-RVD returns and takes up his issue with Carlito. RVD goes over here.

Winners Take All Titles
Kid Kash (WWE Cruiserweight Champion) & MNM vs. Juventud, Super Crazy & Psicosis (WWE Tag Team Champions)

-Have every title on the line here. Give The Mexicools the feel good victory.

WWE Women's Championship
Trish Stratus vs. Victoria

-Trish Stratus puts Mickie James on the shelf at NYR, and re-kindles her feud with Victoria. James returns in this match and attacks Stratus, giving Trish Stratus the DQ win, which doesn't settle too well with Victoria, which leads to a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania.

[Corkscrewed]

15) Special appearance from Hulk Hogan

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! The hot air from his ego would be so great it would simply blast everyone else in the ring right out and over the top rope, thus making him the winner whether the bookers planned it or not!!!

[Innovator]

I see Rey Rey winning the match, with the final four being Rey, HBK, Kane, Show

[NeanderCarl]

Well.... I know this is an old threat, but let's take another look at it with hindsight.

Good call from Innovator.... Rey Mysterio did indeed win the Rumblus. Good call too from Somebody's Gotta Die who predicted RVD, Goldust and Tatanka all as surprise/returning entrants.

I'm pleased to see the return of the unannounced surprise entrant this year at the Rumble, but it still lacked a little something. I guess I like to look at the Royal Rumble as a cross section of the WWE roster at the particular time, like in the old days when virtually everyone on the roster was on the card. When you got so many lower card guys not even gettin on the major TV shows, let alone the Rumble, it's a shame that the viewer won't be able to look back at the Royal Rumble or Survivor Series in 5 years time and think "oh, yeah... I remember that loser".

Maybe it sounds weird but I like to see the Rumble fleshed out with loser no-hopers who have a snowball's chance in hell of winning thrown in to make up the numbers, as long as there's a good quantity of real players also involved. Some of these guys could walk in as losers and leave as superstars (see Diesel, 1994)

Oh well, maybe next year.

[Hired Hitman]

don't forget loopydate getting the cena/edge fued spot on.

[NeanderCarl]

Yep, overlooked... apologies, loopydate

[loopydate]

Okay. I'll forgive you. This time...



Seriously, I was kinda talking out of my ass with the whole MITB thing. I thought "Hey, it would be cool if they did this, since it would actually make sense, but of course they won't do it for precisely that reason." Then, whaddya know, they actually do the thing that makes most sense.

Now I wish I hadn't predicted Cena winning the belt back, though. I see now that my apparent influence over WWE storylines can be used for evil as well as good.

[NeanderCarl]

lol... well predict an imminent retirement for Trips then and do us all a favour.

[loopydate]

My Ideal WrestleMania Card

World Title Match: John Cena (c) vs. Triple H

Just as he's about to win the World Title for the 4,000th time, Triple H's quadricep re-tears, this time physically popping through the flesh at the front of his leg. He tries to continue the match, but Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake does an unexpected run-in and cuts the quad completely away from the leg with his shears. He then strangles HHH to death with it.

He grabs the microphone and delivers a promo saying that he recently found out that HHH had been the parasailer who had shattered his face in 1992, and now he would have revenge. Upon learning that HHH was dead, Brutus says "Oh. Guess I already got it."

[NeanderCarl]

Not bad, not bad at all.... but let me make a suggestion...

what if, as he is leaving the ring, Brutus slips off the ring steps and impales a celebrating Cena, not killing him but maybe putting him out of action for at least a year, so he can develop a new gimmick and learn how to wrestle.

Just a suggestion. Just thought I'd throw it out there, and if you don't like it, you can just throw is right back at me.

[loopydate]

Good, good. I like where your head's at.