Sunday January 24th 2016 is the Royal Rumble as we set in stone the “road to Wrestlemania” with Fastlane looming around the corner from here. Sunday pits Roman Reigns going in as champion, a la Hulk Hogan as he did circa 1990 and 1991. Will history repeat itself? Time will tell and wrestling fans will tune in to find out.
The favorite Royal Rumble reflections were of 1992 and 1994. The 1992 Rumble has crowned Flair as the new then-WWF champion and especially during a time where the WCW and WWF/E didn’t mention eachother, but this company took a jab in naming the real world’s champion; and treated Flair as such. Flair never truly lost the WCW title who had egg on their face, and subsequently stripped him of the “International title” which was the real NWA belt; plus the deposit attached from old regimes. Meanwhile, politics, preferences and litigation undercut Flair’s run in WCW at that time, along with Jim Herd also wasn’t righting the ship the correct way, so to speak. 1992 also had the young, up and coming talent in a future awesome heel in Shawn Michaels come into his own, and was a who’s who of prime talent.
The 1994 Rumble had the best “angle” subsequent feud as it launched the brother-versus brother storyline of Bret and Owen Hart. The two would end up having the most realistic feud of that time, as well as classic bouts which created a Wrestlemania “put the Hart brothers on the map” as well as a Summerslam cage match. The Hart’s storyline was the most compelling, logical and believable storyline; and during a family-kid friendly atmosphere and booking approach. It was also the first Rumble where it showed a plethora of talent, and without their superstar in Hulk Hogan. How would McMahon and WWE rebound and create new stars? By the end of it, all fans were talking about was the narrow-focusing and smart tactic of dual winners; who were Bret Hart and Lex Luger.
Fans also discussed and were left impressed by a flair for spectacle and mystique. It was an event most young kids found unbelievable and bought into the supernatural powers of Undertaker. Undertaker at this time was the Western Mortician and the best incarnation of his character, as a baby-face in his quest for the WWF title. He was “risen” and vanished from the casket; ascending into the proverbial heavens. This was after being defeated by the super-heels of 10 men, aiding the-then champion Yokozuna.
The 1994 Rumble also had young talent and also a mix of foreign Japanese stars, such as Tenryu and Kabuki from WCCW, World Class success. This Rumble launched Diesel in a credible light, eliminating seven men, and would later wrestle as Kevin Nash; his real name. Kane and Roman Reigns were also booked in a similar light years later.
The Rumble in 1994 was from Rhode Island and the 7th airing had created the double IC title angle. It would would pit current champion Razor Ramon who won the belt on Raw in October 1993, a vacant title defeating Rick “The Model” Martel. Razor would wrestle and defeat former Shawn Michaels who was suspended. Michaels and Ramon would be in the greatest Mania match and ladder bout, outside of Steamboat and Savage regarding athleticism. Oddly enough, men who were booked to appear, such as 1-2-3 Kid, Kamala, Bob Backlund, Ludvig Borga and Bastion Booger were replaced by Tenryu, Kabuki, Sparky Plugg, Greg Valentine to name a few.
The 2016 Royal Rumble has six total matches, including the kickoff. The kickoff bout features a tag team attraction in which hopefully the Dudley’s win, and defeat Swagger and Mark Henry, the Ascencion’s Konnor and Victor, and Sandow with Darren Young in a fatal four way bout.
Kevin Owens versus Dean Ambrose for the IC title will have Ambrose regain the title due to interference by Sami Zayn and carry over their feud (Owens-Zayn) onto RAW. Charlotte will regain her title due to interference from her father, Ric Flair and defeat Becky Lynch. However, their will be Team BAD to lay out both females after the bell; with Sasha Banks in a prominent role.
The New Day will retain their titles due to the Xavier Woods Freebird Rule; and will be a rematch on RAW Monday night. Kalisto will predictably lose once again to Del Rio because a Brogue kick and Bull Hammer from Barrett will put him down. Surprise entrants will be Dreamer, RVD, the World’s Greatest Tag Team, John Morrison in one-off’s with developments and debuts of Finn Balor and AJ Styles to the main roster. Oddly enough in down-playing the injury bug towards the Rumble regarding any potential surprises; see to it that Randy Orton will appear at the show and find his way into the fracas; or some sort of involvement in the upcoming happenings.
The Main event pits Reigns defending his title in the 30 man Rumble and will have Brock Lesnar win the bout as the “Corporate champion” who is a mercenary controlled by Heyman and the Authority as a rematch from Wrestlemania 31.
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