Post by J12 on Jan 1, 2011 15:51:19 GMT -5
Over the past few weeks in various Rumble-related posts, I've expressed my opinion on how I feel the Royal Rumble should be used as a tool to catapult a rising star into the limelight, and I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same way.
Growing up in my early years of watching wrestling, it seems as though two Royal Rumble victories in particular really stood out in my mind - Shawn Michaels' win in 1996, and Stone Cold's win in 1998. At the time, both of these guys were right there on the verge of becoming the company's next big star. They were over enough to be in the main event, but they hadn't quite had that one establishing victory yet that made everyone say "yeah, I can buy that".
So that's what I began to view the Rumble match as, a way to move that upper mid-card guy into the top echelon and cement him as a legitimate contender for the Championship.
I really wasn't until 2004 until this happened again, perhaps one of my favorite moments, Chris Benoit winning the Royal Rumble. It felt perfect - Benoit was right on the cusp but needed that extra boost to become a top contender, and the Rumble gave it to him.
Again in 2006 with Mysterio winning the honor. Without it, I doubt he would have ever been launched into a main event position.
Unfortunately, the trend has greatly declined over the years. I can't say that I mind a returning superstar winning it (2008, 2010), but overall, I'd much rather see someone on that cusp earn their spot.
Does anyone else feel this way? Are you disappointed when an established guy such as Randy Orton or Triple H ends up winning the Rumble? Furthermore, who would you like to see take that step this year and win the Rumble if a scenario like those I've mentioned were to play out?
Growing up in my early years of watching wrestling, it seems as though two Royal Rumble victories in particular really stood out in my mind - Shawn Michaels' win in 1996, and Stone Cold's win in 1998. At the time, both of these guys were right there on the verge of becoming the company's next big star. They were over enough to be in the main event, but they hadn't quite had that one establishing victory yet that made everyone say "yeah, I can buy that".
So that's what I began to view the Rumble match as, a way to move that upper mid-card guy into the top echelon and cement him as a legitimate contender for the Championship.
I really wasn't until 2004 until this happened again, perhaps one of my favorite moments, Chris Benoit winning the Royal Rumble. It felt perfect - Benoit was right on the cusp but needed that extra boost to become a top contender, and the Rumble gave it to him.
Again in 2006 with Mysterio winning the honor. Without it, I doubt he would have ever been launched into a main event position.
Unfortunately, the trend has greatly declined over the years. I can't say that I mind a returning superstar winning it (2008, 2010), but overall, I'd much rather see someone on that cusp earn their spot.
Does anyone else feel this way? Are you disappointed when an established guy such as Randy Orton or Triple H ends up winning the Rumble? Furthermore, who would you like to see take that step this year and win the Rumble if a scenario like those I've mentioned were to play out?
