Is Edge's really different to Batista?

A lot of the hate towards Batista did stem from an "outsider" being thrust back into the spotlight while Bryan was shoved aside. The entire fall of 2013 was Bryan's run against the Authority while receiving massive backing from the fans, who felt Daniel was being robbed of a true feel-good story that wasn't there this year for really anyone. Didn't help matters that the leaked plans gave fans an opportunity to build their intolerance for the Batista title push.

Some like to point to the Roman Reigns cheers from the 2014 Rumble as an example of never-Vincer fickleness, but it really is the "anyone but him" reaction against Batista, along with the Shield's freshness and absense of Dat Dude's cringe face shove at that point. I'd gather most faces wouldn't have caught that much flak, and Bryan would have still been stuck in the WM undercard with Sheamus or in the Battle Royal.

I wasn't thrilled with the Rumble outcome and sure am not looking forward to Edge facing Head Cheese, but he benefitted from a return from injury, a weakly booked roster, and already enjoying a fair amount of respect from fans.

I think the leaked plans for Randy Orton vs Batista as the Main Event of Wrestlemania XXX had already soured a lot of people going into the Rumble, the fact that Vince McMahon genuinely thought that was a satisfactory Main Event that people would be excited to see. I know Batista himself has often said he felt it was a mistake to have him return as a face, but I tend to disagree. It was cool and refreshing to see him back at that time, and if he'd had just returned and had a seemingly upper-mid card Wrestlemania Match with somebody (even Triple H), I'm pretty sure it would have gone down well.

It's just the fact that Bryan was legitimately red hot, everyone could see it, and Batista was unfortunately representative of the typical WWE machine type, and after returning and instantly being thrusted into supposedly winning the World Title, it went down horrifically.

The difference with Edge this year though, is that there isn't really any other options that are head and shoulders above the other in terms of having serious heat on them this Wrestlemania season. Bryan is a fan favourite, sure, but he's been the subject of 50/50 booking for eternity now, and is happy just to help and work with elevating others. Plus, it's another unique COVID year with no real live audience, so nobody is really massively invested right now anyway. It's clear there was no real large or long term plan for Wrestlemania this year again. They kind of just went with Edge pretty late before the Rumble, as it seemed a good enough option, and the other Title Match was a scramble. Add to the fact there's no Triple H, Undertaker, Rock, Cena feud, it kind of doesn't really matter. I'm sure if a Big E or somebody was truly massively over right now, they'd have been given one of the shots, simple as that. But it was a throwaway year for virtually the entire roster. Roman Reigns and Randy Orton are literally the only ones who made any serious legit steps forward.

Not shocked Edge didn’t pop ratings. He doesn’t have the “attitude era” or “Monday night wars” appeal. Fans from that era remember him as a midcarder. He broke into the main event during the RA era when ratings were going down (not saying that’s his fault/just that he doesn’t have the appeal that a main eventer from the previous era has).

I’m an Edge fan but I was rolling my eyes at how ridiculous his win was and I’m sure a lot of others were too.

Really?? People wanted Daniel Bryan to win the Rumble this year??

I can honestly say I didn't. Bryan's time has come and gone now for WWE title reigns. He was lucky he had one two years ago again.

Edge winning this year was okay I guess, but it's just hard to take him serious as a full time wrestler again after being gone for 9 years.

I think it’s completely different. They shoved Batista down our throats in 2014 when the crowd clearly wanted Bryan. With Edge this year, I don’t think there is a Guy ready to burst onto the scene so they just went with Edge for nostalgia reasons. I’m not an ‘Edge Guy’. I think he goes out of his way to look old and frail not to mention his finishing move is a ‘spear’....how original

Don't kick him while he is down. He deserved the 2, he had them now his time has past. But we can still remember his great times.

I think had Batista's return not been spoiled early, and he wouldn't have been gassed 4 minutes in, it might have went better for him. The weird gear didn't help.

Plus Edge did go a whole hour which is impressive regardless. Especially when you take his age into account.

Bryan seems to be taking a backseat lately and helping boost others. Nothing wrong with that. I'm sure Edge will be doing the same this time next year.

considering Lita tried to not be in it and her job was threatened when she tried to not do it, yeah, she deserves a world of credit.

I believe 5 years of Suffering Succotash creative and inheriting Cena's superface booking was more at fault for Roman's reactions, chief. Leave it up for someone else to tackle that completely original "crying liberal" line...