The Royal Rumble is used to shape WrestleMania. So, let’s look at WWE’s options as they consider the possibilities for their showcase event’s top match.
Uh, they don’t have any. Not really.
They don’t have stars, and they don’t have heels. The Authority has sucked all the heel heat out of the rest of the roster courtesy of Triple H and Chyna Jr., and The Authority’s main wrestler, Seth Rollins, is pretty good…but not a main-event guy.
WWE’s has been building Roman Reigns, but he’s not a main-event guy. Decent look, and I like the Superman punch. But he can’t talk. Every Raw opens up with a 20-minute talk segment. Reigns can’t carry that. If he tries, he’ll be exposed.
Reigns isn’t ready. But, ready or not…
BELIEVE IN THE BILLBOARD.
The most logical main event for WrestleMania is John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar with the WWE title on the line. Those two are main-eventers.
But ‘Mania’s taster’s choice crowd of smart marks would defecate all over that, because they know Lesnar is leaving. Lesnar-Bill Goldberg at WrestleMania XX was an absolute disaster despite the presence of Steve Austin as ref.
That wasn’t the main event at ‘Mania XX, don’t forget. WWE doesn’t want that to happen again, let alone in the main event. Lesnar has to be phased down before ‘Mania.
So, WWE is screwed. There really isn’t a good, obvious choice.
The lack of quality heels is astounding. It’s an easier role to play, and the one most wrestlers prefer. The Rusev-Lana act is solid. But maneuvering them into a meaningful ‘Mania spot would take a real rush job.
Bully Ray is at loose ends, and he’s an excellent heel. But in WWE, without time to legit re-build his character, he’s mid-card material. Anyway, WWE doesn’t want Bully beyond, perhaps, a novelty appearance, maybe even in the Rumble.
The idea of the Royal Rumble winner getting the title shot at ‘Mania is lazy booking, BTW. Done by rote. Rote is replacing good angles and storylines, and that’s not a change for the better. Yeah, OK. Gaze at the ‘Mania sign. Yawn.
One match at ‘Mania is building some gravitas, and that’s Sting vs. Triple H. The go-home segment of this past Monday’s Raw was excellent. I just hope Sting can deliver. He’s 55, and hasn’t wrestled for over a year.
But Sting really knows what to do, as does Triple H. But even if the match is great, it’s two part-timers. How do you move forward?
Sting vs. Triple H should be loser leaves town. Sting gets his chance to eliminate The Authority. But WWE already did that, and screwed the stipulation to boot.
‘Mania has two wild-cards: Undertaker and Daniel Bryan. Bryan’s absence made him fresh. He’s WWE’s most over act. I bet management disagrees.
I’m preaching to the IWC choir, but it really is time to turn Cena heel. Merchandise sales are among the concerns, but Cena would still sell merch as a heel. When Hulk Hogan turned heel in 1996, he actually sold MORE merch.
Wrestling is supposed to be about the product. Turning Cena would be best for the product. But WWE stopped being about the product a long time ago.
Assuming Cena is out of the title picture for ‘Mania, matching him against Rusev and letting Cena wave the American flag might work. Bradley Cooper could manage him.
Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMaddenX
