Support NeoGAF

[Angry Grimace]

I thought Jericho was signed to next Wreslemania?

Nope. His band is starting work on an album right now and Jericho's run was supposed to already be over, but he did an extension through this WM because he was having a lot of fun with the JeriKO storyline.

Same.

Omega said point blank on Wrestling Observer's podcast he would not be in the Rumble and that he expects to work out a 1 year deal with NJPW.

There was a brand split.

Smackdown on Tuesday is watchable every week, and is usually pretty okay.

Raw is pretty much terrible every week. I still watch it tho. Also, they're still trying to push Reigns as "the guy", so if that's a dealbreaker, you might not want to watch the title match on Sunday.

The funniest part is that "THE GUY" is literally one of Reigns' catchphrases. It got a reaction the first time he said it, but then he started saying "like I said, I'm not a good guy, I'm not a bad guy. I'm THEE GUY" like every week and people started to mock it.

 

[deli2000]

Almost everyone seems to think its a foregone conclusion. Raw desperately needs heels that are competent enough to do legit matches. Strow Man can't do that yet, Jericho is leaving, Balor is returning as a face. That leaves you with Rusev and Owens as the biggest singles heels and neither of those guys are portrayed as ultra badasses these days.

SmackDown has no babyfaces and Raw has no heels. They need a trade or some timely callups.

Oh don't get me wrong. NXT is getting crowded and needs to send up people ASAP. I just don't trust WWE to have any common sense or long term plans.

 

[Brinbe]

Hyped for Kurt.

 

[Lothar]

this may be a dumb question, but

I stopped watching WWE a year or two ago, basically before the ex-TNA guys started showing up, and around when they were forcing Reigns into the picture as the main guy

has it gotten better since then?

Slightly because AJ is there, being used well, Miz is great again, and the women's division is a lot better. Smackdown is usually okay. I don't feel like I wasted my time watching it. But then there's no Smackdown I would go back and rewatch either. Raw is always a waste of time.

 

[TheBear]

 

[Menome]

.

 

[cLOUDo]

I'm not ready to Cena wins

 

[Shadow_FFVI]

I'm highly anticipating the pop Kurt Angle gets when entering at #30

I'm going back and forth between Zayn or Balor winning.

Also, Never forget:

Isn't he still wrestling for another promotion against del Rio? Seems unlikely he will be in the Rumble, as much as I would love for that to happen.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

What's the over/under on Cena getting screwed over by Jon Stewart again to preserve Flair's record?

 

[Tom Nook]

Isn't he still wrestling for another promotion against del Rio? Seems unlikely he will be in the Rumble, as much as I would love for that to happen.

Kurt Angle pulled from booking during Royal Rumble weekend.

 

[sf2fanatic]

And winner....cues the theme

Spoiler

I hear voices in my head

 

[Syder]

If we end this PPV with Cena and Roman as Champs, I swear to God...

 

[WhateverItTakes]

 

[Tom Nook]

If we end this PPV with Cena and Roman as Champs, I swear to God...

Never Forget.

 

[Violence Jack]

And winner....cues the theme

Spoiler

I hear voices in my head

This would be the lamest result. Besides, Luke Harper will probably knock him out of the Rumble, setting up a match between them at the PPV before WM.

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

And winner....cues the theme

Spoiler

Hey! Nothing you can say! Nothing's gonna change what you've done to me!

FTFY

 

[Plinko]

If we end this PPV with Cena and Roman as Champs, I swear to God...

This along with the rumored Rumble winner, and it's the worst PPV in a while.

 

[ratcliffja]

If we end this PPV with Cena and Roman as Champs, I swear to God...

Don't forget

Spoiler

Randy Orton

as the Rumble winner.

 

[Syder]

This along with the rumored Rumble winner, and it's the worst PPV in a while.

Don't forget

Spoiler

Randy Orton

as the Rumble winner.

The Darkest Timeline...

Spoiler

Orton winning is redeemed if somehow it leads to Bray as Champion.

 

[SallyIsNow]

Rather have Orton than vanilla midget Balor tbh. Also, want kind of Grade A jabronie wants to see Omega jobbing to Da Big Drug Abuser? Glad he stayed in NJPW.

 

[Hex]

Could it be?

Spoiler

 

[Tom Nook]

Royal Rumble Participants

Confirmation from WWE.com:

1. The Undertaker
2. Goldberg
3. Brock Lesnar
4. Big Show
5. Dean Ambrose
6. The Miz
7. Sami Zayn
8. Dolph Ziggler
9. Big E
10. Xavier Woods
11. Kofi Kingston
12. Bray Wyatt
13. Randy Orton
14. Luke Harper
15. Mojo Rawley
16. Braun Strowman
17. Chris Jericho
18. Baron Corbin
19. Cesaro
20. Sheamus
21. Big Cass
22. Rusev

Predictions, Potential spoilers

Spoiler

23. Seth (to set up match with Triple H at WM)
24. Triple H (same with Seth)
25. Samoa Joe (promoted to the main roster)
26. NXT guy (No Way Jose or Tye, not Naka and Bobby)
27. Kurt Angle
28. Shaq (vs Big Show)
29. Roman (to troll the crowd)
30. Finn Balor (shows up but not actually wrestle, Undertaker throws him out)
Wildcard: Ellsworth, Shawn Michaels,

 

[Strax]

Sweet Chin Music expert

 

[Tall4Life]

Royal Rumble Participants

Confirmation from WWE.com:

1. The Undertaker
2. Goldberg
3. Brock Lesnar
4. Big Show
5. Dean Ambrose
6. The Miz
7. Sami Zayn
8. Dolph Ziggler
9. Big E
10. Xavier Woods
11. Kofi Kingston
12. Bray Wyatt
13. Randy Orton
14. Luke Harper
15. Mojo Rawley
16. Braun Strowman
17. Chris Jericho
18. Baron Corbin
19. Cesaro
20. Sheamus
21. Big Cass
22. Rusev

Predictions, Potential spoilers

Spoiler

23. Seth (to set up match with Triple H at WM)
24. Triple H (same with Seth)
25. Samoa Joe (promoted to the main roster)
26. NXT guy (No Way Jose or Tye, not Naka and Bobby)
27. Kurt Angle
28. Shaq (vs Big Show)
29. Roman (to troll the crowd)
30. Finn Balor (shows up but not actually wrestle, Undertaker throws him out)
Wildcard: Ellsworth, Shawn Michaels,

Seth lost his spot to Sami last Raw.

 

[UberTag]

If we end this PPV with Cena and Roman as Champs, I swear to God...

Roman is virtually assured. Cena... not so much.

Spoiler

Orton winning is redeemed if somehow it leads to Bray as Champion.

I mean, it does sort of telegraph that outcome, doesn't it?

 

[VanquishUK]

If we end this PPV with Cena and Roman as Champs, I swear to God...

I could live with a Cena win if he cheats for the win and turns heel.

 

[Carl2291]

I'm sure it's been said multiple times already, but if Tye Dillinger doesn't come out number 10 I'm gonna rage quit.

 

[ratcliffja]

I could live with a Cena win if he cheats for the win and turns heel.

So who is the top face on Smackdown then?

 

[UberTag]

I'm sure it's been said multiple times already, but if Tye Dillinger doesn't come out number 10 I'm gonna rage quit.

How awesome would it be if the crowd counts down with the clock as normal for every Rumble entrant but after 9 entrants, instead of counting down they simply chant "10", "10", "10" for each number - and then Tye makes his entrance.

So who is the top face on Smackdown then?

Let's not entertain Cena turning heel rhetoric. It's never going to happen.

 

[somedevil]

I could live with a Cena win if he cheats for the win and turns heel.

John Cena then trolled this idea more on his instagram:

This was going to be his new catch phrase in his almost heel run in 2011 when he was going to face the rock. He had new gear and theme ready but they nixed it.

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

So who is the top face on Smackdown then?

Dean Ambrose

 

[kirblar]

So who is the top face on Smackdown then?

If (and that's a BIG if) Cena turns, it's a double turn and the top face is AJ.

 

[ratcliffja]

If (and that's a BIG if) Cena turns, it's a double turn and the top face is AJ.

But can he be the face that runs the place?

 

[Tom Nook]

Seth lost his spot to Sami last Raw.

He'll find a way in. Maybe jumping Swagger and grabbing his spot.

 

[NLCP Gaming]

Wade barrett return at number 10 telling us he have some bad news for us

 

[Tall4Life]

He'll find a way in. Maybe jumping Swagger and grabbing his spot.

Then he would be a heel again.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Seth lost his spot to Sami last Raw.

Seth is almost assuredly on the show in some capacity.

 

[Into the Light]

So who is the top face on Smackdown then?

AJ Styles. Cena has been super jerk mode.

 

[Dark Ninja]

He'll find a way in. Maybe jumping Swagger and grabbing his spot.

It be better if Seth showed up at the NXT event and jumped Hunter while he tries to get his shit in at the start of the show.

 

[Entropia]

VP of the company: "So, any plans for this weekend?"

34-year-old me:

Bruh, I told em what I was doing. Hell I have the next day off.

"What are you doing?!"

"Me and some buddies are getting together Sunday, drinking all day and watching the Royal Rumble."

 

[styl3s]

Royal Rumble Participants

Spoiler

30. Finn Balor (shows up but not actually wrestle, Undertaker throws him out)
Wildcard: Ellsworth, Shawn Michaels,

I would set my TV on fire this happened.

Unless it's to setup a match at WM.

 

[Chie Satonaka]

John Cena then trolled this idea more on his instagram:



This was going to be his new catch phrase in his almost heel run in 2011 when he was going to face the rock. He had new gear and theme ready but they nixed it.

Wait, what? Really? This was a thing?

 

[Tall4Life]

Seth is almost assuredly on the show in some capacity.

Oh I dont doubt that Seth will be on the show, but he almost certainly won't be in the rumble.

 

[somedevil]

Wait, what? Really? This was a thing?

He talks about it on the Jericho podcast. It was idea that reached them making new gear and theme before his first match with the Rock but it was nixed.

Fear his name was trademarked in 2011 but never used.

Plus in total divas in a scene with nikki he came out with a singlet with that phrase on it with matching boots. Mask was not a part of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Akx_Zi2jTY

 

[Sinatar]

 

[Tagyhag]

This along with the rumored Rumble winner, and it's the worst PPV in a while.

God can you imagine? People haven't been this hyped for a Rumble in years, could they really fuck it up that badly? Like, the trifecta of fucking up?

 

[SallyIsNow]

Lol

 

[yuraya]

Fedor vs Lesnar final 2 in the ring.

 

[Nekofrog]

I'm expecting the Rumble itself to be a letdown, so it might actually be the Cruiserweight match I'm most looking forward to.

It won't get more than 7 minutes