OAO 2007 Royal Rumble Thread.

[DMann2003 0]

Shit book Michaels/Taker Hell in a Cell II at No Way Out, WM Title Match on the line

[The Amazing Rando 0]

IF BATISTA WINS, WE RIOT! ... bring it, Detroit!

[Superfly Snuka 0]

Anyone else seeing the sub-main event as Cena beating Khali (given tonight's performance) and ending the night with taker beating bats?

 

CM Punk vs. Michaels would be a fun Wrestlemania match...though it'll never happen.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Meltzer on The LAW just now:

 

Undertaker was going to win the Rumble going back two months. Triple H was a possible winner, but once he got injured it was definitely Undertaker.

 

Thinks they'll do something with Edge and Orton, though maybe not a full split, going into WM XXIII, possibly having Edge-Orton-Cena at WM XXIII to make Cena the underdog. Dave thinks it's too soon to split Edge and Orton anyway, even by Summerslam, and thinks they should hold it off until Survivor Series.

 

Unless plans change, which Dave says they have to, Batista is set to beat Undertaker at WM XXIII. Dave thinks people would be genuinely upset if Batista ended the streak, and thinks the only way to make it work is to have Batista go full blown heel and to build to Undertaker getting the big win down the line.

 

As of a week ago, it was meant to be HBK vs. Booker at WM XXIII with Trump and Vince in their respectiver corners, though tonight seems to indicate that idea has been scrapped. Thinks they might go with HBK vs. Khali, because Shawn could be able to get something out of Khali.

[KingPK 0]

Meltzer on The LAW just now:

 

Thinks they'll do something with Edge and Orton, though maybe not a full split, going into WM XXIII, possibly having Edge-Orton-Cena at WM XXIII to make Cena the underdog. Dave thinks it's too soon to split Edge and Orton anyway, even by Summerslam, and thinks they should hold it off until Survivor Series.

 

Stacking the odds against John Cena...I wonder why WWE hasn't tried doing that yet?

[Hawk 34 0]

It went from bad to worse. Shawn/Booker? Fine. Shawn/Khali? Good god.

[Superfly Snuka 0]

Dudes, having Booker in McMahon's corner in a match would be funny on a number of levels, esp. since Vince had a match booked in his company with a storyline of the antagonist (HHH) was blatantly racist (black man not good enough soryline) and ultimately "proved it" by going over clean over said Booker.

 

This storyline/conclusion to a feud was much worse than Katie Vick, et al., ever.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Hey.

 

Tag was solid.

 

ECW was awful.

 

World Title was solid.

 

WWE Title was AWESOME.

 

Rumble was too quick, 1st half sucked ass, 2nd half was pretty good.

 

Called Taker winning. Woohoo.

[cabbageboy 0]

I can't believe they are still thinking of having Batista end the streak. That might seriously be the single worst booking decision of all time if they actually go through with it. Especially if they just put the belt on UT down the road anyway, which they'd have to do to get him to job at WM. What would Batista really get out of the win if he inevitably just jobs anyway? It's pointless.

[Superfly Snuka 0]

I can't believe they are still thinking of having Batista end the streak. That might seriously be the single worst booking decision of all time if they actually go through with it. Especially if they just put the belt on UT down the road anyway, which they'd have to do to get him to job at WM. What would Batista really get out of the win if he inevitably just jobs anyway? It's pointless.

 

I don't think they'll have Batista win at WM. The best thing to do if they really want this match at WM is to put in on last, and have Undertaker win it. Then, since the crowd will be pro-Taker, turn Batista heel the next night with the whole "I tried to do everything for the fans and you guys turned on me" routine. Batista as a heel is much more interesting (possibly with a manager) and thus Taker gets the win, but Bats gets a rub by being given a reason to turn heel...and thus be interesting/relevant...or a reason to switch to RAW the next night and turn heel.

[KingPK 0]

I hate to say it, but they already blew the perfect way to end the streak with Orton a few years ago. The way things went makes sense on some levels (Undertaker still has a few tricks up his sleeve), but if they wanted to end the streak in the most logical (whoops, there's that word again) way and give someone a major rub (though this is Taker we're talking about), that would have been the perfect way to go.

[Superfly Snuka 0]

I hate to say it, but they already blew the perfect way to end the streak with Orton a few years ago. The way things went makes sense on some levels (Undertaker still has a few tricks up his sleeve), but if they wanted to end the streak in the most logical (whoops, there's that word again) way and give someone a major rub (though this is Taker we're talking about), that would have been the perfect way to go.

 

Man, I'd die laughing if Taker blows out his knee between now and WM. Everything main event -wise would have to be scrapped and reshuffled. Could happen.

 

Anyways, if taker didn't job to Orton , which would have made great sense/rub-wise, he sure as hell is not going to job to Batista, who has had a terrible run as a champion + can't stay healthy.

[UZI Suicide 0]

Why would it be funny if 'Taker blew his knee out and WWE had to scramble to change the card? You're a fucking idiot.

[Enigma 0]

I think Loaded Glove is The Undertaker based on that overreaction.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Watching the rumble over again, Shelton's knees were closer to hitting the floor than his feet, it would have been an interesting thing to see if two knees = two feet or not.

[Guest Natchou]

Meltzer on The LAW just now:

 

Undertaker was going to win the Rumble going back two months. Triple H was a possible winner, but once he got injured it was definitely Undertaker.

 

Thinks they'll do something with Edge and Orton, though maybe not a full split, going into WM XXIII, possibly having Edge-Orton-Cena at WM XXIII to make Cena the underdog. Dave thinks it's too soon to split Edge and Orton anyway, even by Summerslam, and thinks they should hold it off until Survivor Series.

 

Unless plans change, which Dave says they have to, Batista is set to beat Undertaker at WM XXIII. Dave thinks people would be genuinely upset if Batista ended the streak, and thinks the only way to make it work is to have Batista go full blown heel and to build to Undertaker getting the big win down the line.

 

As of a week ago, it was meant to be HBK vs. Booker at WM XXIII with Trump and Vince in their respectiver corners, though tonight seems to indicate that idea has been scrapped. Thinks they might go with HBK vs. Khali, because Shawn could be able to get something out of Khali.

 

Wow, didn't know that the idea of Taker winning the Rumble was set as early as 2 months ago. Interesting.

 

Also, I'm *really* glad that it looks like they have scrapped the idea of HBK/Booker at WM 23. IMO, with HBK's performance tonight/last night, it looks like they might put Shawn in the RAW Main Event of WM, even if it mean doing a 4-way with Cena, Edge and Orton. At least I hope so.

[uhftv 0]

they were already building to the match, they could have had someone else win the Rumble. Taker only shows up a few ppvs a year to wrestle, usually the big money shows or when they really need him for a weak SD card.

 

So it was kind of a waste to have him there since he can pretty much show up after being away for months and just get a title shot whenever he wants.

 

Usually the only winners have been a top guy trying to regain their title like Austin, Rock, Brock or a guy moving to the next level like Benoit, Rey, Batista.

 

The matchup itself has a lot of steam just on novelty. They couldve used the Rumble win on someone else, but they may have thought he needs to be booked stronger to have people thinking he may keep the streak going.

 

But realistically the last 9 years Taker has been in nontitle matches cause he can draw himself with those horrible giant vs giant matches Vince likes.

 

Heels almost never win the Rumble so I dunno who else they could have had win that isnt already over (maybe too over) that can otherwise get a title shot just by asking for it.

 

Personally I prefer the Rumbles where a new star is made. Like Money in the Bank, it is more exciting if the winner is someone who would not normally get a title shot. But there arent any new babyfaces that they want to give the rub to.

 

Perhaps the only other option was to have Cena enter as #1 after already wrestling that night, winning the Rumble and challenging himself. But there'd be concerns if he'd sell too much as champ.

 

They want to split Edge and Orton already, yet they keep DX going long past any viable storyline? Their priorities are very screwed.

[Guest wolverine1007]

I think that Undertaker/Batista would have been amazing if Batista hadn't gotten hurt, and was still champ from when he beat Triple H at Wrestlemania 21. Then you could have had Batista's mega title reign against the streak, at the very least.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

I think that Undertaker/Batista would have been amazing if Batista hadn't gotten hurt, and was still champ from when he beat Triple H at Wrestlemania 21. Then you could have had Batista's mega title reign against the streak, at the very least.

I don't know if the people would have been able to deal with a 2 year long Batista title reign.

 

This isn't the 70s and 80s where you could get away with reigns that long.

[Scroby 0]

As of a week ago, it was meant to be HBK vs. Booker at WM XXIII with Trump and Vince in their respectiver corners, though tonight seems to indicate that idea has been scrapped. Thinks they might go with HBK vs. Khali, because Shawn could be able to get something out of Khali.

 

What did I miss that gave the thoughts that Booker vs HBK would be scrapped?

 

I thought the show was pretty good tonight, the only things I didn't like was the finish to the ECW title match, and that Kennedy didn't win. I was really pist that Kennedy didn't win tonight.

 

Tag match: It was the basic tag match there, was good to watch.

 

ECW title match: Test worked his ass off for this match and the match itself was ok, why they did the finish where Test just gave up and walked out was just dumb. For some reason Test got buried within the past week.

 

Smackdown title match: Why the fuck didn't Kennedy win tonight? He should have won, I'm pist that he didn't win! Kennedy for World Champion!

 

Raw Title match: At first I really didn't care to much for the match, when Cena threw the steps at Umaga, I was thinking "ok...what else can you do?", the top rope chokeout was pretty creative, and Umaga going for the super spike was pretty cool.

 

Royal Rumble: Very fun to watch as always, I didn't like Sandman getting in and getting out so quickly, I wanted him to cane moe people. Undertaker winning is great as I had him in my fantasy team this week.

[The Niggardly King 0]

Cena and Umaga had another good match.

 

I don't see why anyone is complaining about elevating new talent... look at all the three title matches. That's fresh post brand split talent (excluding Test). What else do you want? Kenny winning the Royal Rumble?

[King Cucaracha 0]

Why do people think anyone will get a rub from 'the streak'? The only person getting anything from it is Taker while it's still in effect.

 

All that'll happen if they decide to end it is whoever ends it will get a short-term rub, fall back into their original position and spend the next 5 years talking about how they ended the Undertaker's streak, with it being just as meaningless as Chris 'First Undisputed Champion In History~!' Jericho.

[The Niggardly King 0]

I think they'll just keep the streak for when Taker decides to have his one or two money matches after he retires.

[bob_barron 0]

I hate to say it, but they already blew the perfect way to end the streak with Orton a few years ago. The way things went makes sense on some levels (Undertaker still has a few tricks up his sleeve), but if they wanted to end the streak in the most logical (whoops, there's that word again) way and give someone a major rub (though this is Taker we're talking about), that would have been the perfect way to go.

 

Given that Orton was injured and going to be out for four months, having him end the streak would've been a bad idea

[billdynamite 0]

I watched the rumble with a buddy who's not a wrestling fan (Rumble '98 was his last event), and it was interesting to see his reactions.

 

Firstly he was very impressed with Melina and thought Jeff Hardy was "slow as shit" since he last saw him.

 

he thought Lashley/Test was "a pile of shit", which i agreed with. He said Lashley has nothing but muscles, no charisma and he doesn't see why he should give a shit about these guys. I suggested maybe he should watch ECW if he wanted to give a shit, and "not a chance in hell" was the the impression i got from him.

 

He didn't get why I liked Kennedy, but after watching Batista roam around the ring at a snails pace, he changed his tune and was cheering for Kennedy along with the crowd. We were disappointed.

 

All night, including the pre-show, he couldn't stop laughing whenever Umaga came on screen doing his little jig. He doesn't get why this Samoan guy is being portrayed as an animal when last time he checked Samoans were human. He thought the character is ridiculous and didn't buy him winning the match for a second, but who did? He didn't understand why this guy had face-paint and didn't know if it was meant to be a tattoo or not. I didn't actually know the answer. I got the impression he felt his intelligence was insulted.

 

The rumble match was pretty standard stuff. He got a kick out of Sandman's elimination because he didn't know who the hell he was, why he has an elaborate entrance, why he's opening cans of beer like Stone Cold and smashing everyone with a stick. We both knew straight away when Sabu set the table up it was his dumb ass going through it. He was impressed with Khali for about 10 seconds. "Wow that guy is massive!" turned into "can he do anything other than that damn headbutt?" and then "why are they going at him one at a time." and when Taker eliminated him "Wow that guy can't do anything."

When it came down to Taker/HBK, even though i pretty much knew Taker was a LOCK for the win, i was pulling for HBK (i was praying for a surprise) while my buddy went for Taker. I was disappointed. So was the crowd by the sounds of things.

 

Overall i didn't think it was a bad PPV.

[JPopStarKami 0]

By the way, does anyone have total in-ring times? I actually timed CM Punk's at 27 minutes and 25 seconds XD

 

With all of the backstage heat on him (or so they say), I think he stayed in the longest out of ECW.

[Wrestlefreak 0]

I'm glad Taker finally won the Rumble(at last number 30!). The finish was great. I personally can't wait to see the Deadman in the main-event of Wrestlemania for the first time since 1997.

 

Umaga/Cena was good. Test/Lashley was crap. Batista/Kennedy was good, but too short. IMO, it should have been given ALOT more time.

 

I'm glad the Rumble match was last this year. It should always be last.

 

Overall, a good PPV.

[Bruce Blank 0]

Say Vince, Vince-ola, Vincent Baby, Vincenzo Mr. McMahon if you weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell!

 

Don't you think that Batista sold a bit too much for a World champion?

[Dobbs 3K 0]

I enjoyed the show last night. I thought the opening tag match match was very, very good. That's how tag team wrestling should be. Hell, I can't remember the last time we've seen the "ref didn't see the faces make the tag" spot, honestly.

 

Cena/Umaga was a really good brawl, IMO. Blood, violence, the ring getting torn apart...nice match.

 

The other two title matches were pretty forgettable. Crowd was clearly not into Lashley. Slow match with a pointless finish. I did chuckle out of Test getting counted out on purpose, though. Seemed like the crowd wanted Kennedy to beat Batista.

 

The Rumble match itself was solid. Probably somewhere in the middle in terms of quality for Royal Rumbles overall. It seemed like the start was kind of slow. Clearly this match showed how far the stock of the ECW guys have fallen. Dreamer, Sabu, and Sandman were all thrown out relatively quickly, Sabu going through his own gimmick. The crowd seemed into Sandman, so I don't see why he had to go so fast.

 

Also, towards the end it seemed like some big names went pretty quick. I blinked and missed RVD and Benoit getting thrown out. The ending with HBK and Undertaker was obviously good. Couldn't shake the feeling that a younger guy should've been in one of those spots, though.

[Red Baron 0]

Two years in a row I predicted the winner of the rumble.