It’s a full show this week as we’ve got Old School Burt LeGrand in studio with Sorg and Larry. As a special treat, we’ve got Tonio Garza joining us online, and Mad Mike makes a stop by in the second half. They’re talking this week in wrestling, including:
AJ Styles v Brock Lesnar? Thank you WWE.
Does this mean we’ll see AJ Styles v Shinsuke Nakamura for Starrcade?
Survivor Series 2017 – we’re talking some of our predictions and speculations.
Burt is calling for an in-ring return of Daniel Bryan?
Garza is talking some New Japan and Chris Jericho v Kenny Omega.
So – we’re getting something we normally don’t get on the show. That’s right, we’re talking some Impact Wrestling.
Apparently Alberto El Patron’s promo was just weird.
Impact Wrestling has a casting call for paid background actors?
We go from Impact Wrestling to booking nostalgia matches (The Rock v Triple H or Triple H v Kevin Owens?).
Triple H with The Shield = Perfect
It’s time for this week’s Big Question: What would your Wrestle Kingdom dream match be?
We have e-mail! (Kinda.)
Stephen Amell is going to ROH?
There was an intergender match tonight?
Pete Dunne v Enzo Amore? Larry is confused, but okay with it.
Remember to LIKE and FOLLOW us on Facebook for updates and video.
Indy Mayhem Show 168: Scotty Santiago Returns From Mexico
Scotty Santiago discusses his life after last week’s ill fated Mexico trip and discusses readjusting to wrestling in the USA with Anarchy Championship Wrestling, Inspire Pro, filming a spot with Alberto Del Rio, Puerto Rico, and the POINT OF THE STORY: Losing a venue my being mistaken for an asshole 3 years earlier.
Share your feelings on indy wrestling and tell us who we should talk to on the show via e-mail at [email protected]
Go to wrestlingmayhemshow.com for more entertainment!
Wrestling Mayhem Show 537: Good for CM Punk
We discuss CM Punk’s try at the UFC
Alberto Del Rio and Paige are making some interesting moves
WWE Backlash makes an impact for WWE Smackdown Live. Except for maybe Bray Wyatt.
We talk Alexa Bliss, Jack Swagger’s contract, Jinder Mahal, and more!
Big Question: What is the weirdest wrestling licensed product you’ve had?
We look at the upcoming final for the WWE Cruiserweight Classic
Follow our stable on Twitter: Eamon Paton (@eamon2please, Inspire Pro), Mad Mike (@madmike4883), Bobbyfjtown (@bobbyfjtown) and Michael Sorg (@sorgatron, sorgatronmedia.com)
If you are in Pittsburgh, you got to go to Slice on Broadway and get their food! (sliceonbroadway.com/Twitter: @pgh_slice)
Thanks to our Awesome Patreons Bodiggity (@ajfrompgh), Alex Kahrs (@power2thesmarks) , Ed Burke (@EdBurke37), Bobbyfjtown (@bobbyfjtown) and The Matthew and Jennifer Carlins Foundation for Podcast Betterment (@MainstreamMat and @JenCarlins)! You can support the show too atPatreon.com/wrestlingmayhemshow !
Go to wrestlingmayhemshow.com for more entertainment!
Sorg discusses WWE RAW including the Tag Team takeover to kick off the show with Gallows and Anderson, The New Day, Vaudvillains, and Enzo and Cass, all the talking between the Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) and the John Cena and AJ Styles contract signing. Money in the Bank participants(Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Alberto Del Rio) also weasel their way into the main event!
Join us LIVE Monday shortly after WWE RAW! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ for the link!
WWE RAW Wrap Up: Return. The Club. Too Sweet
Eamon Paton (@eamon2please, Voice of Inspire Pro Wrestling) and Michael Sorg (@sorgatron, Sorgatron Media) talk about WWE RAW, the big news of the John Cena return being spoiled by The Club, AJ Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, the crowd reactions to Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, the 6 man tag ending the show (including Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, Alberto Del Rio vs Sami Zayn, Cesaro, and Dean Ambrose), the Enzo and Cass match against the Dudleys, and the off feeling to Stephanie McMahon and Shane McMahon explaining the WWE Smackdown move to The New Day.
Join us LIVE Monday shortly after WWE RAW! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ for the link!
Mayhem Mania 2016 – Final Round!
This… is… Mayhem Mania! Not quite a game. Not really a contest. More like a competitive thought experiment. The object is to create the best WrestleMania card possible – NOT necessarily to predict what WWE will do.
This is not fantasy booking (even though it kind of is). Any match created must be possible in real life. That means all wrestlers come in their current physical, emotional and contractual state. Anyone selected for a match must have a reasonable chance of being hired by WWE to appear on the real-life WrestleMania card. Simply put, we have to play by the same rules as Vince McMahon.
The spectacular and unpredictable Patreon In The Bank round is history, and the SUPERCARD is set (you can see it by clicking the link above). but there’s always something to fight over in Mayhem Mania. During the final round on the Wrestling Mayhem Show (@MayhemShow) on March 22, seven members of the WMS Universe were invited to fine tune the “undercard”, the eight matches that didn’t GRADUATE. Only one will earn a place on the Mayhem Mania preshow!
This week’s participants had the usual 3 options:
1. SWAP a wrestler/tag team for one already on the card.
2. ADD an unused wrestler/tag team to an existing match.
3. KILL a match AND CREATE an entirely new match with unused wrestlers.
Under the “Alex Kahrs Rule”, both Ed Burke and Alex Kahrs himself got to hand out some “punishment”. This week, it’s a name drawn from The Jar Of The Unloved, which is filled with the names of those main roster wrestlers in WWE whose names have yet to be called during Mayhem Mania 2016. Alex gave it to Eamon. Ed gave it to Mad Mike.
Now, on with the show!
MAYHEM MANIA 2016 – FINAL ROUND
Move 1 (@HotWheelzRWA)
ADD R-Truth to Darren Young vs. Michael Tarver
Move 2 (@TheeRizz)
SWAP Ronda Rousey for Todd Chrisley
Move 3 (@Sorgatron)
ADD Blue Pants to Eva Marie vs. Lana
Move 4 (Antonio Garza – @TheWRevolution)
KILL El Torito vs. Hornswoggle AND CREATE Alex Riley vs. Damien Sandow vs. Fandango vs. Wade Barrett
Move 5 (@MadMike4883)
(*Erick Rowan drawn from The Jar Of The Unloved)
KILL Darren Young vs. Michael Tarver vs. R-Truth AND CREATE Bobby Roode & Eric Young vs. Erick Rowan & Braun Strowman
Move 6 (@Bobbyfjtown)
KILL Snooki & David Arquette & Kevin Federline vs. Todd Chrisley & Stephen Amell & Karl Malone AND CREATE Undertaker vs. Baron Corbin
Move 7 (@Eamon2Please)
(*Jack Swagger drawn from The Jar Of The Unloved)
KILL El Torito vs. Hornswoggle AND CREATE Jack Swagger vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Several players took advantage of their ELIMINATOR, which can banish any name from being used in Mayhem Mania 2016. Garza ELIMINATORED Stephen Amell after Bobby killed his match. Sorgatron ELIMINATORED El Torito after Garza killed his match. Finally, Bobby ELIMINATORED two people, Ronda Rousey and Stephen Amell. There was a lot of backlash to that celebrity match.
With the final moves of the final round now in the books, let’s take a look at the updated “undercard”.
Kennel From Hell Match
Alberto Del Rio vs. Austin Aries
(Created by Antonio Garza – @TheWRevolution)
Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch
Presented by “Sunny Side Up”
(Created by @EdBurke37)
Ladder Match for Divas Championship
Paige vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte vs. Bayley
(Created by @MadMike4883)
Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler
(Created by @Sorgatron)
Erick Rowan & Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Roode & Eric Young
(Created by @MadMike4883)
Lana vs. Eva Marie vs. Blue Pants
(Created by @Sorgatron)
Jack Swagger vs. Tommaso Ciampa
(Created by @Eamon2Please)
Undertaker vs. Baron Corbin
(Created by @Bobbyfjtown)
As mentionted, you will decide which one of these eight matches will get a coveted spot on the Mayhem Mania 2016 preshow. Everyone else will be thrown together into a pointless battle royal. So, head over to the WMS Facebook group and cast your vote for your favorite.
Who was left out of Mayhem Mania that deserved a spot? Is the “undercard” better than the SUPERCARD? Share your feedback with us, and thanks for your support of Mayhem Mania!
Mayhem Mania 2016 – Patreon In The Bank
This… is… Mayhem Mania! Not quite a game. Not really a contest. More like a competitive thought experiment. The object is to create the best WrestleMania card possible – NOT necessarily to predict what WWE will do.
This is not fantasy booking (even though it kind of is). Any match created must be possible in real life. That means all wrestlers come in their current physical, emotional and contractual state. Anyone selected for a match must have a reasonable chance of being hired by WWE to appear on the real-life WrestleMania card. Simply put, we have to play by the same rules as Vince McMahon.
The spectacular and unpredictable Patreon In The Bank round of Mayhem Mania 2016 was held during the Wrestling Mayhem Show (@MayhemShow) on March 15. Only Patreon supporters of the Wrestling Mayhem Show were eligible to partcipate. As thanks for their financial support, they were granted the opportunity to make up to five moves.
1) Fast-track GRADUATE one match to the SUPERCARD
2) If necessary, CREATE a new match to fill the slot on the “undercard” left open by the just-graduated match
3) Make a traditional “move” or a change to the “undercard”.
4) Add a stipulation to any match
5) Just for fun, add a sponsor to any match.
Whenever a match GRADUATES to the SUPERCARD, the player who created it gets an ELIMINATOR. It can be used a single time, at any time, to remove any single person from Mayhem Mania 2016. Those on the current card are protected from the ELIMINATOR, but if they are traded out for someone else, they would be vulnerable. Before the start of the Patreon In The Bank round, Eamon Paton cashed in and ELIMINATORED…Mr. Anderson! I’ll have the updated list of who has an ELIMINATOR to use later.
One match graduated following Round 9 last week. Sorgatron created it, so he got to CREATE a match to fill the open slot on the “undercard”.
Mayhem Mania 2016 – Round 9.5
Move #1 (@Sorgatron)
CREATE Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler
Now, on with the show!
Mayhem Mania 2016 – Patreon In The Bank
Patreon #1 – A.J.
1) GRADUATE Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles
2) CREATE Social Outcasts vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady & Tye Dillinger & Kozlov
4) STIPULATION for Social Outcasts vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady & Tye Dillinger & Kozlov = Family Double Dare Obstacle Course Match. Winners get a 13″ TV and a trip to Space Camp.
Patreon #2 – @EdBurke37
1) GRADUATE Blake & Murphy vs. The Revival vs. American Alpha
2) CREATE Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch
3) KILL Mojo Rawley (with Rob Gronkowski) vs. Baron Corbin AND CREATE Asuka vs. Charlotte
4) STIPULATION for Asuka vs. Charlotte = Ladder Match for Divas Title
5) SPONSOR for Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso vs. The Rock vs. Roman Reigns vs. Nia Jax = Ancestry.com
Patreon #3 – Antonio Garza (@TheWRevolution)
1) GRADUATE Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso vs. The Rock vs. Roman Reigns vs. Nia Jax
2) CREATE Eva Marie vs. Lana
3) KILL Dean Ambrose vs. Rusev AND CREATE Kofi Kingston vs. Big E vs. Xavier Woods
4) STIPULATION for Jimmy Uso vs. Jey Uso vs. The Rock vs. Roman Reigns vs. Nia Jax = Winner becomes the sole user of the “Rock’s cousin” monicker. If The Rock wins, losers must leave the Anoa’i Family.
5) SPONSOR for Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch = “Sunny Side Up”
Patreon #4 – Matthew & Jennifer Carlins Foundation For Podcast Betterment (@JenCarlins)
1) GRADUATE Kofi Kingston vs. Big E vs. Xavier Woods
2) CREATE Dean Ambrose vs. Drake Wuertz
4) STIPULATION for Dean Ambrose vs. Drake Wuertz = Barbed Wire Hell In A Cell Match
5) SPONSOR for Dean Ambrose vs. Drake Wuertz = Lowe’s
Patreon #5 – @AlexanderKahrs
1) GRADUATE Dean Ambrose vs. Drake Wuertz
2) CREATE El Torito vs. Hornswoggle
3) ADD Paige to Asuka vs. Charlotte
4) STIPULATION for Alberto Del Rio vs. Austin Aries = Kennel From Hell
5) SPONSOR for Finn Bálor vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn = EWMerch.com
Patreon #6 – @MadMike4883
1) GRADUATE Social Outcasts vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady & Tye Dillinger & Kozlov
2) CREATE Snooki & David Arquette & Kevin Federline vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Stephen Amell vs. Karl Malone
3) ADD Bayley to Asuka vs. Charlotte vs. Paige
4) STIPULATION for Kofi Kingston vs. Big E vs. Xavier Woods = Super Smash Bros. Melee Match
5) SPONSOR for Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles = Wrestling Mayhem Show
Well, it wasn’t pretty, but we have accomplished our stated goal for Mayhem Mania 2016 and GRADUATED eight matches to the SUPERCARD.
Apollo Crews vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Bray Wyatt
(Created by @Sorgatron)
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles
Presented by Wrestling Mayhem Show
(Created by @Bobbyfjtown)
Blake & Murphy vs. The Revival vs. American Alpha
(Created by @Bobbyfjtown)
Anoa’i Family Expulsion Match presented by: Ancestry.com
(Winner becomes the sole user of the “Rock’s cousin” monicker. If The Rock wins, losers must leave the Anoa’i Family)
Jimmy Uso vs. Roman Reigns vs. The Rock vs. Nia Jax vs. Jey Uso
(Created by Stosh from @MaxXouT)
Super Smash Bros. Melee Match
Kofi Kingston vs. Big E vs. Xavier Woods
(Created by Antonio Garza – @TheWRevolution)
Family Double Dare Obstacle Course Match
(Winners get a 13″ TV and a trip to Space Camp)
Social Outcasts vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady & Tye Dillinger & Kozlov
(Created by A.J.)
Barbed Wide Hell In A Cell Match presented by Lowe’s
Drake Wuertz vs. Dean Ambrose
(Created by (@JenCarlins)
And now, here are the 8 matches on the “undercard” following Patreon In The Bank.
Darren Young vs. Michael Tarver
(Created by @eamon2please)
Kennel From Hell Match
Alberto Del Rio vs. Austin Aries
(Created by Antonio Garza – @TheWRevolution)
Eva Marie vs. Lana
(Created by Antonio Garza – @TheWRevolution)
Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch
Presented by “Sunny Side Up”
(Created by @EdBurke37)
Ladder Match for Divas Championship
Paige vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte vs. Bayley
(Created by @MadMike4883)
Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler
(Created by @Sorgatron)
Snooki & David Arquette & Kevin Federline vs. Ronda Rousey & Stephen Amell & Karl Malone
(Created by @MadMike4883)
What’s left for these eight matches on the “undercard”, a shot at the Mayhem Mania pre-show! Next week, we’ll hold the final round of Mayhem Mania 2016. Players will get to make some final changes to the “undercard” matches. After that, we will have a vote on the Wrestling Mayhem Show Facebook page to decide which one will get a spot on the Mayhem Mania pre-show.
There will be more. Because there were two changes to what became the Paige vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte vs. Bayley match during the Patreon In The Bank round, the “Alex Kahrs Rule” applies to both Ed Burke and Alex Kahrs himself. They’ll be invited back next week to make the final moves of the final round of Mayhem Mania 2016. Also, both will get to hand out a dose of “punishment” to the other players.
Finally, because six matches GRADUATED to the SUPERCARD during Patreon In The Bank, six ELIMINATORS are hereby awarded. Bobby actually gets two ELIMINATORS because two of his matches graduated. Also joining Sorgatron in the group with a single ELIMINATOR to use: Stosh from MaxXouT, Antonio Garza, A.J. and Jen Carlins.
What changes would you make to the “undercard”? Which one deserves to be on the Mayhem Mania pre-show? Who deserves to be punished Share your feedback with us, and thanks for your support of Mayhem Mania!
Mayhem Mania 2016 – Round 9
This… is… Mayhem Mania! Not quite a game. Not really a contest. More like a competitive thought experiment. The object is to create the best WrestleMania card possible – NOT necessarily to predict what WWE will do.
This is not fantasy booking (even though it kind of is). Any match created must be possible in real life. That means all wrestlers come in their current physical, emotional and contractual state. Anyone selected for a match must have a reasonable chance of being hired by WWE to appear on the real-life WrestleMania card. Simply put, we have to play by the same rules as Vince McMahon.
Round 9 of Mayhem Mania 2016 was held during the Wrestling Mayhem Show (@MayhemShow) on March 8. Five members of the WMS Universe were chosen to make a single “move” or a change to the card. They had the usual 3 options:
1. SWAP a wrestler/tag team with another already on the card.
2. ADD an unused wrestler/tag team to an existing match.
3. TRADE a wrestler/match for an entirely new match with unused wrestlers.
In addition, the SUBTRACT option is still in play. It can be used to remove one person from any match (singles matches not eligible. That would be weird). This option can be used only once during Mayhem Mania. After that, it’s gone forever.
Under the “Alex Kahrs Rule”, Eamon Paton was guranteed the final move in Round 9 and also got to hand out a dose of “punishment”. This week, it’s the Wheel Of Nexus.
Also, Eamon still has The ELIMINATOR in his possession. He can use this at any time to remove any single person from Mayhem Mania 2016. Those on the current card are protected from the ELIMINATOR, but if they are traded out for someone else, they would be vulnerable. Eamon can hold on to this move as long as he wants before using it. Eamon earned this prize by creating a match that graduated to the SUPER CARD. More on that in a bit.
Now, on with the show!
Mayhem Mania 2016 – Round 8
Move 1 (@Bobbyfjtown)
SUBTRACT Kalisto from Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles vs. Kalisto
Move 2 (Antonio Garza – @TheWRevolution)
TRADE The Ascension vs. Gold & Stardust vs. Stephen Amell & Neville for Alberto Del Rio vs. Austin Aries
Move 3 (Stosh from @MaxXouT)
ADD The Rock to Jimmy Uso vs. Roman Reigns vs. Nia Jax vs. Jey Uso
Move 4 (Elliott from @MaxXouT)
ADD Rob Gronkowski to Mojo Rawley vs. Baron Corbin
Move 5 (@Eamon2Please)
(*Forced to spin the Wheel Of Nexus, which landed on Michael Tarver)
TRADE Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady vs. Ronda Rousey & Shane McMahon for Michael Tarver vs. Darren Young
That’s right. Eamon gave this week’s “punishment” to himself. He is a twisted genius when it comes to Mayhem Mania.
Any match that survives 3 rounds in Mayhem Mania without being altered GRADUATES to the SUPER CARD, and I’m happy to report a second match GRADUATED after Round 9.
MAYHEM MANIA 2016 – THE SUPERCARD!
Apollo Crews vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Bray Wyatt
(Created by @Sorgatron)
Congratulations to Sorgatron. He will back next week to CREATE a new match to fill the open slot on the Mayhem Mania “undercard”. He also becomes the second person to get The ELIMINATOR, which will allow him to banish any person who’s not currently on the card from being used in Mayhem Mania 2016. Here’s the first match that graduated to the SUPERCARD.
Finn Bálor vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
(Created by @eamon2please)
And now, here are the 7 remaining matches on the “undercard” following Round 9. There are two matches that survived the round without being altered in any way.
Blake & Murphy vs. The Revival vs. American Alpha
(Created by @Bobbyfjtown)
And here are the five newly created matches following Round 9.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles
(Created by @Bobbyfjtown)
Alberto Del Rio vs. Austin Aries
(Created by Antonio Garza – @TheWRevolution)
Jimmy Uso vs. Roman Reigns vs. The Rock vs. Nia Jax vs. Jey Uso
(Created by Stosh from @MaxXouT) Darren Young vs. Michael Tarver
(Created by @eamon2please)
Mojo Rawley (with Rob Gronkowski) vs. Baron Corbin
(Elliott from @MaxXouT)
OK. So, I wasn’t on hand to host this week’s round of Mayhem Mania. Had I been there, I would’ve been VERY hesitant to allow the use of Rob Gronkowski. I understand other celebrities have been used, and I haven’t spoken against them. Here’s my thinking on this issue. If a celebrity has appeared in the ring on WWE television, I feel it’s appropriate to use that person if it’s inside our general “realm of possibility” rule. That covers Rousey and Amell, but it doesn’t cover Gronkowski.
Also, I got the impression from listening to Elliott that he wants Gronkowski to be in Mojo Rawley’s corner. That’s also something I wouldn’t have allowed. Managers, stipulations, etc. are something I am holding as a special privilege for next week’s Patreon In The Bank round. That said, Elliott was a special guest on the WMS and the referee’s decision is final in professional wrestling, so the move will stand.
As mentioned, next week is Patreon In The Bank. ONLY Patreon supporters of the Wrestling Mayhem Show are invited to play. If you want to get in on this, and help keep the lights on at the Mayhem Studios, head to the WMS Patreon page and find out how cheap and easy it is to support the show and get in on an exclusive opportunity to make bold and numerous changes to the Mayhem Mania card. More tenured Patreon subscribers will get preferential treatment, so the time to act is now!
What changes would you make to the current card? Who needs to be added to the card before it’s too late? Is this year’s card beyond any hope of being saved? Share your feedback with us, and thanks for your support of Mayhem Mania!
As a reward for your loyalty, here is your very own Wheel Of Nexus to play with.
What’s At Stake: Fastlane 2016
As we head into yet another special event on the WWE Network, I’ll try to answer one simple question: What are these guys and girls fighting over? As always, we welcome your feedback. Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose What’s At Stake – WWE World Heavyweight Championship match against Triple H at WrestleMania
Are we doing this, or not? Is WWE going all the way with Roman Reigns, or is the company about to get cold feet again? It’s now been nearly a year since Reigns’ coronation as WWE’s next top star was put in an indefinite holding pattern. Now, here are again. It should be a foregone conclusion that Reigns will overcome the odds, defeat the nearly unstoppable juggernaut he nearly conquered last year at WrestleMania along with his longtime friend and Shield co-founder and go on to defeat Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Title in front of the largest live crowd in company history. Everyone say it along with me – “The Roman Reigns era has begun!”
This should be all about Reigns, but it’s not. The past few weeks have been more about Lesnar and Ambrose, who appear to be building toward a match against one another at WrestleMania or their own opportunity to dethrone Triple H. All which feel like more appealing options at this moment in time.
Reigns feels like the third wheel, even after WWE spent the past week trying to convince us that his friendship with Ambrose could implode at any moment. Perhaps that’s by design. If we’re not paying attention to him, we can’t boo him, right? The only problem is the longer WWE leaves the door open for someone else, the more likely it is that someone will walk through it.
A.J. Styles vs. Chris Jericho What’s At Stake – A.J. Styles’ future in WWE.
A.J. Styles is, in the opinion of many, the best professional wrestler on the planet. He was my choice for Wrestler Of The Year in 2014. He was named the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Wrestler Of The Year for 2015. When he made his WWE debut in the Royal Rumble match, he was instantly the most popular guy in the building.
A.J. Styles didn’t spent a second in NXT. He is the ultimate rarity in the current WWE landscape, a guy whose skills and reputation make him worthy of a spot on the main roster the moment he signs his contract. In that way, Styles has been treated as a star by WWE. In other ways, he hasn’t. If he beats Chris Jericho decisively at Fastlane, my personal fears will probably subside. Anything less than that, and Styles could find himself on that slippery slope that others have struggled to ascend.
Charlotte vs. Brie Bella What’s At Stake – WWE Divas Championship. That dream match between Charlotte and Sasha Banks at WrestleMania.
A funny thing happened on the way to that Divas Championship match at WrestleMania between Charlotte and Sasha Banks. Perhaps this was planned all along, but it seems somewhat suspicious that suddenly sympathetic fan favorite Brie Bella is riding the wave of emotion following Daniel Bryan’s retirement into a title match that no one saw coming a few weeks ago.
Brie has openly talked about her imminent retirement. Is this a throwaway title match with fortuitous timing, or are the wheels in motion for Brie’s last hurrah as the defending Divas champion on the big stage at WrestleMania. It was supposed to be the night fans’ NXT-fueled dreams of that long-rumored Divas Revolution became reality. Instead, it could turn into a Total Divas crossover.
Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler What’s At Stake – WWE Intercontinental Championship. Perhaps, a long overdue first singles match at WrestleMania for Ziggler.
It pains me to say this about someone who’s just won the Intercontinental Title, but poor Kevin Owens. It wasn’t that long ago when rumors were swirling about him as a possible opponent for Undertaker at WrestleMania.
So much for that. It feels like Owens is stuck, even though he’s one of the most entertaining guys in WWE.
Dolph Ziggler has been beating Owens at just about every turn over the past few weeks. There’s a lot on the line for him at Fastlane. If Ziggler loses, he could tumble all the way backward into the Andre The Giant Battle Royal or some other cluttered multi-man match at WrestleMania. If he wins, he has a much better shot at a career first – a singles match at WWE’s biggest show of the year.
Becky Lynch & Sasha Banks vs. Naomi & Tamina What’s At Stake – More than likely, the next shot at the WWE Divas Championship.
Sasha Banks hadn’t been seen on television in weeks before she returned at the Royal Rumble, and appeared to literally and figuratively boot Becky Lynch out of the Divas Championship picture. It didn’t quite work the way Banks intended. Despite losing in her title match against Charlotte at the Royal Rumble, Lynch didn’t simply go away. Now, both Lynch and Banks are reluctant partners against Team B.A.D., who didn’t appreciate Banks distancing herself from them following her return. The Boss wants a Divas Championship match, but her hasty bridge burning is leaving her with too many fires to put out.
Big Show & Ryback & Kane vs. The Wyatt Family What’s At Stake – Big man supremacy in WWE.
Here’s the beef! The Wyatt Family’s latest mission is to take down the “titans” of WWE. For the purpose of this match, that includes Big Show, Ryback and Kane. Are they merely a stepping stone for the Wyatt Family before they resume their tormenting of Brock Lesnar after Fastlane, or is this a new direction entirely?
The Cutting Edge Peep Show – Guests: The New Day What’s At Stake – A direction for the WWE Tag Team Champions heading into WrestleMania.
What do you do when you’ve run out of worthy challengers to the W…W…E…World…Tag…Team…Champions? It’s an ugly problem this time of year. The New Day absolutely deserves to be in a big match at WrestleMania, but there aren’t many worthy contenders. The Usos have had more than enough chances, and the Lucha Dragons can’t move forward as long as Kalisto is the United States Champion. Some are hoping his segment will introduce a new tag team, perhaps a call-up from NXT, who can challenge The New Day at WrestleMania, but it seems more likely this will be more about promoting Edge and Christian’s new show on the WWE Network.
Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio What’s At Stake – WWE United States Championship. Kalisto’s bid to make it as a singles star.
These two have been at it forever. So, it makes perfect since that they settle their differences in a 2-out-of-3 falls match. If WWE thinks the Lucha Dragons can be the answer to their depleted tag team division, Alberto Del Rio is probably going to win this match and become U.S. Champion…again. Time truly is a flat circle.
What’s At Stake: Royal Rumble 2016
As we head into yet another special event on the WWE Network, I’ll try to answer one simple question: What are these guys and girls fighting over? As always, we welcome your feedback. Leave a comment below or send an email to [email protected].
The Royal Rumble Match (Officially announced participants: Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, Stardust, Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan, Luke Harper, Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, Big Show, Curtis Axel) What’s At Stake: WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Potentially, a spot in the main event at WrestleMania. The reputation of the Royal Rumble match.
I’m one of those people who’s convinced there will be more than 30 entrants in this year’s Royal Rumble match, with Triple H entering as #31. But why stop there. The other day I was explaining my #31 theory to my wife, and she suggested there could be even more – 32, 33, 34, etc. I picture Mr. McMahon unloading an endless conveyor belt of disposable entrants for Roman Reigns to decimate en route to an epic victory against all odds.
As of the publishing of this column, there are 13 participants officially announced for this year’s Rumble match. 2 more decided by a match during the preshow (more on that a little later). That leaves a lot of question marks, and plenty of speculation among fans about who the surprise entrants will be.
One of the most interesting pieces of information included in the annual hype video airing on WWE television is that there will be 6 former winners in this year’s Rumble match. Take a look at the actual list of those men, and you’ll see why that statement got my attention. I’ve taken the liberty of crossing out the guys who will almost certainly not be making a surprise appearance in this year’s Rumble match.
1988: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan
1989: Big John Studd
1990: Hulk Hogan
1991: Hulk Hogan
1992: Ric Flair
1993: Yokozuna
1994: Bret Hart / Lex Luger
1995: Shawn Michaels
1996: Shawn Michaels
1997: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
1998: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
1999: Mr. McMahon
2000: The Rock
2001: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
2002: Triple H
2003: Brock Lesnar
2004: Chris Benoit
2005: Batista
2006: Rey Mysterio
2007: Undertaker
2008: John Cena
2009: Randy Orton
2010: Edge
2011: Alberto Del Rio
2012: Sheamus
2013: John Cena
2014: Batista
2015: Roman Reigns
4 of the former winners are being heavily publicized for this year’s Rumble match – Reigns, Lesnar, Sheamus and Del Rio. The identities of the two other past winners is being kept under wraps. It’s reasonable to assume one of them will be Triple H, but who is the sixth?
There were three leading candidates in my mind: Undertaker, Randy Orton or (*gulp*) Mr. McMahon. But then I realized “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan isn’t entirely out of the question. In fact, he may be the most likely candidate. He was in a tag team match at an Imperial Wrestling show in Oklahoma last weekend. I won’t be shocked if WWE drops a dash of nostalgia into this year’s Rumble match.
One of the best things about the Royal Rumble match is the minutia. It’s perfect for stat geeks, and WWE encourages us to dig into all the insignificant little details that have accumulated over the years. We know the records and the noteworthy accomplishments. There will likely be more this year.
Reigns will be the #1 entrant in this year’s match. There’s certainly a strong possibility he’ll win. If he does, he’ll be only the fourth back-to-back winner in Rumble history, and the third man to win from the #1 position. Only the #27 spot has produced more.
Don’t expect the record for longest time spent in a single Rumble match (1:02:12 by Rey Mysterio in 2006) to be threatened. WWE is promising 90 second intervals between entrants this year. If Reigns survives to see the #30 entrant, he won’t even be past the 45 minute mark. However, he would have a realistic chance at the fifth longest time for a winner.
If one of the favorites (Reigns, Triple H or Lesnar) wins this year, he will become only the sixth man in history to win more than one Rumble match.
Once Big Show enters this year’s match, he will stand alone in third place on the all-time list for Rumble appearances with 11 (unless Undertaker shows up. Then, he’ll have 11 too).
That’s just a small sampling of what could happen. When it comes to the Royal Rumble match, the possibilities are endless. Imaginations run wild. Perhaps that’s why it’s so easy to fall into the trap of being let down. The past two years have been remembered more for the disappointment and frustration of fans than for the match itself. Can WWE turn things around this year, and remind us what makes the Royal Rumble great?
Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens What’s At Stake – WWE Intercontinental Championship. A new legacy for WWE’s Last Man Standing stipulation.
The rivalry between Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens has been running since last autumn, but it took a big step forward at the TLC event last December. That’s where Ambrose defeated Owens to win the Intercontinental Title. To say Owens didn’t take that loss well would be a bit of an understatement. He’s taken nearly every opportunity since then to attack the new champion. Fortunately for us, Ambrose has been more than willing to give a beating as well as he receives. In case you haven’t been watching SmackDown, these two have made it their duty to have some of the wildest brawls possible under the WWE banner.
The Last Man Standing stipulation doesn’t have the best reputation among WWE fans. Many have grown tired of seeing cute endings where one guy ties up or buries the other rather than beat him to the point that it’s physically impossible for his opponent to continue fighting. However, the last couple Last Man Standing matches in WWE have turned that unwanted trend around.
Without a traditional world championship match on the card, this is undoubtedly the most anticipated singles match at the Royal Rumble. If Ambrose and Owens are given the opportunity to steal the show, they’ll probably do it.
Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch What’s At Stake – WWE Divas Championship. The possible rebirth of the Divas Revolution.
Last July, WWE attempted to launch a Divas Revolution. Six months later, it may finally happen. Fans have cried out for matches and rivalries as good as the ones in NXT’s women’s division. This could be that turning point, and it’s no surprise to see two of NXT’s so-called “Four Horsewomen” leading the way.
The evolution of this rivalry hasn’t always been pretty, but it’s been getting better by the week ever since Charlotte decisively severed their friendship at the beginning of the month. With their roles clearly defined (including Ric Flair behaving like an insane soccer dad), both started to come into their own. The results have been good, and sometimes great.
Lynch coerced Flair into agreeing to give her another shot at the Divas Title last Monday on Raw. She never won the NXT Women’s Championship. You get the feeling it may finally be her time on an even bigger stage. WWE is so close to something truly great with this match.
Alberto Del Rio vs. Kalisto What’s At Stake – WWE United States Championship.
Riding a wave of momentum that began at TLC, Kalisto shocked the world two weeks ago on Raw. Picking up the slack for the injured John Cena, he upset Alberto Del Rio to win the United States Championship.
The crowd went wild, but Kalisto’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reign came to a screeching halt at the SmackDown taping the following day.
Where is this going? Is this setting up an even bigger title win for Kalisto, or is this going to solidify Del Rio as someone who could be moved up into the main event? WWE could certainly use a strong Del Rio heading into WrestleMania.
The New Day vs. The Usos What’s At Stake – WWE Tag Team Championship.
WWE’s once promising tag team division has withered away to this – the last two teams still standing. It feels like The New Day has done just about everything it can with tag team titles. There are no challengers left. The Usos, on the other hand, could transition neatly into matches against an endless combination of challengers from the League Of Nations, the Wyatt Family and the various other factions. I’m sensing a title change here.
Darren Young & Damien Sandow vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Ascension vs. Mark Henry & Jack Swagger What’s At Stake: Two open spots in the Royal Rumble match.
One of these teams will join the field of 30 (or more?) men in the Royal Rumble match. It’s nice to see a preshow match with something at stake, and it will be even better to see someone get some momentum. Not many in this year’s match can say that.
