The Royal Rumble was my favorite pay per view as a kid, I love that once a year 30 men have a chance to take on the champion at WrestleMania. I still love the Royal Rumble but TLC is fast becoming a top four pay per view, and the fact that I live close the the Staples Center SummerSlam has a closer spot in my heart then years past. I have some predictions which you can read below, but I also have some hopes and some fears as the Royal Rumble draws closer. You may of read my column about Rock against Punk so I’ll try not to snark too much about my hatred of lazy booking.
Antonio Cesaro (c) v. The Miz United States Title Match
I had the pleasure to watch these two men wrestle each other last weekend at a house show. They put on a great match, and I named it the match of the night despite both Punk and Ziggler wrestling on the same bill. I expect Cesaro to retain, but I will not be surprised if Miz gets the strap and Cesaro has appears in the final five or six in the Royal Rumble match, but more on that later.
Winner: Antonio Cesaro
Team Hell No (c) v. Rhode Scholars Tag Team Title Match
I am a big fan of Kane, and a bigger fan of Daniel Bryan but their time may be peaking as a tag team. It’s time for the WWE to really push ‘tag teams’ and let great singles wrestlers do their thing. Team Hell No did a big part in bringing the tag team division back to life, enough for the WWE to bring in tag team titles at NXT. As for the match I think Daniel Bryan applies the No Lock on Cody Rhodes for the win after tagging himself in after Kane choke slammed Rhodes. I think they feud up until WrestleMania where The Rhode Scholars go over.
Winner: Team Hell No
Alberto Del Rio (c) v. Big Show Last Man Standing Match World Heavyweight Title
According to InsidePulse.com Alberto’s title win over Big Show was a matter of Show waiting too long to sign his new deal with the WWE. Alberto as a face is starting to make an impact so I think he will retain the title. Big Show has always been a ‘fit in where you get in’ kinda guy despite his size, pardon my crappy pun. I liked the finish to the first match, and the fact that SmackDown isn’t watched as much as Raw I wouldn’t be surprised to see the same finish as most of creative and Vince’s attention has to be on Punk v Rock.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
CM Punk (c) v. The Rock WWE Title Match
I have a small feeling in the depths of my stomach I feel I’m going to feel the same way I did when Hogan lost to Warrior, sad, mad and a little confused. Expect this time the confusion is frustration and it’s already beginning to brew. If you bought a ticket to a house show between the 27th of this month ALL THE WAY THROUGH WRESTLEMANIA don’t expect to see the People’s Champion at the People’s shows. House shows are for the fans, it’s intimate and focused around 8-10 matches for the fans. You can expect CM Punk, working night in and night out, with or without the WWE Title. As the for the match, I already know it’s going to be great. I just hope Dwayne has been working on his in ring game because Punk brings it, and it doesn’t need to be a spot fest. If The Rock wins, and loses to Cena at WrestleMania (please god don’t let anyone of this happen) Cena will lose the title to Punk eventually and were back at square one just for one night of making millions of dollars, but who am I to judge I’ve never even seen a million dollars.
Winner: screw it, CM PUNK!
Royal Rumble Match
Aww the Royal Rumble match, 30 men enter one man gets a shot at gold. The commercial WWE made going around has all these non wrestling fans picking everyone BUT JOHN CENA. Cena sits alone at the bar and smiles to himself, foreshadowing? More than likely. Although it makes the most sense wrestling wise to have Cena win the Royal and want his rematch with Dwayne at WrestleMania. Before I pick the match let’s take a moment and realize Pat Patterson has booked every Royal Rumble match and is grooming Triple H to do so starting last year. How cool/nerve racking would it be to book the Rumble match, imagine the possibilities! My only spot I thought would be cool would have DX come in throw out a few guys and have The Shield enter next take out DX and another guy helping DX take them out then Ryback could do his thing to all three guys. I have a few winners, and dark horses but here ya go.
Smart Money Winner: John Cena
Hopeful Winner: Tie between Daniel Bryan & Dolph Ziggler
Dark House: Antonio Cesaro
Until next week guys, enjoy the Rumble on Sunday, tell a friend about my column, leave a comment, follow me on Twitter @CamDougharty and let’s talk ‘rasslin!
