re: WWE Royal Rumble | 7:00 PM | Kickoff Show - 6:00 PM | Peacock (& AEW Collision)

There's people well above my pay grade who are at that level because they know their shite. If it was me in charge of PR, I would've run Paul out there to start the press conference with a statement and then went into normal PC mode w/ wrestlers and ending with HHH talking about the event & the Netflix deal. That was really unfair to put Cody in the position of responding to it (though he did it very well).

But yes, as posted above whether he was meant to do it or not, Cody answering that question put him as the #1 guy in WWE to those inside and outside the wrestling world. Thankfully we've only got a few more months before Roman leaves to play with the Rock and have tea time with his daughters full time.

I was on the fence about tuning-in for tonight’s Rumble. I did, but ultimately regretted it. It wasn’t the best show.

It’ll likely never happen, but I wish they’d nix the women’s Rumble match. It was a bad sign going in that only about six names were advertised. Even the dedicated fan base in the stadium didn’t know who some of these chicks were.

With two Rumbles on the show, at night’s end, you’ve watched 60 countdown clocks, 60 entrances, and 58 eliminations. There’s only so many ways to toss someone over the top rope. The spot where a wrestler hangs on and one foot dangles is beyond played-out. It’s all just too much.

With only four matches on the show, this thing shouldn’t have run four hours. It should be tighter. Cody and Punk went on far too long as the last two guys. WWE’s formula of hitting a big move and then having wrestlers lay still on the mat for three minutes makes for a hard watch. I tuned-out the second Punk hit the floor. It was enough, already.

If Roman beats Cody at Wrestlemania, Philadelphia might riot.

Think since the status of Rollins isn't clear that Gunther didn't win. Now wondering what they will do to choose next number 1 contender for his title.

This would be the only chance that Roman losses. People don’t realize what Roman’s role with the company will end up being when he does lose. He won’t have a role anymore.

Rock will do a run in at WM and save Cody from the bloodline. This sets up Roman vs rock at summerslam. Cody spends the year as champ in various feuds.

quote:

---

Now wondering what they will do to choose next number 1 contender for his title.

---

Punk wins the chamber

Was surprised Cody won, he has to beat Roman now, he’s dead in the water with another loss, they typically don’t like the super obvious main event for mania.


I still think the best swerve would be having priest lose the case somehow to Punk or even Dom then have Cody win, take the same picture holding up the belt in the corner like dusty then have them cash in.

Nuclear heat on Dom, would be a good story with punk, his history with the case, heal turn and have Heyman go with him while Roman goes away

This is what I was thinking, perhaps Cody puts his spot on the line. After seeing how bad punk blew up last night, Cody is only one of the few talents that can make him look great at the moment.

You can still put Gunther in elimination chamber and have him win. Now does he put kofi over for his ic title tomorrow may be the bigger question (if Gunther does indeed face Seth at wm)

Also some breadcrumbs for McIntyre vs Punk. WWE has so many top guys right now, they can go in any direction.

quote:

---

According to Dave Meltzer on WOR, Bron Breakker fulfilled the Brock Lesnar role in the Rumble. This included Lesnar's elimination. So basically, Meltzer is stating that Lesnar was going to be eliminated by DOMINIK MYSTERIO.

---

Well, Meltzer is a HFR, so there's that.