2014 Pro Wrestling Thread

To add: the mid-match lull is my favorite part. The beginning and the end with fewer guys in there is the weakest (but still awesome because every single second of every Rumble is amazing).

 

I think Batista or Brock have to be heavy favorites for this - Like, I'd give each a 40 percent chance of winning it, and the rest of the field 20 percent to split amongst themselves. Everyone else, it seems like they already have dance partners for Mania, or they wouldn't need the excuse of the guaranteed title shot to be involved in a feud. Unless they're going to swap the title at EC, then you figure the Rumble winner has to be someone who will feud with Orton or Cena.

Of the rest of the field, Daniel Bryan is so white hot right now that I could see him winning, or Reigns if they want to hotshot someone. After that, I think it would be the returning / surprise guys - Sheamus, Christian, Jericho - but that would be way, way, way out of left field for me. The same with Punk - I think he's in the HBK / Jericho role right now, where he doesn't need the belt to be involved in angles people want to watch.

 

I think they finally found a way to get me to not care about what Punk is doing right now. HHH throwing himself into it stopped being interesting 10 years ago.

 

I'm torn as to whether or not I want to go to Mania this year, though I'll leaning toward not going, and tonight is going to play a key factor in making my decision.
I can't see any scenario that doesn't involve Daniel Bryan winning the Rumble that leaves me feeling happy about that match.
Batista? Brock? Meh.
Of course, I'm also not in the camp of people that want to see Sheamus vs. Bryan again. I think the time has come to elevate Bryan and give him his due at the top of the Mania card. It's been far too long. Either he or Punk NEED to headline this Mania. Anything less spits in the face of the two best the organization has had for the past three years.
But I guess we'll see.

 

I can't imagine Brock being in the Rumble at all because a) I doubt his per-appearance deal would allow them to put him in two matches, and he's already got a dinner date with Big Show, and b) he's already declared himself the No. 1 contender for the belt and has challenged the Cena-Orton winner, ostensibly at Elimination Chamber. So in character, there's no need to enter the Rumble because he'll have his title shot, and then he'll headline WM as the champ.

I think it's either Batista or Bryan, with Sheamus an outside shot (I can't decide if his return needs to be a shock or if it needs weeks of hype).

One side effect of the title unification is that it cuts down on the number of realistic Rumble contenders. Before, you could have a Del Rio win and then challenge for the B+ title, but that's not an option. And has been pointed out, there's no way anyone from the midcard is winning and getting a shot at the big belt on the big stage. No matter how much we want Cena-Mahal atop the card.

 

Don't hinder Jinder.

 

Kane wrestled again last night at the live show in Reading, Pa. The match seemed to have an early ending and Big Show was really tending to his right hand. Not sure how serious that was. Either way, I don't see how Kane couldn't participate in the Rumble match and still think him turning on the Authority to help Bryan would be awesome.

 

I have no idea what's going to happen, and there are too many moving parts for me to know this year ... unlike last year when you knew at Raw 1000 that it was a set-up for Rock-Cena II. Much more exciting this year.

 

I'm watching but I know I'm not going to like what I see. Any outcome that doesn't leave us the possibility of Punk/Bryan for the title sucks to me. Both have been, by far, the best the E has to offer and a main event showdown at Mania (an Iron Man match preferably) would be awesome. It's time.

 

Outlaws win, and I'm happy. Rhodes Brothers has run its course, and now we get the breakup and the feud.

 

But WrestleMania is always predicated on the biggest moment with the biggest names. It's less Sundance Film Festival, more summer blockbuster sequel/remake

 

New Age Outlaws take the tag belts from the Rhodes Brothers. That was a bit of a shock, especially with a clean win.