ROYAL RUMBLE 2021 Post Event Discussion

[Stevie Ray Von Erich]

I just want to point out on the age discussion how far we've come medically in the last ten years. We can literally de-age brains with oxygen/hyperbaric therapy. We also have way more knowledge about the benefits of stem cell treatments, not to mention stretching and sports chiropractors.

Also, if you want some good knews, check out all the advances we're making with cancer treatments. Especially all the recent news out of Korea!

[Spontaneous]

Just to clarify, I'm not knocking Goldberg. I couldn't lift McIntrye an inch off the ground, let alone over my head. I think that needs to be the last one he does unless it is someone like Dolph whom he can get up easily. 

I thought Ripley and Bianca's spot worked because of who did it. I wouldn't expect it from even a chickenshit heel. I thought it worked. 

[RIPPA]

3 minutes ago, Six String Orchestra said:

I thought Ripley and Bianca's spot worked because of who did it. I wouldn't expect it from even a chickenshit heel. I thought it worked. 

Bianca and Naomi also had the spot where they helped each other get back in the ring that I thought worked too even though they spent a good portion of the match working each over too.

[RIPPA]

I can't remember if this was mentioned but there was a small little thing when Bianca eliminated Bayley where they were both still yelling at each other "Why won't you leave me alone?" (which of course was basically missed due to missing Bayley's elimination in the first place)

So to go off of @Casey point about how we still have two more PPVs to go before Mania - it does seem like there is still at least one more Bayley/Bianca match left to go

[Spontaneous]

The camera work during both rumbles was bad. I don't normally harp on it because I usually don't notice. A lot of missed eliminations and interactions. 

[John from Cincinnati]

When did Dana Brooke drop the flip on the stage bit of her entrance?

[Niners Fan in CT]

if you want to make a case for age doesn't mean as much as it used to:  Lashley is 44.  

[Brian Fowler]

I think this was the first WWE show I've watched in full since... Money in the Bank, maybe?

Both the women's Rumble and the Banks/Carmella matches were excellent. The women run this shit.

Drew/Goldberg was like the awesome Goldberg/Lesnar match except Goldberg has lost all explosiveness so it sucks.

LMS was good.

Mens Rumble was a mixed bag but...

 

[GuerrillaMonsoon]

How do you guys feel about Shotzi Blackheart?

I've seen her maybe a handful of times and she effortlessly inspires go away heat with me. Just something completely inauthentic about her character, and how that translates to what she does in ring (mostly just not buying her going 50/50 with more established acts). 

Also, Santana Garrett's facial reactions during the match? Is that a gimmick thing, or would they have been pissed at her marking out for being there?

[Niners Fan in CT]

hanging on too long hurts.  i remember someone here reminding me that Rick Rude was in WWF for like 3 years but he is remembered as if he was on top for a decade

[NikoBaltimore]

I love Xavier so much. 

[Kang]

[Kev]

Haven’t watched the men’s match yet but some initial thoughts, haven’t read the thread yet to avoid spoilers.

This is the 1st WWE show I’ve watched since MITB. Really don’t like the Thunderdome setup, just loud and ugly, and still lacks any real atmosphere. It’s been said a million times but what the fuck is with the camera cuts, was really noticeable at points having not watched in a while. Seriously what is the logic of these moments where there’s 4-5 cuts within a matter of seconds? What effect is it meant to achieve?

Goldberg/Drew was fine but uninteresting. I like when they mix up the main event formula, but as with suplex city Brock it’s been diminishing returns, you really need to tweak the formula to keep it interesting, they didn’t do anything here, it was just my turn, kick out, your turn, kick out, etc. 

Bianca felt like the right choice, I wonder whether never pulling the trigger on her in NXT has helped her long term as they’ve been able to build her a bit slower on the main roster. By contrast, Rhea already seems like she’s lost a lot of momentum and I’m less optimistic of how high she can go than last year. The end sequence was nicely done and really felt it could go either way.

Some nice eliminations dotted throughout, the Bayley powerbomb, Santana, Nikki. The Billie stuff was good.

The Alexa stuff seemed embarrassing but luckily was cut off quickly, is she supposed to be face? And are they trying to get Lana over as a face? Even with the Nia elimination she just looked pathetic and stupid. Nia also looked stupid eliminating her partner with so many still left. 

Weird choice in recapping the women’s tag after the Rumble despite the angle playing into the match. 
The 24/7 stuff is embarrassing and the joke is beyond dead at this point.

Not a big fan of the style but the LMS was quite well done. Thought they maintained a violent feel between the high spots, could have done with blood though. The handcuff spot was a really good ‘near fall’, I actually bought that despite thinking Owens had no chance.

 

[The Green Meanie]

https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/145603541_1657189934487368_7820554143799210338_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=2&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=6_-wMn-zFHIAX-0Jzuc&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=6539d1d2f12dde76ad0e45b021732e61&oe=603C7107

[Steventon]

Stuff I hated on this show:

 

- Goldberg gassing 30 seconds into a 2 minute match

- The awful handcuff finish to the LMS match. Even if they hadn't botched it I think it would have been a really cheap

- Jillian Hall and Alica Fox being dubbed 'legends'

- Naomi can land on her back and not be eliminated because of the 'both feet' rule. So dumb. You know someone thought they were really clever for thinking up that spot too

- All this effort into Charlotte vs Lacey for what will probably be a dreadful Wrestlemania match, and they barely had any contact in the Rumble

- Charlotte laughing off being eliminated, what peak HHH shit that was

- Jerry Lawler literally laughing his ass off at Nikki Cross's return

- The 24/7 title stuff

- Tamina and Nia doing the exact same routine they do every Rumble

- Orton returning at the end was so predictable after the injury angle

- Mustafa Ali and numerous other mid-carders being made to look like geeks 

- All the Omos interference stuff - if there's no rule about people not interfering in the Rumble, then why doesn't everyone have someone doing this? Also, is this guy going to actually wrestle or we just heating up a bodyguard for no pay-off? I think I know the answer

- Otis not even lasting a minute

- Hurricane Helms is now an annual 'surprise' return
 

Thank you for listening

[Gonzo]

Well, that's over.

 

Edited February 1, 2021 by Gonzo

[Robert S]

18 hours ago, Infinit said:

That second ref stopping the count at 6 when he realized Paul couldn't get Roman uncuffed in time was hilarious. Otherwise that match was fantastic. Both guys brought it tonight.

I love me some "and time stood still" fuck-ups. I counted along to at least 15. I guess they should have either done a dry-run or not have trusted Heyman being a handyman.

Corey Graves somehow had the line of the night (which I am sure he worked hard for), saying that Bad Bunny should have turned left at Albuquerque when he went to the top hope.

And somehow in the women's Rumble, of the two spots where someone nearly got injured (Ripley dumping Dakota Kai head first on the ring apron and Ember Moon shoot dropkicking Naomi into the face) neither involved Nia Jax nor Charlotte.

Oh yes, and for the love of whatever is holy to you: please don't ever give Lawler a live mic again for a women's match. This stuff was bad 20 years ago. And it did not age well. At all.

[Ziggy]

7 hours ago, EVA said:

What stands out to me about that is, historically, I feel like 30-35 were the prime years for wrestlers.  If you were ever going to be on top, you generally made it somewhere in that range, and after that you were on your way down.

You look at the guys in that range last night, and you notice A) there aren’t very many of them, and B) Rollins is the only one who’s actually gotten a run; everybody else is still a “potential” guy waiting on his shot.

I feel like (hope?) at some point WWE is going to have to force a youth movement, and then there is going to be this generation of guys in their early 30’s now who are never going to get a run on top because they have the misfortune of being too young now and will be too old later.

Today even being in your early to mid 40s isn't old in this modern era. The talent is aging much better than the previous eras because the drug/party culture isn't as prevalent today. The Wellness program probably helps too. And now the road schedule isn't going going to be near what it was before the pandemic when the Arenas open back up across the board. Some people are just freaks of nature like RTruth or AJ Styles or Shelton or even Lashley. 

Think about probably 8 years ago,  Big Show and Mark Henry where having some of their best work.

The only negative thing about alot of these older talent isn't even their age, it's how they've been used. If they pushed Cesaro tomorrow, no one here would complain we'd all be here for it. He's not 40 yet but he's been on the main roster long. Fans and wrestlers alike have been vocal about him not getting a chance to be featured in a main event slot. Look a Sheamus,  he hasn't aged much at all either and he's still just as good as ever. I'm not clamoring for him to be in the main event but I really enjoy watching him still. He lays his shut in and works very snug especially when he's in there with guys that don't mind bringing it either.

Edited February 2, 2021 by Ziggy

[Kang]

Dirtsheetz said The 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match was produced by Tyson Kidd, Adam Pearce, Chris Park and Pat Buck. And the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match was produced by Shane McMahon, Jason Jordan and Jamie Noble.

[hobo joe]

18 hours ago, Morganti said:

  But with Orton getting tossed off (thank you Dbry) by edge to win it seems to shut the book on that pairing.

Still time for Orton to win the Elimination Chamber

[John from Cincinnati]

 

[Burgundy LaRue]

• Women's tag was solid until Ric and Lacey showed up. Wherever that story is going, it's nowhere good.
• McIntyre/Goldberg was what it was. 
• Sasha/Carmella was very good. Both of their matches came across well.
• Women's Rumble was excellent. Glad to see Bianca win. Rhea eliminating Alexa before she reached her full Fiend form was funny.  Good to see Victoria again.
• Anyone hating Naomi's spot is willfully ignoring how that's been done in nearly every recent Rumble. Either have a problem when others do it or say nothing now.
• Reigns/Owens was great and appropriately brutal. They don't miss on any of their matches. I'd guess they went over the handcuff bit several times, Heyman just couldn't get it done live. Pudgy fingers will betray you at the worst time, I know from experience. Still, not enough to take away from a strong match.
• Men's Rumble was decent, if unexciting. Rollins put some funk on that stomp to Riddle. Omos eliminating Big E was a WTF moment. Edge's win is fine. There's a story to be be told. But expecting them to muddy the waters with getting Orton re-involved and bringing along the Fiend.

Overall, an enjoyable show. A nice way to spend a Sunday night.

[The Natural]

[EVA]

3 hours ago, Ziggy said:

Today even being in your early to mid 40s isn't old in this modern era. The talent is aging much better than the previous eras because the drug/party culture isn't as prevalent today. The Wellness program probably helps too. And now the road schedule isn't going going to be near what it was before the pandemic when the Arenas open back up across the board. Some people are just freaks of nature like RTruth or AJ Styles or Shelton or even Lashley. 

Think about probably 8 years ago,  Big Show and Mark Henry where having some of their best work.

The only negative thing about alot of these older talent isn't even their age, it's how they've been used. If they pushed Cesaro tomorrow, no one here would complain we'd all be here for it. He's not 40 yet but he's been on the main roster long. Fans and wrestlers alike have been vocal about him not getting a chance to be featured in a main event slot. Look a Sheamus,  he hasn't aged much at all either and he's still just as good as ever. I'm not clamoring for him to be in the main event but I really enjoy watching him still. He lays his shut in and works very snug especially when he's in there with guys that don't mind bringing it either.

There’s no question that the extended careers are great for wrestlers.  Many of them are getting prime years money well into the period where they would have been working cons to make ends meet, in the past.

But I think it’s a catch-22 as far as whether it’s actually good for WWE.  In the short-term, it helps that advances in sports science and whatnot help to keep guys healthier in their prime years and to recover from injuries quicker (looking at you, freakish Cena Royal Rumble return).  In the long-term, though, you end up with this glut of dudes in their 40’s who can still go but are well past their relevancy and/or usefulness and just hang around forever, eating up the spots of young guys who could maybe draw a viewer or two under the age of 40.

I mean, God bless Sheamus, but WWE probably extracted every last ounce of value he had YEARS AGO and yet he’s still around and about to have yet another World title program that no one will give a shit about.

[EVA]

EDIT:  Ye ole double post.

Edited February 2, 2021 by EVA