In 1988, Hacksaw Jim Duggan won the very first Royal Rumble match. Since then, there have been 33 Royal Rumble matches which got one wrestler into a World Championship match at WrestleMania.
These matches are some of the most exciting sports entertainment events we can witness, and because it only comes once a year, it is highly looked forward to. It is known as a place where many wrestlers can return, where a megastar is created. But is it all it is cracked up to be?
We think of the Rumble match being this spectacular attraction, but stars don’t have much time to shine and main eventers still end up eliminating our fan-favourites. This match was introduced 33 years ago, is it still as special as it was back then?
Now there are two Rumble matches – with men and women fighting it out to see who can outlast 29 other competitors. That means us, the fans, have to endure over two hours of over the top rope action.
Here is how WWE can make the Royal Rumble Match feel special in 2020.
1. Pacing The Rumble Matches Differently
Like aforementioned, we have to sit through two Rumble matches. With 30 wrestlers waiting to make their impact, these can last way over an hour each. Our voices are certainly tired after counting down 60 times during the night.
How can WWE make this time go by in a breeze?
Change the style and pacing of both matches.
For example, have a fast-paced slobberknocker for the men’s match but the women have a technical brawl, showcasing their athletic ability while surviving the process of being eliminated.
Just changing the movement of each match makes a huge difference and it would be easier to withstand.
It won’t feel like watching the same match with different genders… excluding Nia Jax.
2. Put On An Awesome Match
While the Rumble matches always seem fun after watching, in hindsight, they all seem to feel like the same match. Mostly slow-paced, with most entrants only there to be bodies for the bigger guys. With 30 of WWE’s best, this should be considered as a match of the year candidate.
However, the only way that can happen is if WWE allows the match to be incredible. It needs to be fast-paced, show off the talent and have big moves along with the eliminating part. It shouldn’t just bodies leaning on ropes for an hour.
Usually, the hard-hitting action takes place near the end. However, it should happen throughout.
3. Unpredictable
WWE needs to do the opposite of the image above.
Fans hate being able to predict who wins the Rumble match. We shouldn’t be able to guess out of a stacked 30 stars, who will win. However, most times, our instinct on Reigns, Rollins or Lynch winning is correct.
In relation to this year, WWE has to pick a winner that isn’t Roman Reigns or Charlotte Flair. These are very likely picks and it will be a bigger shock if someone else went to the main event of WrestleMania 36.
Also, to include more unpredictability, don’t announce all the entrants. It is nice to have a surprise even with the full-time wrestlers.
4. Surprise Entrants
This is one of the best parts of the Rumble match. Returns from injury can take place, like John Cena in 2008. Legends can return like Undertaker in 2017. Debuts can take place, such as AJ Styles in 2016.
Anything can happen in these matches and anything should happen.
If WWE goes with the rule of 10 wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown and NXT, there isn’t much room for surprise entrants, however, that hasn’t stopped Edge being rumoured to make his in-ring return for the first time in nine years!
5. Give The Winner A Big Push
If the winner doesn’t get a big push after outlasting 29 other wrestlers, what was the point?
The major purpose of the Royal Rumble match should be to create a main-eventer, make the winner be on top of the world. However, WWE has been mostly just making the winner an already-established top star.
This is an easy method to elevate the talent and even if the Rumble winner doesn’t win the title, so what? As long as he is now considered a bigger deal in the company.
6. Give Us A Dream WrestleMania Match
The main reason for winning a Royal Rumble match is the award of having a title match at the grandest stage of them all – WrestleMania.
Yes, the Royal Rumble match has to be exciting but what has to be more exciting is the build to the new feud which was created. The road to WrestleMania can make or break the actual card itself.
Think of the dream match of AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 34. The match didn’t deliver much but the prospect of these two stars who made their names outside of WWE fighting in a WWE ring had an aura of excitement gleaming from it.
A match that the crowd get goosebumps thinking about is the match WWE has to build to following the Royal Rumble.
7. A Recurring Story Throughout The Match
To keep fan engagement throughout the Rumble match, a recurring story should be introduced.
Think of the Rumble in 2016, where Reigns had to defend his title in the match or last year’s Rumble match where Lynch replaced Lana who had been injured earlier in the night.
This concept keeps fans intrigued and instead of changing the channel to find other wrestling shows to watch, they will watch from the moment number 1 walks down to the moment someone is pointing at the WrestleMania sign.
8. Create New Storylines
While a recurring story is important, it is also important to keep fans wanting more after the match.
The Royal Rumble would feel more special if it was used to excel storylines and even start blood-feuds.
If a Rumble match features two stars we have dreamed of interacting or a tag team partner turns on the other, this would heighten the significance of this match and the reason for its excellence.
9. Make NXT Look Strong
Similar to the purpose of Survivor Series 2019, the Royal Rumble’s intention this year should be to make NXT look strong.
It is apparent that Raw, SmackDown and NXT will have 10 wrestlers each (NXT haven’t announced a single entry yet though). This will be more yellow and gold than ever before, in the hope that people will believe this is not just developmental, this is the third brand.
To have more eyes watching one side of the Wednesday Night War, NXT has to put on a show, even if it ends in defeat. Have Keith Lee do the stare-off with Brock Lesnar, put an NXT style wrestling match in the centre of the ring while the rest are trying to eliminate each other. This will put the spotlight on NXT, which it deserves.
10. Make New Stars
What should be the most important reason for the Royal Rumble in 2020 is making new stars.
Even in defeat, WWE should plan a new main event scene, starting with the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
This should be a method to have a fresh start and give viewers a taste of what to expect in 2020.
Competitors such as Aleister Black, Buddy Murphy and Drew McIntyre come to mind when thinking of underutilised talent. These guys are obvious main event talent but for some reason, are not seen that way.
The Rumble match can elevate these wrestlers to new heights and change an entire career in one night.
We know WWE can do this, it just chooses not too.
The Royal Rumble is always one of the most fun matches to watch. However, to make it a little extra special it should focus on these 10 concepts.
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