WWE Royal Rumble 2018: Why We Need A First-Time Winner
The WWE Royal Rumble 2018 winner needs to be won by an individual who has never won the event in the past.
An important time of the year is upon us for professional wrestling fans. Just one week separates the community from one of its biggest events: the WWE Royal Rumble. Everyone is well aware that a title shot at WrestleMania is on the line; making this one of the best moments for the promotion to develop a new star for fans to support.
As rumors continue to build heading into Sunday’s event, WWE Royal Rumble 2018 is a year where it’s imperative for WWE Creative to use this moment on an individual who’s never experienced the “thrill” of winning at the Royal Rumble.
In the last ten years, four Rumbles have been won by first timers: Edge, Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus and Reigns won the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 events, respectively. The 2018 Rumble should add to that list as there’s a host of people that would immediately benefit from the moment. Finn Balor, Rusev, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler and others are on the short list of men who should get their hands hoisted.
Based on the professional wrestling community’s money, Shinsuke Nakamura sits atop the list of expected winners. He’s followed by Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, Ziggler and Braun Strowman to round out the top five. The interesting thing about that list is that Reigns is the only individual who has won a Royal Rumble in the past. With his current status as the number one wrestler fans love to boo; should go in a different direction and elevate an athlete that’s never won the event.
Unfortunately, many within the industry are leaning toward the idea that Reigns or John Cena will come out of the event with their hands held high. Reigns is already slated to be the one who takes the WWE Universal title off of Brock Lesnar and Cena is a mega star who is one title victory away from breaking the record held by legend, Ric Flair.
Both of these options are understandable reasons why WWE Creative would want Reigns or Cena center stage for WrestleMania. But that doesn’t mean they need a victory in order to get to that finish point.
Both Reigns and Cena are “made men” within the promotion. At any moment they can be elevated to the Universal title picture and no one will bat an eye at it. With Reigns losing the Intercontential title to the Miz at Raw 25, there’s speculation that was done to clear his path to a Rumble victory. Hopefully that isn’t the case.
Next: WWE: Getting to know Ricochet
Instead, this is an opportunity for the WWE to elevate a talent to main event status and the company should jump on the moment. Look at Raw 25. Much of that show was meant as yet another occasion for the stars of yesterday to “get over” with fans of today; instead of focusing on the wrestlers on the roster at this very moment. In what was a highly anticipated show, promoted for weeks, the night was a mediocre call back to what was once popular, while forgetting about the talent that’s needed to help the WWE build its brand today.
The Royal Rumble should be used as a moment to kick start some fresh storylines with wrestlers who aren’t in the limelight. That excitement builds into not only WrestleMania, but the PPVs and the weekly shows leading up to that spectacle. WWE Creative needs to leverage what is already a highly anticipated moment to position a new face at center stage instead of putting a multiple-time winner in front of the public once again.