Royal Rumble Give me one good reason why Bryan deserved to win the Rumble?

[Jacob Fox]

Batista was barely even over until late 2004. I remember a guy amusingly holding up a sign at Survivor Series 2004 that read, "Hahaha, Batista can't get over." It was only when they started teasing around December him turning on Triple H and breaking away from Evolution that he started getting massive cheers week after week. And by the time the Rumble and Wrestlemania arrived, Batista was over like rover and HHH putting him over clean three PPVs in a row made him into a bonafide main event superstar. Reigns has actually been over as a singles competitor for a longer stretch of time than Batista was before he was pushed to the moon, so it's not hard to see why WWE were confident that the fan-base would accept Reigns as the next guy. One of the issues was that if Bryan wasn't gonna win the Rumble, then he shouldn't have even been in it. And since he was only officially cleared to wrestle a month ago, they could have easily held off his return until after the Rumble, and then a rowdy crowd like Philadelphia (ironic that it's called "The City Of Brotherly Love" lol) wouldn't get their hopes up for Bryan winning it in the first place.

The problem with your comparison is that Batista was in a different situation than Roman Reigns was in. Batista was a member of Evolution and had a lot of personal business with Triple H. The whole Evolution and Randy Orton dismissal from Evolution was one of the strongest stories of the year. So when Batista turned on Triple H and Ric Flair, it made sense for the fans to cheer him because of his personal connection to Evolution. WWE was teasing a Batista turn on Triple H for at least two months before the turn happened. Batista got over not simply because he was Batista but because he was a person with a personal connection with Triple H and the feud made sense. If Batista had done what Triple H had suggested and gone to Smackdown to face JBL, I have no doubt the fans would not have warmed up to him in the same way. I do realize, however, that is complete speculation.

In reference to Reigns, I have said over and over that if Seth Rollins was champion and Reigns won the Royal Rumble, then the match makes sense. The fan base would be behind that and likely would generate a lot of support for Reigns. Against Lesnar,with whom Reigns has had zero interaction, it just doesn't make sense.

The reason it is different Bryan and Lesnar than Reigns and Lesnar is that Bryan is already remarkably over. He doesn't need any connections with his opponents to get over. You put Daniel Bryan up against a cardboard box at this point and the fans will be behind him.

I didn't like the idea of Reigns winning, but now that he has and WWE has to stick with it. They can't pull another triple threat or anything like they did last year. Daniel Bryan just isn't going to be in the main event unless he somehow gets the belt in a match before then, which is unlikely.

 

[Jacob Fox]

Batista was barely even over until late 2004. I remember a guy amusingly holding up a sign at Survivor Series 2004 that read, "Hahaha, Batista can't get over." It was only when they started teasing around December him turning on Triple H and breaking away from Evolution that he started getting massive cheers week after week. And by the time the Rumble and Wrestlemania arrived, Batista was over like rover and HHH putting him over clean three PPVs in a row made him into a bonafide main event superstar. Reigns has actually been over as a singles competitor for a longer stretch of time than Batista was before he was pushed to the moon, so it's not hard to see why WWE were confident that the fan-base would accept Reigns as the next guy. One of the issues was that if Bryan wasn't gonna win the Rumble, then he shouldn't have even been in it. And since he was only officially cleared to wrestle a month ago, they could have easily held off his return until after the Rumble, and then a rowdy crowd like Philadelphia (ironic that it's called "The City Of Brotherly Love" lol) wouldn't get their hopes up for Bryan winning it in the first place.

Oh, I think I should add though, since I hadn't really thought about it before now, that something Reigns is going to have in his favor is Paul Heyman. If any one person can make this interesting, it's Paul Heyman. He should appear often going forward. The original appearance of the Shield was, as we recall, hired by Paul Heyman to keep the belt on CM Punk. WWE would be smart to reference that going forward.

And if WWE, Reigns and Heyman can make this work, I'm all for it. I know there is a LOT of negativity, but like I said before, Roman Reigns is going to be in the main event so we can hope WWE puts forth the best possible match with what they have. It definitely is doable.

 

[Red Rain]

If Lesnar manages to pull the crowd, I'd love to see Reigns win and thus be convinced Heyman is the manager for him (the following Monday night).
This scenario is virtually impossible but I fully expect for the crowd to be behind Lesnar nevertheless.
To further Jacob Fox's analogy, Batista was never given a green light until it was necessary.... in other words, their hand was forced.
Reigns and Batista both deserved to win their respective rumbles for completely different reasons. Nobody was looking over Batista's shoulder which was why he had the crowd's full support.

Had Reigns not won this year, he would have won next year and c*ckblocked for Dean Ambrose.... the next year, Bray Wyatt... and so on.

 

[Prince Bálor]

If Lesnar manages to pull the crowd, I'd love to see Reigns win and thus be convinced Heyman is the manager for him (the following Monday night).
This scenario is virtually impossible but I fully expect for the crowd to be behind Lesnar nevertheless.
To further Jacob Fox's analogy, Batista was never given a green light until it was necessary.... in other words, their hand was forced.
Reigns and Batista both deserved to win their respective rumbles for completely different reasons. Nobody was looking over Batista's shoulder which was why he had the crowd's full support.

Had Reigns not won this year, he would have won next year and c*ckblocked for Dean Ambrose.... the next year, Bray Wyatt... and so on.

Unless they're turning Reigns heel by giving him Heyman, then yes, I can see this happening. Although, the Philly crowd did a helluva job at slowly turning Reigns heel yesterday.

Although, I see Rollins winning the title from Reigns at Mania. So, Heyman screwing Lesnar (his contract is up on post-WM Raw episode) and working with Rollins is also a possibility.

 

[Jacob Fox]

Yikes, I hope my inclusion of Heyman didn't seem to indicate that I thought Heyman should be Reigns's manager. I actually meant that with Heyman as Lesnar's manager, Heyman will be the best person at injecting some fuel into this feud.

 

[Red Rain]

Yikes, I hope my inclusion of Heyman didn't seem to indicate that I thought Heyman should be Reigns's manager. I actually meant that with Heyman as Lesnar's manager, Heyman will be the best person at injecting some fuel into this feud.

Blame me for that, bro. I clearly want Heyman to be Reigns manager particularly if Lesnar jets it.
Heyman seems to gel with superstars with a slightly dark persona.
I'm for talent realizing their fullest potential, but WWE isn't nearly as interested.

For example, I believe Cena would be a better heel than he lets on. I don't want him turning heel but his full potential will never be realized until he does.

 

[Jacob Fox]

Blame me for that, bro. I clearly want Heyman to be Reigns manager particularly if Lesnar jets it.
Heyman seems to gel with superstars with a slightly dark persona.
I'm for talent realizing their fullest potential, but WWE isn't nearly as interested.

For example, I believe Cena would be a better heel than he lets on. I don't want him turning heel but his full potential will never be realized until he does.

It's fine. If Lesnar does not resign, I definitely want Heyman to stick around. He is undoubtedly the best talker in the business. He could probably mesh very well with Reigns if Reigns turns heel.

I think Cena would likely be an all right heel. I've mentioned before that I liked Cena somewhat before his main event push. He had an awesome feud with Aaron Aguilera before he won the WWE belt. It's when he took the title that he became what I refer to as John "The Narrator" Cena, constantly just describing what has already happened in all of his interviews. However, I wouldn't like him. I hate him too much at this point to like him in any way. It's like Hulk Hogan. I hated Hogan long before he turned heel and I just hated him more as a heel. I don't see that being any different if Cena turns.

 

[Prince Bálor]

It's fine. If Lesnar does not resign, I definitely want Heyman to stick around. He is undoubtedly the best talker in the business. He could probably mesh very well with Reigns if Reigns turns heel.

I think Cena would likely be an all right heel. I've mentioned before that I liked Cena somewhat before his main event push. He had an awesome feud with Aaron Aguilera before he won the WWE belt. It's when he took the title that he became what I refer to as John "The Narrator" Cena, constantly just describing what has already happened in all of his interviews. However, I wouldn't like him. I hate him too much at this point to like him in any way. It's like Hulk Hogan. I hated Hogan long before he turned heel and I just hated him more as a heel. I don't see that being any different if Cena turns.

Vince thinks if Cena turns heel, the business would be dead. I think he'd still draw 'em money.

I'd like to see a heel Cena, in all honesty.

 

[Red Rain]

If we conclude that Heyman is, in fact, a disenfranchised talent's wet dream where does that leave him if Lesnar did jet?
Rollins doesn't fit the bill. Wherever Rollins ends up, it won't be as a client of Paul Heyman.
As I start up and work my way down, Reigns, Ambrose, Wyatt, Prince Balor and even Kevin Steen are possibilities.

It won't be Ambrose or Wyatt anytime soon, but Balor and Steen are two NXT talents whose personalities would shine best under Heyman's tutelage. I'm grasping for straws, of course.

 

[Prince Bálor]

If we conclude that Heyman is, in fact, a disenfranchised talent's wet dream where does that leave him if Lesnar did jet?
Rollins doesn't fit the bill. Wherever Rollins ends up, it won't be as a client of Paul Heyman.
As I start up and work my way down, Reigns, Ambrose, Wyatt, Prince Balor and even Kevin Steen are possibilities.

It won't be Ambrose or Wyatt anytime soon, but Balor and Steen are two NXT talents whose personalities would shine best under Heyman's tutelage. I'm grasping for straws, of course.

Ambrose could do well without Heyman, so would Wyatt and Rollins, imo.

Balor and Owens are interesting choices, though.

 

[Jacob Fox]

If we conclude that Heyman is, in fact, a disenfranchised talent's wet dream where does that leave him if Lesnar did jet?
Rollins doesn't fit the bill. Wherever Rollins ends up, it won't be as a client of Paul Heyman.
As I start up and work my way down, Reigns, Ambrose, Wyatt, Prince Balor and even Kevin Steen are possibilities.

It won't be Ambrose or Wyatt anytime soon, but Balor and Steen are two NXT talents whose personalities would shine best under Heyman's tutelage. I'm grasping for straws, of course.

Undoubtedly. Even if Rollins didn't have heat with Heyman, he doesn't need Heyman. Rollins is an excellent talker on his own. Same for Ambrose. All the others could definitely be possible.

 

[Red Rain]

Ambrose could do well without Heyman, so would Wyatt and Rollins, imo.

Balor and Owens are interesting choices, though.

Undoubtedly. Even if Rollins didn't have heat with Heyman, he doesn't need Heyman. Rollins is an excellent talker on his own. Same for Ambrose. All the others could definitely be possible.

CM Punk didn't need Paul Heyman either. Heyman alluded to this fact about a month prior to them joining to throw off the universe.
Ambrose is no where near turning heel and Wyatt is too far too messianic at this point to even pull it off.
You're both spot on regarding Rollins. He's a HHH disciple and HHH would never have been caught under Heyman's wing during his active career.

Rollins doesn't have that 'grudge against society' feel the way all of Heyman's other clients have.

 

[Prince Bálor]

CM Punk didn't need Paul Heyman either. Heyman alluded to this fact about a month prior to them joining to throw off the universe.
Ambrose is no where near turning heel and Wyatt is too far too messianic at this point to even pull it off.
You're both spot on regarding Rollins. He's a HHH disciple and HHH would never have been caught under Heyman's wing during his active career.

Rollins doesn't have that 'grudge against society' feel the way all of Heyman's other clients have.

I guess that casual fans would be thrown off that way, then. So, I must agree here.

Imagine Bryan working with Heyman, though. I doubt they'd boo him even if he was in that situation.

 

[Red Rain]

I guess that casual fans would be thrown off that way, then. So, I must agree here.

Imagine Bryan working with Heyman, though. I doubt they'd boo him even if he was in that situation.

Bryan and Heyman would be like oil and water in my estimation.
Heyman could book Bryan but I would never pit them together unless Bryan had gone over the deep end psychologically.
If Bryan were traumatized dramatically, such as Brie Bella leaving him, then it's a conceivable possibility to align him with Paul Heyman.

Brie has clearly been Bryan's glue given that his father passed away and suffered a near career ending injury in the span of a calendar year.

 

[Prince Bálor]

Bryan and Heyman would be like oil and water in my estimation.
Heyman could book Bryan but I would never pit them together unless Bryan had gone over the deep end psychologically.
If Bryan were traumatized dramatically, such as Brie Bella leaving him, then it's a conceivable possibility to align him with Paul Heyman.

Brie has clearly been Bryan's glue given that his father passed away and suffered a near career ending injury in the span of a calendar year.

I get that. I was just giving an example of how even if Bryan was to be siding with Heyman, there would still be cheers from the fans.

I'm curious to see who will be the next Paul Heyman guy after Lesnar's done with the 'E.