With the announcement of Brock Lesnar taking part in the Royal Rumble match as WWE Heavyweight Champion, fans are up in arms about the violation of the rules where the winner faces the WWE Heavyweight Champion. But here’s the thing, Royal Rumble Rule Changes have happened in the past, and they’ll happen in the future.
The WWE, and professional wrestling in general, are unique in that they aren’t as tied to the rules as other sports like football, hockey, basketball, etc. There are rules, such as holding onto the tag rope before tagging, how blind tags aren’t technically legal, or how partners swap in and out without tagging and the official does nothing. That, like count outs and disqualifications, are subject to the win of the promoter and the storyline they want to push.
Such violations drive traditionalists nuts, and their rants and arguments can be found all over the internet. Those rules are cemented in tradition to tell consistent stories in the ring, and when they’re not followed for any reason, they tend to take away from it those stories for a momentary excitement.
One has to stay true to tradition to honor the rules, and tradition doesn’t always translate into what some may consider a good show.
Royal Rumble set a new tradition
The Royal Rumble was set up with the typical rules of 30-man battle royals, but with the twist that after the first two entrants (all entrants draw numbers to determine when they enter), the rest come in one at a time every 90 seconds or two minutes depending on their selection. Originally, everyone entered every two minutes.
The match continues until there is one remaining entrant, who is then granted a match with either the WWE Heavyweight Champion or Universal Champion at WrestleMania. It’s not limited to what brand the winner is on, as it adds some spice to the selection process.
It was a cool concept that changed the way battle royals were viewed and further set the WWE apart from other promotions.
Fans’ beef
Fans have a reason to be upset with Lesnar (current WWE Heavyweight Champion) announcing entering the Royal Rumble as it changes the only tradition many have known. This, however, simply goes back to how the match was originally done.
Beginning in 1988, the Royal Rumble was simply a new battle royal format. A prime example of this format that many know is in 1990 when then WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan faced off with the Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior. Since the match was the main event, the winner simply won the pay-per-view’s main event (Hulk Hogan in this case as a back to back winner, and the first of three back to back winners. Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin won those respectively.) and that was that.
That changed in 1993 when the winner was then awarded their chance at the WWE’s top prize at WrestleMania. Since it’s been the norm for 26 or so years, it’s understandable why many don’t know or remember the old format and are upset.
Other options
While many fans have taken to social media to voice their displeasure about Lesnar entering the match, others had said they want to see Lesnar win so he and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt can face one another at WrestleMania 36 in a title for title match.
To be honest, I’d love this if they intend to unify the championships and go back to a World Heavyweight or Unified Championship. There are simply too many belts floating around. Unifying also goes for the tag team and mid card belts, in my opinion.
Having another two belts anyone would be questionable at best, so this probably won’t happen. As I’ve stated before, here and here, I think Reigns and Wyatt will face each other for the Universal title (should be the main event. Period) and McIntyre will face Lesnar for the WWE Heavyweight Championship (should be the co-main event).
Of course, my theories are based on the winner of the Royal Rumble not being Lesnar, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Either way, this could be a lot of fun, or more painful than the Rusev, Lana, and Bobby Lashley storyline.
When it comes down to it, Royal Rumble rule changes can keep us all on our toes. We wanted a shakeup, and now we got it. Time to see what WWE creative does with it.
