The Royal Rumble is less than 2 months away. While WWE doesn’t technically have seasons, the classic pay-per-view is the closest thing to a clean slate they offer. Even more, the Rumble is the only event that carries WrestleMania implications.
With the customs of the Rumble in mind, the January show is one of the few must-watch programs WWE produces. Whether they achieve it or not, WWE will at least attempt to make the show significant.
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This year’s Rumble will at least anoint a WrestleMania challenger for RAW or SmackDown’s Champion via the battle royal, but perhaps Brock Lesnar‘s defense of the Universal Championship is just as important. With that said, who the Beast Incarnate meet in Philadelphia is crucial to WWE 2018 course.
So as novel as it would be to see Finn Balor or Jason Jordan in the spot, the time is not right. You could actually say their time is up because John Cena‘s time is now. Or at least January 28th will be.
Here are the 3 reasons why:
Because WWE Will Need a Blockbuster
Remember when WWE hypedย Jinderย Mahalย vs. Brock Lesnarย for several weeks before Survivorย Series? Theyย actuallyย created a series of video packages for the Champion vs. Champion showdown.ย But just days before the event, WWEย yanked Mahalย and replaced him with AJ Styles.
Now, it all worked out justย fine as Styles and Lesnarย put on a match of the year candidate but that does change the fact that WWEย pulled one of the better “Bait and Switch’s” of all time. So what was the reason for this?ย
Money; or at least the drawing power of AJ Styles that would eventually lead to more cash. It was a simply solution, too; demonstrably more people preferred to see AJ Styles than Mahalย in that match, so, WWEย flicked theirย wrist and made it happen.
While certainly surprising, WWEย tipped their hand ever so slightly that they weren’t so sure about giving Mahalย such a premium spot. Knowing that Mahalย is only marginally popular, WWEย was rumored to be targeting The Rock, Stone Cold Steveย Austin, and, wait for it, John Cena as the Specialย Guest Referee for that match. As much as WWEย would like you to beliveย that they like Jinder, when it comes to making money, Vince McMahon knows who his cash cows are.ย
And in that same logic, WWE could use John Cenaย at the Royal Rumble. Like Survivor Series, the Rumble is one ofย WWE’s pillars, even more, it’s the officialย launching pad for WrestleMania. WWE simply cannot punt away the rare Brock Lesnarย match particularlyย since they are building him for Romanย Reigns. WWEย will be hunting casualย fans as soon as 2018 hits and the best bait for wrestling’s version of swing states is nostalgia and star power.
John Cenaย has both.
Because No One Else is Ready
Bless Finn Balor’sย heart.
The 36-year old Irishmen has had a rough go in 2017. Upon from returningย from injury, he and his fans have been clamoring for his shot at Lesnar’sย Big Red Belt like Milton and his red Stapler from Office Space.ย But like the precious office instrument, that belt is never coming back to Finn.ย
Well, it might, but not anytime soon. As of late, Finn has passively agresivelyย protested the allegations that Vince McMahon doesn’t think he’s “over.”ย Balor’sย effortsย even summonedย a WWEย pollย that decidedlyย pegged him as the fan’s wish to face Lesnarย at the Rumble.
However, Finn’s version of Wrestler vs. Authority needed to start in July ir order to change Vince’s mind.ย
Like Jinder Mahal’sย Survivor Series fake out, WWEย is going to reach for the biggest gun. Than means guys like Balor, Jason Jordan, Samoa Joe, and Bray Wyatt aren’t the right fit for the Beast Incarnate.
It’s not personal, it’s business.
Because Cena’s Loss Would Be Significant
Look, no matterย who gets this opportunity, the results will be the same: they’ll lose. Likely in an obviousย manner.ย
John Cenaย can afford a high profile loss. As a matter of fact, he’s on a main eventย losing streak (Reigns at No Mercy, Styles at 2016ย SummerSlam). Even more, by Brock Lesnarย disposing of arguably the greatest WWEย Superstar of all-time, the legend of the Beast Incarnateย would continue to balloon.
Like all legendary beasts in storytelling, WWEย will sendย their hero to chop offย the beast’s head. That beheading will take place at WrestleManiaย 34 where Roman Reigns pins Brock Lesnarย to becomeย the new Universal Champion.ย
But toย maximize moment, WWEย will have to facilitateย a memorableย program between Lesnarย and whomever his opponentย is at the Rumble. Furtheringย Cena’sย case is his ability to hype his own programs. No matter how much fans may like Finn Balor, it is silly to even attempt to compare his marketing ability to John Cena’s.ย
By osmosis, Reigns beating Lesnar would be indicative of him beating Cenaย (again). This gives Reigns the biggest trophy of all and if historyย has taught us anything it’s that WWEย creates colossal opportunities for Reigns.ย
Cenaย challenging Lesnarย at the Rumble is the best option for WWEย and its future makingย the 16-time WWEย Champion the consummate optionย for Vince McMahon and Co.
