Chyna wasn't welcomed back due to her lifestyle which was something they didn't want to give attention to thorugh the PG era.
Savage - yep he is the obvious one that came to my mind as well
I don't think ti is fair to say Vince doesn't allow the return of those he falls out with. Hunter may have got warrior back for the HoF but Vince let him back twice prior to that in 1992 and 1996. Vince also let Hogan back in 2003 and Hogan testified against him in federal court in 1994.
Don't think they will throw him in the rumble, my assumption is he will challenge Seth for the titleIm not saying Vince won’t have them back, usually it’s the other guy who doesn’t want to return. Trips usually operates as a go between to make these happen.
Your point on Chyna is definitely true, although it’s hard to imagine her coming back at all, even for a hall of fame induction. Savage could have returned by now had he not passed, although it is still probably a long shot. His case is based in rumours which as has been established, one party is dead and the other won’t talk.
The beef with Punk/Hunter is probably significantly less than those two, but to me it always felt like a long shot. Will be interesting to see how it goes. Crazy that we are 2 months from the next PPV, surely they don’t throw him in the rumble as his first match, nor will they put it on free tv.
Punk was my pick for the men’s because of the Punk v Seth feud. Cody v Roman could still have happened without him winning the rumble. But with Cody pretty much calling his shot at Roman straight out of the gate and now with Seth’s injury I’d say the men’s elimination chamber will be for the shot at Seth for the main event of night 1 of WM which Punk will win IMO.Imagine being told 3 years ago that the final 2 in the royal rumble would be Cody and Punk (with Roman still champ). Surprised they went the way they did. Although Roman’s Reign has been going on for 3 and a half years, to me Rollins vs Punk is the money match.
Also shocked Bayley won, I felt like they were going for a 6 woman tag for mania (Banks, Bayley & Naomi vs Damage CTRL), I guess with Charlotte out long term the only other way they could go for the women’s title on smackdown is Belair vs Jade who may not be at that level yet.
I feel like Rhea vs Becky will be the mania match. Becky was my pick to win, they’ve gone out of their way to keep them apart until this week, and it’s definitely the money match. I guess we could see Banks/Naomi vs Sane/Asuka for the women’s tag titles (as the former never officially lost them). Have to say that the mania scene is looking stacked.Punk was my pick for the men’s because of the Punk v Seth feud. Cody v Roman could still have happened without him winning the rumble. But with Cody pretty much calling his shot at Roman straight out of the gate and now with Seth’s injury I’d say the men’s elimination chamber will be for the shot at Seth for the main event of night 1 of WM which Punk will win IMO.
As for the Woman’s I was pretty sure Bailey was gonna win. She was my pick. You can already see they are playing up a divide between her and the rest of damage control… and she’s starting to get the babyface pop from the fans now… I think its been pretty obvious for awhile now they are going to turn on her and she will take on Iyo for the title at WM.
the interesting thing will be Rhea… she really hasn’t had anyone to seriously challenge her as she’s too powerful… I think Jade Cargill could be that challenge maybe? If she wins the woman’s chamber?
I’m pretty sure Banks will be heading to AEW.I feel like Rhea vs Becky will be the mania match. Becky was my pick to win, they’ve gone out of their way to keep them apart until this week, and it’s definitely the money match. I guess we could see Banks/Naomi vs Sane/Asuka for the women’s tag titles (as the former never officially lost them). Have to say that the mania scene is looking stacked.
I’m pretty sure Banks will be heading to AEW.
Rhea v Becky would definitely work… the only thing Is I think Rhea will be putting her title on the line in the elimination chamber. You’d think they would have to as the event is pretty much been built around her homecoming.
So you’d have to figure out a way to insert Becky into the EC without her looking weak because i doubt they would end Rhea’s year long reign a month before WM and in Australia….
First 2 I agree with the rest probably will beI reckon Rock will level the playing field when The Bloodline try and interfere in the Reigns vs Rhodes match, which will set up a "Head of the Table" match at Backlash (or whatever the PPV is after WM).
So coming out of the RR, I'm guessing we will have at WrestleMania:
- Reigns vs Rhodes
- Punk vs Rollins
- Bayley vs Ripley
- Gunther vs Zayn
- Paul vs Owens
I'm not sure about the men's or women's Tag Titles or the other Women's Title. Bayley could go after Sky as the group ignored Bayley after the Kabuki Warriors retained their titles, to reinforce Bayley as the leader of Damage CTRL.
She should never have lost to Becky at WM a few years back. She was so dominant before that and never really recovered. Becky also gained nothing from it since we went on maternity leave a month later and gave up the title anyway.They've really dropped the ball on Baszler. I remember a couple of years ago, she was a unit. Dominating the Rumble and the EC, now, she lasted what? 10 minutes?
I don't know who the f**k Jade Cargill is or where she came from. But she is a f**king megastar. Massive pop, strolls to the ring like the owns the place, squares up to Jax (who's been booked like a monster of late, including in the rumble) and casually picks her up and launches her like a f**king cruiserweight! Machine. HHH has got a good one there!
Womens Rumble was great. Naomi returning was a good moment (although her opening with Natalia was rusty), some good performances from that TNA champ and some of the NXT women. Liv coming back was cool, she's such a babe. Bayley vs Iyo will be a really good story going into WM. Interested to see who faces Mami at WM.
Men's match - eh. Either Punk or Rhodes winning worked, not much else to write home about. Would have liked to see Andrade do more though.