One MIND-BLOWING Secret From Every WWE Royal Rumble
2014 - WWE Was Actually Doing What You Wanted
WWE’s booking felt antagonistic under twilight-years, worm-brained Vince McMahon. A lot of it was, too; former WWE creative writer Dave Schilling has revealed that Vince said “f*ck ‘em” when he was told that fans hated the idea of the Kurt Angle Vs. Baron Corbin retirement match at WrestleMania 35.
WWE’s reputation was so low in 2014 that fans developed a paranoid, siege mentality - which was mostly entirely justified - but according to the February 3 Observer, WWE wasn’t trying to piss you off at Royal Rumble 2015. Well, they were, but not for the lols.
Apparently, WWE did not withdraw Daniel Bryan from the Rumble because they were scared that his popularity would dwarf Batista’s: Bryan was never once intended for the Rumble because WWE wanted the Yes! Movement to unfold deeper into the year. Royal Rumble 2014 is considered one of the most humiliatingly out-of-touch nights in WWE history - but the company actively sought this response. Bryan was meant to use his absence from the Rumble as fuel to drive his anti-Authority storyline in the aftermath of WrestleMania 30. WWE had hoped, by not announcing Bryan for the Rumble match and installing him on the undercard, that fans would grasp the idea and wait.
The problem was that WWE fans did not trust the company to execute the long-term plan. Batista’s (rejected) return in the babyface role was terrible, timing-wise. He looked too much like Bryan’s antithesis. Also, WWE had already alienated fans with its overthought, meta booking in late 2013. It felt like Triple H was having too much fun mocking Bryan.
WWE cried wolf: the company that had buried fan favourite talent buried a fan favourite, and expected a patient, trusting response.
Not best for business.