10 Expectations Vs. Reality For WWE Royal Rumble 2020

9. Who Gives Brock Lesnar A Fright?

CM Punk Dolph Ziggler
WWE.com

Expectation:

There is an opportunity here, with this unusual promotional tactic, to help make a guy without having him actually eliminate the Beast. If Lesnar just toys with and kills his prey in a storm of German suplexes, for the first third of the match, the crowd may get behind the next victim, provided that next victim shows a bit of fire. Enter Shorty G, the abject sight of whom would pop Lesnar harder than R-Truth.

But then, Shorty uses his speed and profound technical excellence to avoid the onslaught and scythe down the tree with perfectly-timed chop blocks and an ankle lock. Lesnar powers out, but, with his base weakened, Shorty in an incredible moment is able to use his ridiculous strength to rock Brock with his own, more impressive Chaos Theory German. This leads to an awesome spot of drama in which Toadstool almost kills off Bowser. It's Daniel Bryan Vs. Santino Marella, only better, and while Shorty G eats the floor, likely with the same gruesome force of Taka Michinoku in 2000, it is wonderful while it lasts: a true highlight reel in Shorty's career. Or a lowlight reel, get it, because's so smol.

Reality:

It's Cain Velasquez, mate.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!