10 Mistakes All Wrestling Fans Make

2. Getting Excited For The Royal Rumble

Roman Reigns
wwe

The Royal Rumble is such a glorious institution that it has (somehow) withstood years' worth of tripe to retain its unmissable stigma.

Things started to unravel around the turn of the decade. The titular 2011 match was fantastic, despite what many (your writer included) felt was a constrictive and desperate 40-man variation, thanks to CM Punk's memorable microphone-assisted early dominance and a unique first time winner.

As the decade progressed, however, the match itself indulged its comedic element with too much abandon. The contrived and ridiculous triple entrance of commentators Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and JBL one year later ruined the grand tradition of the surprise entrance. The 2013 match was populated almost entirely by also-rans - and won by the most predictable winner ever in John Cena.

By 2014, the event in itself had filled many fans with dread. No longer the occasion on which to prick the finger of a fan-made man in waiting, it had become another night on which Vince McMahon stuck his fingers in his ears and laughed his trademark throaty chuckle.

"You want Daniel Bryan? F*ck you. He doesn't even eat meat!"

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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 current Undisputed WWE 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!