2. Batista's Big Royal Rumble Win And Main Event Push In 2014
The 'Daniel Bryan' chants were deafening, fans had voiced their opinion that the popular bearded technical wizard was their choice to win the Royal Rumble and advance to WrestleMania XXX. Sadly for those people, WWE had something else in mind, something completely against what fans were crying out for. That 'something else' was the return of babyface Batista. Winning the 2014 Rumble, Batista looked legitimately shell-shocked (no Ryback jokes, please) as he was catcalled and booed out of the building. Fans were apoplectic that Bryan hadn't even been involved in the 30-man match, only being seen in a losing effort against Bray Wyatt earlier in the pay-per-view. Poor Rey Mysterio - entering last - caught the brunt of fan unrest, and he too was booed heavily by those in attendance. When Roman Reigns was last chucked over the top rope by the returning 'Animal', fans turned their backs on the conclusion of the show. So thunderous was the backlash that WWE were forced into inserting Bryan into the title picture come 'Mania. A proposed Batista vs. Randy Orton headliner was modified to include the people's favourite, Daniel Bryan. In the period between the Rumble and 'Mania, WWE were also forced to turn a perplexed Batista heel because fans simply didn't want to cheer the movie star who was walking right back into the biggest match of the year. Funny, that.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
