10 Worst WWE Booking Decisions Of 2017 (So Far)

5. Randy Orton Wins The Royal Rumble

Randy Orton Royal Rumble 2017
WWE

While WWE would have you believe that anything can happen in the Royal Rumble, this is rarely the case anymore. It has been a long time since the company used the match to mint a new main eventer, and the past few years have been dogged by predictable winners and a lack of major surprises.

The Rumble remains one of the year’s most anticipated events, but it has lost much of its lustre. Still, this year’s presented one of the most star-studded lineups in years, and plenty of potentially exciting outcomes. Despite this, WWE went with the least inspiring option in the world by giving Randy Orton his second Rumble victory, and closing the pay-per-view on a bum note.

Perhaps it's wrong to expect excitement from the event after years of predictability, but ‘The Viper’s’ triumph still felt like an anticlimax. His 2016 return generated little buzz, and while he eventually faced Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania, the Rumble’s conclusion made it seem like we were heading towards a match we’ve seen dozens of time before in Orton vs. Cena.

Randy’s Rumble win wasn’t terrible, but it was extremely boring, and ultimately doomed us to the horrendous Wyatt feud.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.