10 Wrestlers Who Deserve A Big Push After WWE Royal Rumble 2019

7. Buddy Murphy

Finn Balor Sasha Banks Andrade
WWE.com

A thrilling four-way Cruiserweight Championship match concluded, once again, with Buddy Murphy's hand raised. His performance and those of opponents Kalisto, Akira Tozawa, and Hideo Itami were impressive and it was one of the Royal Rumble's best bouts, but it highlighted everything wrong with the lowly division at the same time.

These guys are killing themselves for no reward. Fans aren't invested, and their matches play out to near-silence, even as they take all manner of insane bumps in the struggle to get over. This isn't their fault, either. 205 Live's scheduling and the absurd idea to tape it at the same time of SmackDown, coupled with the cruiserweights' general lack of focus, have conditioned the audience into thinking this show isn't worth caring about. Sadly, the brand may now be too poisoned to ever shift that perception.

As one of WWE's most consistent in-ring performers over the past year, Buddy Murphy deserves a push beyond this level. The cruiserweight Ace delivered again at the Rumble, and while he's more than worthy of a long reign with the purple belt, Raw or SmackDown success must be on his horizon. He's too good to rot on this dead show.

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.