AJ Styles Vs Shane Mcmahon at Wrestlemania 33

If you've been watching WWE's Smackdown the last few weeks you couldn't help but notice AJ Styles has been put in a match against 'commissioner' Shane McMahon. A lot of people are unhappy with this - especially after Shaun Michael's recently stated he had turned down a match against Styles at Wrestlemania to stay in retirement. Many fans have been left salivating about proposed match however I'm here to tell you why you should be looking forward to AJ Styles Vs Shane McMahon.

I'm the first to admit Shane is no wrestler and his best days in the ring are behind him. However the good thing about Shane is that he's bat shit crazy. While his match against The Undertaker last year was two middle aged men crawling over each other for half an hour it did give us a Wrestlemania moment as Shane through himself off the top of the cell. Naysayers may say it wont be a good match I say AJ Styles can carry anyone to a decent match. Also you know, I know and your dog knows that anything Styles comes up with Shane is going to along with it because he's wired differently from most people.

Your going to get your match of the night somewhere else on the card, for this match sit back and enjoy the crazy that Styles and Shane come up with then brace yourself for a Wrestlemania moment.

Royal Rumble: The Top 10 Eliminations

Good afternoon lady and gentle readers, as I type this the time is currently quarter to January and as is traditional at this time of year its time to send off the old year and welcome in the new one. In the WWE's case this is done by holding the Royal Rumble event with its centre piece being the 30 man Royal Rumble match.

As with most things this time of year the Royal Rumble match is a time for surprises, excitement and the occasional shock. However where most people will be talking about the entrants I'm going to be wetting your appetites by going back and examining some of the memorable eliminations. Being a battle royal elimination from the Royal Rumble is by being thrown over the top rope to the floor outside the ring.

Without further ado lets dip those shoulders and see whose eliminations make the top 10...

10. Sgt Slaughter 1992

Picture the scene, the 1992 Royal Rumble with the WWE title up for grabs. One year removed from his title win Sgt Slaughter is tasked with making Sid Justice look like a beast. Biding his time until Ric Martel gets away from the turnbuckle Sid whips him across the ring into the opposing buckle. Slaughter crosses the ring so fast he breaks the time barrier sending him over the buckles into the steel ring post in a way that has never been since - every time I see this elimination its like my eyes are lying to me.


9. Alex Riley 2011

"YOU ****ED UP"

"YOU ****ED UP"

Who of us doesn't enjoy a good botch once in a while? Alex Riley looked to have the world set up before him going into 2011. In the role of protege to the Miz who was the reigning champion, Riley was given the task of helping to eliminate John Cena from the Rumble and from challenging the Miz. However after going over the top rope and doing an apron spot he accidentally fell of. I **** you not, go and look at the tape and keep your ears peeled for some classic Miz commentary when he thinks Riley is still in there.

8. Bushwhacker Luke 1991

Who can forget The Bushwackers, comic relief from the late 80's and early 90's mid card? Oh you may scoff but they were good value and in a Rumble where Rick Martel and Greg Valentine looked to be setting records for longevity Bushwhacker Luke famously whacked his way into the ring and got whacked out four memorable seconds later.

7. Greg Valentine and Rik Martel 1994

  

Ladies and gentlemen we have another botch and its another botch that screwed up two eliminations. We're approaching the mid 90's and the WWE's in a state of change, while building up new names Greg Valentine gets a new contract to help put over young up and coming stars. In another apron spot, Greg inadvertently  falls to the floor and his expression is hysterical. However counterpointed to this is the look of shock on Rick Martel's face, as it becomes blatantly obvious that Valentine was meant to eliminate him. Rick then turns around spots Tatanka in the ropes, charges at him and dives over him to elimination leaving a very confused looking Tatanka. 

6. Sabu 2007

Think ECW think tables and this is no different, a memorable elimination from 2007 saw Kane the Big Red Machine choke slam Sabu over the top rope through a conveniently set up table.

5. The Great Khali 2010

We all know the story of David and Goliath but in this case it was Davina and Goliath... actually it was Beth Phoenix and The Great Khali. Phoenix was making a rare female entry into the Royal Rumble and upon entering found the Punjabi Playboy. In an act of chivalry Khali would lift her over the rope onto the apron and insist that she eliminate herself, however he was blindsided by a kiss (we've all been there) and while in shock Phoenix pulled him over the rope and eliminated him. The lesson from this is beware of a woman's kiss... and a woman pulling you over some ring ropes over a fifteen foot drop.

4. Ted DiBiase 1992

We're walking into one of the Royal Rumbles biggest mysteries. Allow me to set the scene, its 1992 and for the first time ever the WWE Championship is up for grabs. In at number two in the Rumble is Ted 'Million Dollar Man' DiBiase, a heel whose always made his opponents look good, had experience of carrying lesser skilled workers in a Rumble match and he gets eliminated within two minutes. Even watching this today there's a feeling that something wasn't quite right. Maybe he was hurt, maybe it was to put over that anything could happen in the next sixty minutes - we may never know...

3. The British Bulldog 1995

Possibly the most famous Rumble elimination of all time, Shaun Michaels and Davey Boy "The British Bulldog" Smith had started that years Royal Rumble and outlasted the likes of Aldo Montoya and Mantaur (shudders) to be the final two. Bulldog throws Michaels over the ropes - his music hits - "SWEET MOTHER OF SASHA BANKS THE BULLDOG HAS WON THE RUMBLE!"Then Michaels walks back in and eliminates Bulldog from behind. One of the best heel Rumble wins, one of the best heel moments and an elimination that will be remembered for years.

2. Daniel Bryan 2015

Going into the 2015 Daniel Bryan was coming back from an injury and having headlined the previous years Wrestlemania he was over. I mean really over, so over the word doesn't exist to describe how over he was, when we eventually invent that word it will still be an understatement. When he came out at number 10 the fans went nuts, when he was eliminated the fans went insane and turned on the event. This is the epitome of a booking decision killing an event. We all know the aftermath, the crowd booed the rest of the Rumble, the fans would never forgive Roman Reigns and for the next year the WWE universe was stuck with someone they didn't care about in the main event picture for the next two Wrestlemanias.

1. Shaun Michaels 2010

However lets end on an up, an elimination that was months in the buildup and helped build up a match for Wrestlemania. The previous year The Undertaker and Shaun Michaels had stolen the show at Wrestlemania and Michaels wanted another shot at The Undertakers undefeated streak. After Undertaker turned him down Michaels was left with one option, win the Rumble and challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship which was held by The Undertaker. Rest assured in every ones mind from the smarks to the kids everyone thought Michaels was going to win. Making it to the final three Michaels was eliminated by Batista, the elimination was in slow motion, the heel taking advantage, Michaels grasping for the rope to stay in and his break down after being eliminated is what wrestling is all about, telling a story and making it as dramatic as possible. Michaels would get more and more desperate for that second match and this Royal Rumble moment helped to make it.

Thoughts on Wrestlemania 32

I didn't watch it, but I hope those that did had a nice time and weren't to tired this morning. Also from past experience I hope everyone who stayed up survived work without getting an official warning for falling asleep.

The Top Ten Royal Rumbles

Ladies and Gentle readers its January and after new years theres not a lot to look forward to unless your a snow or rain enthusiast. However going back to yesteryear and indeed my youth January used to signal one thing: The Road to Wrestlemania! And where does the road to Wrestlemania start? The Royal Rumble!

Having drifted away from wrestling and the WWE (it used to be WWF until the Pandas took the F) I often drift back in around this time of year in time for the Rumble. However I'm in the mood for Nostalgia and what better way to build up to the Royal Rumble than a count down of my favourite Royal Rumbles;

No 10

1990

A rather decent undercard sees Ronnie Garvin beat Greg Valentine and Jim Duggan get a DQ win over the heel Big Bossman. The Bushwhackers get a win over The Fabulous Rougeaus and Brutus Beefcake has a rather fun match with The Genius. All fun and wets the appetite for the main event.

Ted DiBiase enters first and does the first memorably long stint of anyone in a rumble lasting forty four minutes and he's the MVP of this match. He keeps everything together, has tremendous psychology and at one point saves Dusty Rhodes from falling out of the ring at the wrong point. Some Wrestlemania angles are built up such as Demolition taking on the Colossal Connection, Roddy Piper eliminating Bad News Brown but this Rumble is remembered for one thing. Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior tangling in the ring for the first time building up to that years Wrestlemania.

No 9

1991

The opening match is one of my favourite matches of all time as The Rockers take on The Orient Express. But the big thing about the undercard is Ultimate Warrior turning down a title challenge from Macho King Randy Savage, which results in Savage costing Warrior the title and Sgt Slaughter becoming Champ. This would lead to a classic Wrestlemania match and in keeping with the story Warrior would run Savage out of the building leaving a vacant spot in the Rumble which wasn't filled.

The Rumble itself is rather fun with Greg Valentine and Rick Martel putting in memorable performances, Martel in particular is in wonderful heel mode as he gets a heel push which would end later that year - his elimination of Jake Roberts is heel brilliance. Undertaker makes a memorable first appearance eliminating Bret Hart within seconds and he's rocking this early incarnation of his dead man gimmick. The British Bulldog gets a good showing as he lasts a while and finally eliminates Martel. Things turn a bit obvious when Hogan turns up and beats the heels to win but its a firm favourite.

No 8

   

2005

At this point WWE had split in two with half the roster on Raw and half on Smackdown, usually going into a Rumble its pretty obvious who the winner will be but here we have two potential winners. Raw had been building up Batista for a title shot and Smackdown John Cena. The undercard is fun with JBL surviving a triple thread match, Edge and Shaun Michaels opening the show, Undertaker in a casket match and HHH against Randy Orton.

Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit start things off, the crowd is hot for Eddie and go nuts when he's eliminated, we have the infamous Puder incident at the start and we have a good Royal Rumble which perhaps makes the best use of the brand split. Shaun Michaels and Kurt Angle have a brilliant cameo setting up a Wrestlemania match. When things get down to Cena and Batista its a coin toss who will win and theres a fantastic swerve of them both falling out together and a restart of the final two with Batista winning. Lots of good stuff to be had here.

No 7

1998

A cracking undercard sees Shaun Michaels retain the title against The Undertaker who ended the show being burnt in a casket by Kane setting up a Wrestlemania match. The New Age Outlaws take on LOD, Rock retaining the Intercontinental title over Ken Shamrock and Vader against Goldust make up the rest of the matches.

What a Rumble, Mick Foley gets three entries as Cactus Jack, Mankind and Dude Love - a brilliant swerve I was gutted when Cactus Jack went out so early. The Rock enters early and gets the lengthy heel position push and a good start after getting put in a trash can and thrown through the ropes by Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie - plus we start things off with a chainsaw in the ring! Its all about Steve Austin as he starts his epic push that would net him the title at Wrestlemania, entering through the crowd after attacking his opponents for the previous few weeks he's a man on a mission and his win sends the crowd wild stunning The Rock over the top rope.

No 6

2001

This was a Royal Rumble that was marketed as "The Most Star Studded" of all time, debatable but it was a good one. You can tell WWE had a good roster at this as no one pulled double duty and it was still a good undercard. The Dudleys beat Bono and Christian in a good match, Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit tear the house down in a great ladder match. A woman's championship match is used to build up a feud for Wrestlemania and the title match is a fantastic storyline match between Kurt Angle and HHH with Steve Austin interfering to cost HHH.

The Rumble though is all about Kane who enters early, is the runner up, eliminates eleven people and when it got down to him and the all conquering Steve Austin there was a feeling for a few seconds that he could win. The Rock puts in a brilliant performance, theres a cameo from the Big Show returning from injury, Rikishi is at the height of his heel push, Steve Austin has a brilliant out of ring fight with HHH and Undertaker makes up the list of headliners. But despite the big names this Rumble is up high because of Kane and that brief "he might actually win" moment.

No 5

2003

We're back in the brand split era, the PPV starts off with Brock Lesnar and Big Show in a quick match for the final spot in the Rumble. The rest of the undercard is forgettable except for Kurt Angle Vs Chris Benoit which is a Wrestlemania level match.

The Rumble is brilliant, so many wrestlers I could watch for hours here and plenty of names, it reads like a whose who of wrestling. What raises this Rumble is the continuation of the Chris Jericho and Shaun Michaels angle building up for Wrestlemania, Shaun Michaels is made number 1 entrant so Jericho wants the second slot and to outlast him, he then proceeds to enter from behind and take Michaels out with a chair. From that point Jericho rules this Rumble like a panto villain and is brilliant. Rob Van Dam gets half an hour which gets a thumbs up from me, the Hardy brothers clash, Undertaker makes a return from injury and Brock Lesnar succeeds despite having the world against him.

No 4

1994

Another Rumble which is affected by the undercard, Bret and Owen Hard go for the tag titles with Owen turning on Bret completes a heel turn and potentially eliminates Bret from the Rumble. Yokozuna against Undertaker in a casket match turns into Undertaker Vs an army of heels and is rather fun.

This Rumble however is remembered for Diesel, who enters the ring eliminates those in the ring then proceeds to win the crowd over by eliminating the next few entrants within seconds until Randy Savage enters and puts a stop to it. The rest of the Rumble is fun as the later half of entrants fill the ring and a bit of trivia it has my favourite wrestling mistake. Greg Valentine falls off the apron leaving Rick Martel with nobody to eliminate him, he then picks Tatanka out and random runs at him and jumps over the ropes with Tatanka visually confused about what is happening. The final four is brilliant with Shaun Michaels & Fatus double elimination being brilliant. Someone doesn't come out making the viewer think Bret Hart isn't going to make it and then he limps out two numbers later. Good ending as the top two faces at the time are made co-winners building up nicely to the following Wrestlemania.

No 3

2007

A rather fun undercard whose highlights include The Hardys Vs MnM, Batista Vs Mr Kennedy and a bonkers Last Man Standing Match between Umaga and John Cena but this one is all about the Rumble Match.

Possibly this is the best end to a Rumble match ever, 10 or so people in the ring and out comes The Great Khali (when he's still being booked as a monster) who eliminated almost everyone in the ring until he's stood there dominant (brilliant moment when he's facing the wrong way and Shaun Michaels shouts "look at the camera dummy") with the survivors laying comatose when who comes out at number 30 but Undertaker. After a brief confrontation Undertaker eliminates him then MVP leaving Undertaker, Shaun Michaels, Edge and Randy Orton. After RKO are gone (after giving Undertaker some chair shots) its a shoot out between Undertaker and Michaels, either of them could have justifiably won a fantastic Rumble.

No 2

2004

Its very hard to talk about this Rumble because of whats happened outside of the ring since then. However at the time I was a big mark for the winner having watched him since 1997 in his WCW days. With Eddie winning earlier in the night there was a feeling a new era was dawning in WWE and at the time the Rumble felt like it was the moment it happened.

No 1

1992

Yes ladies and gentle readers this is my favourite Royal Rumble, due to Ric Flair interfering in title defences between Hulk Hogan and Undertaker the title was declared vacant and the new champion would be the winner of the Royal Rumble. The undercard gives the tag wrestlers something to do and actually tells one tale of the Rumble as Roddy Piper has two matches, he's in the Rumble and beats The Mountie for the Intercontinental belt giving him two title matches in the same night.

The Rumble starts out with the British Bulldog and Ted Dibiase, Bulldog getting a face push which would see him headline Summerslam later that year and he eliminates Dibiase before the third entrant gets to the ring! This is amazing never happened before stuff and sends the crowd wild, Ric Flair comes in next which sends Bobby Heenan insane - his commentary for this event is legendary. Theres so many big names here in what I think is the most star studded Rumble; Bulldog, Dibiase, Shaun Michaels fresh off splitting up The Rockers and turning heel, Rick Martel, Kerry Von Erich, Barry Darsow as Repo Man, Big Boss Man, Roddy Piper, Jake Roberts, Jimmy Snuka, Undertaker, Randy Savage, Sgt Slaughter, Sid Justice and Hulk Hogan. The ending is brilliant, at the time you still think Hogans going to win but the ultimate heel performance of Ric Flair endures and he has his first WWF title and gives one of his best promos to end the show.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!