Lots Of Open Doors In This Years Royal Rumble

[Bob-O]

Here is wwe.com ' s official list of Royal Rumble entrants:

1. Batista
2. CM Punk
3. Alberto Del Rio
4. Big E Langston
5. The Miz
6. R-Truth
7. Xavier Woods
8. Kofi Kingston
8. Cody Rhodes
10. Goldust
11. Rey Mysterio
12. Fandango
13. Roman Reigns
14. Seth Rollins
15. Dean Ambrose
16. Erick Rowan
17. Luke Harper
18. Damien Sandow
19. Jimmy Uso
20. Jey Uso

That's it. Unlike recent years where they've named all but 3 or 4 participants, this year they've only confirmed 20. With 10 open spots, they're really going for the surprise element this year. While a few of those spots will obviously go to rostered guys, one has to wonder what the Rumble has in store for us this year! Some possibilities off the top of my head...

-WWE ran two house shows last night. Ryback, Los Matadors, Justin Gabriel, Zack Ryder, Kane, 3MB, Barrett, Tyson Kidd, The Real Americans, Curtis Axel, and The Great Khali were all in action last night.

-NXT's Alexander Rusev is on the road with the main roster right now.

-Evan Bourne, Christian, and Sheamus are all cleared to return any time.

-RVD is under contract, and should be back... sometime...

-Ziggler was getting tests done this weekend, but I haven't seen anything about how they went.

-Chris Jericho and Kevin Nash are both in Pittsburgh this weekend.

Hidden text.

Nash is basically confirmed. He's staying in WWE's hotel and was seen with freshly dyed hair

-Jake Roberts has resurfaced in the company, and WANTS to be in it.

-Hogan isn't out of the question, neither is Warrior.

-I read a long-shot Sting rumor this morning. Not holding my breath, but it was speculated on one of the more reputable sites.

-While we're talking long-shots, Eugene is back with the company. Morrison's on good terms and would be perfect for some neat spots. Snitsky was backstage at one of last night's house shows. Matt Morgan got a job with a "big time" medical device company... so there's no chance of that... "big time"...


I just know I'm freakin' psyched for tonight.

[Bob-O]

Also worth noting from last night's house shows, Cena/Orton was the same finish that it has been on this run with Orton getting intentionally DQ'd. Bray Wyatt went over Daniel Bryan in a cage with interference from Rowan and Harper. The bigger story there being that is clear to compete following his concussion.

[Big Red Machine]

Also worth noting from last night's house shows, Cena/Orton was the same finish that it has been on this run with Orton getting intentionally DQ'd.

Not really worth noting. It builds to the PPV perfectly well (though, personally, I would have had Cena win clean in a non-title match).

Bray Wyatt went over Daniel Bryan in a cage with interference from Rowan and Harper. The bigger story there being that is clear to compete following his concussion.

This also builds to the PPV perfectly well but... well...

Bray Wyatt went over Daniel Bryan in a cage with interference from Rowan and Harper.

Cero... how the hell do we not have a facepalm emoticon?

[Big Red Machine]

I see RVD, Sheamus, and Christian all being "surprise" returns. I think Jake will be in it, too, and probably El Torito, because WWE loves putting out of place people in this sort of thing. Santino will probably be in, too, to do some comedy, and I also expect Ryback and Axel. Add in Nash as another surprise, and I think they are trying to do some many big surprises that no one will see it coming when Dragon comes in at #30 for the win.

[Bob-O]

personally, I would have had Cena win clean in a non-title match

Kind of hard to do at a house show. The titles are always on the line, but one would have to assume that the near falls are a little more anti-climatic the night before a PPV...

As far as Dragon/Bray goes...

(from pwtorch.com)
"Bray Wyatt (w/Luke Harper and Erick Rowan) pinned Daniel Bryan in a steel cage match. Bryan was the most over wrestler of the night. Decent cage match that ended when Harper and Rowan interfered, which allowed Wyatt to hit Sister Abigail for the win.

Afterward Bryan took a steel chair and left the entire Wyatt Family lying in the ring while the crowd chanted "Yes!" to close the show."

Maybe they just distracted him from the outside...

ALSO worth noting, did anyone else happen to catch that WWE offered the crowds refunds for the shows Daniel Bryan missed because of his concussion? That's something they've only done for Cena in the recent past. I've been very skeptical about all this "Bryan's gonna win the Rumble" stuff, but the more I think about it...

I see RVD, Sheamus, and Christian all being "surprise" returns. I think Jake will be in it, too, and probably El Torito, because WWE loves putting out of place people in this sort of thing. Santino will probably be in, too, to do some comedy, and I also expect Ryback and Axel. Add in Nash as another surprise, and I think they are trying to do some many big surprises that no one will see it coming when Dragon comes in at #30 for the win.

No Khali? Seems like they always try to go for the "Aaaawe SH*T!" pop with him for this and miss because Khali is horrible.

[Bob-O]

Found the Vegas Odds for the card tonight, if anyone's interested...

http://i.imgur.com/VPLA8YX.png
http://i.imgur.com/zPwHcuX.png
Safe to say Lesnar's a lock...

[cero2k]

so ten spots.

1.Daniel Bryan
2.Sheamus
3.Christian or evan bourne
4.Antonio Cesaro (not in the list)
5.Nash (screws Punk on Hunter's call?)
6.Torito
7.Wade Barrett (not in the list)
8.Jack Swagger (not in the list)
9.Ryback (maybe Clay)
10.Legend or return

I really think both Rhodes are a waste of spot. Especially when guys like the real americans, rybaxel, barrett, or clay are out. Santino i understand is injured or something, he posted a pic in the hospital like 3-4 days ago

I really don't see Jake being in the Rumble, he may be in better shape now, but not good enough to enter the rumble, i mean, he didn't even hit the DDT on RAW.

Jericho i still wanna see return along with the WWE Network countdown. However, i could see someone like Jeff Hardy returning for a one night thing.

[Big Red Machine]

I really don't see Jake being in the Rumble, he may be in better shape now, but not good enough to enter the rumble, i mean, he didn't even hit the DDT on RAW.

Maybe he was saving it for the rumble?

Jericho i still wanna see return along with the WWE Network countdown. However, i could see someone like Jeff Hardy returning for a one night thing.

I have seen enough Jericho surprise returns at this point that I honestly don't even think I would care.

It can't be Jeff hardy because he is under contract to TNA. His brother was in Pittsburgh last night though...

[cero2k]

It can't be Jeff hardy because he is under contract to TNA. His brother was in Pittsburgh last night though...

is he really? i thought the storyline was legit

[Big Red Machine]

It can't be Jeff hardy because he is under contract to TNA. His brother was in Pittsburgh last night though...

is he really? i thought the storyline was legit

No. It's just their annual way of writing him out before the UK tour, so they don't have to say "Jeff Hardy would have loved to be here, but he is a convicted felon so he can't leave the country."