William Regal obv (specifically, Real Man's man William Regal)

Two thoughts, neither likely to happen, though I could see the first one having non-zero odds, but basically fantasy booking.

Considering they've strapped AJ, KO and Balor this year, is it out of the question Joe wins the Rumble? They have enough circus acts with Taker, HHH, Goldberg, Lesnar that the title doesn't have to be the top match, as stated. I feel like it's almost a lock Joe is in the Rumble after being absent from NXT last two months.

This one is really out there. AJ retains with help from Joe. This sets up Joe/Cena for WM (that has been rumored, though not strongly). Baron Corbin wins the Rumble. Joe and AJ are sort of a team (SD's JeriKO), but they also bring up the Revival to form a stable. Corbin is consistently attacked by the new group and goes into Mania as the face. They're going to have to start building new main eventers sooner or later.

Turning Baron Corbin face right now would be a HORRENDOUS decision.

Not if they don't touch his character and don't associate him with other faces. They'd only be basically cheering him against the heel stable.

But if they don't touch his character, he goes from a bully, ******* heel, to a bully ******* "face" that constantly gets his ass kicked by a group of wrestlers. That would pretty much bury him

Think Austin '97 against the Hart Foundation. Maybe other guys help him sometimes, but he doesn't want their help. Everyone on SD is a heel except Cena and Ambrose. It's better than AJ vs Shane.

I don't think using the greatest draw in wrestling history at just about his peak as a comparison for a rather new guy is going to make your case.

I was thinking of Kurt Angle, but I guess I forgot that the Macho Man entered a few Rumbles too.

thanks for spoiler tags

Austin/Corbin was not the comparison at all. The potential storyline (going into mania if Corbin won the Rumble) was the comparison.

Joe has been one of the top 5-10 favourites the entire time and I think at some points closed to 5-1 or so. This is a very likely outcome, especially when HHH talks about the winner being 'unpredictable'

Why can't we have HHH retain

Can anything to do with odds be put in spoiler tags? I like to look here for theories, but odds have too much dirt sheet bull**** put into them.

But here is the difference: the crowds were already cheering for Austin when he turned face and did what you described. Nobody is cheering for Corbin, so in essence you would be forcing yet another wrestler into a situation where they would be fighting the crowd. That is the last thing WWE needs

Was scanning oddschecker for something else earlier and saw someone at long odds on as a popular bet, thinking donotwant.jpg but it's not as bad as the last couple of rumbles

When was the last time a true face (and by that I mean someone the crowd was actually cheering) won the Rumble?

My prediction is Joe.

Edge in 2010? Cena in 2008? Taker in 2007?

Was Edge a face at the time? Was Cena still being cheered?

That Cena win was the one in MSG where he came back like 4 months early from injury. The pop is unbelievable. Must watch. Easy find on YT.

2016 HHH had some cheers I think. The crowd obviously wanted Ambrose but they were so passionately anti-Reigns there was general celebration once he went out.

ADR/Sheamus were somewhat neutral I thought? Obviously 2013/14/15 were booed out of the building for good reason.


Edit: Actually of course HHH & ADR were supposed to be heels when they won, so don't really meet the criteria.

Which means the closest to a 'true face' win you get in the last 6 years... is ****ing Sheamus lol

Cena pop at the Garden? Now I know you're trolling me.

It's funny. I was looking at the list of winners when I asked the question and still couldn't figure it out. Were the people ever really behind Sheamus? I honestly didn't even remember him winning.

Naw, I don't use alternative facts for wrestling

I thought Sheamus was getting the start of a huge face run at the time he won in 2012.