Tonight, live from Miami, the Royal Rumble will shake the foundation of the WWE once again. Or will it? Over the past few years, a running trend has begun to be seen in my eyes. It is known by me and my friends as the Royal Chance. Every year, at least one of the World Titles ( since the split ) has been used to showcase a newcomer to the main event, it has been used generally as a way to give someone a chance to be a star... or fail miserably. Let's take a look.
2002 began with an Undisputed Champion, Chris Jericho. He had ascended the top of the mountain, and when the Rumble came, he was ready to face the challenger, and for the hundreth time that WWE year, he faced The Rock. At the time, he was the only champion, and had to prove himself in the main event. Looking back, I realized why Jericho may have even been given the title. He was doomed. Jericho may not have lived up the expectations of those higher up, and even with Rock being his opponent again, it was inevitable that he would loose @ Wrestlemania to Triple H. But @ The Rumble, the main event was not his. Even if the match failed to capture the excitement, the Rumble would carry the weight. This was the beginning of what seems to be the test zone for championship matches for the next few years.
In 2003, Triple H was the World Heavyweight Champion, and we were in the midst of the worst drought in Wrestling history, as far as talent was concerned. The passion and attitude that carried the company all those years had been lost, and to this day I can't really figure it out. But I do know we were forced to see Scott Steiner, and all his 'genetically freakish peaks' have a pose off with the Game. Even worse, there were main events around this feud. In the Rumble, Steiner faced Triple H again for the belt, and in one of the worst title matches ever, Steiner won the match by DQ. Thank god the title stayed where it was. Soon after, Steiner was banished to tag team matches with Test. Where he dissapeared forever. His Royal Chance failed.
In 2003 we saw the Brock Lesnar as the WWE Champion. We saw Lesnar break Hardcore Holly's arm by accident, but by 2004 Holly came back, pissed off. Although I enjoy Holly's ability to fight, I hate Holly's ability to entertain. He is not a main eventer. But he got the Royal Chance, in a title match with Lesnar. This would be his last main event, and his last big title match. Holly did not deliver to the level that would allow him to remain a contender, and Lesnar went on without him, but as an added bonus, we saw Eddie Guerrero rise up and defeat him to become the new WWE Champion for the first, and sadly, the last time. Hardcore Holly has been rarely seen on TV since, only getting a few chances like the Survivor Series or angles involving Smackdown pride being on the line.
Enter 2005, the only year that had more established main eventers in the title scene. Randy Orton & JBL had each been trying to establish their mark as main eventers. Orton failed to recapture the gold from Triple H, but JBL retained against Angle & Big Show. For the first time the Royal Chance paid off, JBL had become a main eventer, to either the delight or hatred of people world wide. Orton faced Undertaker a few months later, entering in his 2nd biggest feud ( I believe the feud with HHH helped Orton more than Taker's did, as it resulted in a World Title reign, regardless of how short ). Orton had since been a main eventer and JBL is always ready to stand up to the current champion.
But here we are, 2006, and once again the Royal Chance has fallen on Mark Henry's shoulders. It can be argued about if Edge is worthy as champion, but as far as his recent matches and the recent ratings are concerned, he is just fine. But it is Henry who had been given the chance this year. As usual, it is almost set ins tone he will loose, but like Steiner, I can see this as one of the final stops for Henry. History is reality in WWE, and it repeats itself, will I be right in my understanding of the Rumble as a chance for newbies to the main event to prove themselves? I give Henry 2 months before he is gone, regardless of any insider news on him staying or going. The Rumble is either a curse or a hope wrestlers get, and it is up to them to go and make the best of the chance they are given. Because like all big chances, it may never.... eeeeeeeever.... happen... AGANE.
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