411mania.com: Wrestling - 411 Fact or Fiction 01.26.11: Royal Rumble, Orton's Return, Bourne/WWE, More

Hi, hello and welcome to 411 Fact or Fiction! I'm Steve Cook, and it's been another crazy week in the world of wrestling! The Royal Rumble is coming up on Sunday, and Big Johnny will be undergoing a job evaluation next Monday on Raw! Most questions will be relating to the Royal Rumble, but Impact Wrestling has some stuff going on too, and two of the biggest North American indy promotions will be holding a double-header at the end of April. Good times!

This week's column features two awesome writers that got their stuff done very early. I love it when that happens. Introducing first, the author of the Column of Honor and one of the most underappreciated writers on this website over the past several years…the great Ari Berenstein!

His opponent is one of 411's most talked about writers of late, as his Wrestling Sandwich generates tons of discussion every weekend…say hello to the man you love to hate, Wes Kirk!

Questions were sent out Monday.

Participants were told to expect wrestling-related questions.

1. You are interested enough in Sunday's Royal Rumble PPV to purchase the event or view it via other means.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. These days if I'm watching broadcast Pay Per Views it's usually with my boy Chris Miccio (former contributor to Column of Honor might I add) and only UFC shows and not WWE, except for Wrestlemania which is still an annual tradition. We just happen to enjoy Mixed Martial Arts as a party / hang-out activity more these days and generally they are worth the money spent more than a WWE show. So it's very rare that we are motivated to order a WWE Pay Per View. The last one was Money in the Bank in July 2011 and that was to throw our support behind the "Summer of Punk" angle. We were rewarded with a great show definitely worth the money. So it's interesting that as Royal Rumble nears, there is discussion about purchasing and hanging out for the show this coming Sunday.

I think our interest has been piqued by Chris Jericho's return and just exactly what he will do as a part of The Rumble Match (which is generally entertaining anyway). Then there is the matter of the high placement of both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan on the card in title matches. They are two incredibly gifted wrestlers who we have supported going way back to our days of watching them at live Ring of Honor events. It is great to see them both placed in high profile title defense situations…and quite frankly, some may call me an independent fan boy or other such name, but I feel more inclined to support WWE when they put the guys I've seen rise up through the ranks of this past decade's independent wrestling scene into prominent positions. So, count me in for The Royal Rumble. I think this one will be a fun and entertaining watch, and more than likely worth the purchase price.

Wes Kirk: FICTION. Honestly, the Royal Rumble doesn't interest me at all this year for the first time in a long time. In general, the Rumble is used to give somebody who is new to the main event scene a big push in time for WrestleMania and has been used as such since 1993, when Yokozuna was the winner of the first Rumble that granted the winner a title shot. Last year, the fast rising Alberto Del Rio took the victory but wasn't able to gather as much interest as people hoped and he ultimately has become more of a memory than a lasting main eventer. The last few years before have been people who didn't need the victory to get to the next level such as John Cena and Edge who were already there. This year, the individuals who are being mentioned as potential winners have all held the WWE or World Championship at some point: Randy Orton, Sheamus, and Chris Jericho. Frankly, I have no confidence whatsoever in some new star suddenly being born in the Rumble this year and instead, the WWE will likely push another one of their safe stars to the main event again.

Score: 0 for 1

2. Randy Orton's comeback will result in a Royal Rumble victory.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. It's incredibly difficult for me to decide on whether it would be better served if Orton won The Rumble Match in his hometown, or if Chris Jericho (the other most likely candidate) won the match and brought about the "end of the world as we know it" or whatever he and WWE have in mind for his Wrestlemania angle. WWE have used return and comeback angles before leading to The Rumble winner (John Cena and Edge being most prominent) and Orton winning in his hometown would fit right into that mode and no doubt result in him being treated as a major hometown hero. I guess it comes down to—can you get to Jericho-Punk or whatever high profile match is planned for the WWE Title without Jericho winning the Rumble? Does Randy Orton have a natural and logical route to the World Heavyweight Title match at Wrestlemania without a Rumble win? I think the answers are "Yes" to the former question and "No" to the latter. So in my mind, I'd say Orton wins the Rumble, but personally, the Jericho fan that I am-I'd love to see that win happen instead.

Wes Kirk: FACT. Simply put, Orton has been the golden child of the WWE for a long time even with severe attitude issues and a few mishaps with substance abuse. Orton debuted in 2002 and was a world champion two years later, a main eventer by 2006, and has already won the Royal Rumble in 2009 with help from his group Legacy. The fact that Orton is making his in-ring return this night in his hometown usually would mean he ends up losing but I can't see Orton losing to anybody EXCEPT the two other people I mentioned earlier, all established WWE names. The only way I could see Orton losing is if he has too significant an injury to continue to work through, and frankly that should be the forefront of the WWE's booking as if Orton cannot work the match he shouldn't be put into it in the first place. Safety first!

Score: 1 for 2

3. The Miz will be the Iron Man of this year's Royal Rumble Match.

Ari Berenstein: FICTION. The Miz has to start at the number one slot, which generally makes an easier booking opportunity for the "Iron Man"—the wrestler who spends the most time in the match. To be honest, I think The Miz in at number one will be a red herring for the Iron Man, but that he will be the guy teasing several close eliminations in the early part of the match. The Miz is locked in with the feud with R-Truth, who I wouldn't be surprised to see among the first fifteen entrants and for both of them to cause the other's demise in the match.

It's difficult to predict an Iron Man without a full list of entrants, but I'll go out on a limb and say it will actually be Wade Barrett who is the guy for that slot. He'll come in early and last a long time. I'd think Orton will come in late, in the last ten (21-30) and that Orton will exact some revenge by eventually eliminating Barrett from The Rumble on his way to the big win (see #2 above). That's the way I would do it, but hey, I could be completely wrong.

Wes Kirk: FICTION. Like it or not, Miz has basically been depushed recently. Don't believe me? Coming into 2011's WrestleMania the Miz was the WWE Champion and main evented WrestleMania with a victory over John Cena. Coming into 2012's Royal Rumble, The Miz jobbed out to R-Truth who isn't even getting over as a face! I think Miz will do a decent enough job but frankly the writing is on the wall that the WWE is finished giving Miz a chance in the main event and probably won't let him be the Iron Man, but instead will likely have him take a hike within twenty-five minutes of the match.

Score: 2 for 3

4. John Laurinitas' job evaluation on next week's Raw will lead to Triple H installing a new Raw General Manager.

Ari Berenstein: FACT. The only way that doesn't happen if Triple H somehow swerves us and goes heel in siding with Laurinaitis, but lord help us all if that happens, because that would be illogical, nonsensical given past history and stupid. So it's got a good chance of happening. It seems like WWE gave us the big Punk-Laurinaitis moment this past Monday on Raw with the Go 2 Sleep, but I don't know if that means the storyline is finishing up or just advancing in a different direction, especially with the inclusion of Mick Foley last week. So, I think Big Johnny is either on his way outta here for now, or that Triple H will want to fire him but will be stopped by Vince McMahon or the other nameless WWE executives on the board in charge of making Deus Ex Machina decisions.

Wes Kirk: FACT. Laurinitas has sucked as the General Manager of RAW and seems immensely uncomfortable in a position to cut promos, early on requiring CM Punk to even point out how to hold the microphone correctly. Laurinitas has stumbled and bumbled repeatedly during his tenure and even on RAW had a few issues getting his relevant points across, although he was really only there to finally get smacked down by CM Punk. The probability will be HHH firing Laurinitas and appointing Foley or another WWE legend to the post, with the outside chance Vince McMahon could also make his return at that time to take over RAW. McMahon vs. Punk has a much better chance of working than Laurinitas vs. Punk, and comparing this crapfest to McMahon vs. Austin is insane. Punk is totally owning Laurinitas whereas McMahon and Austin both traded compelling promos and were terrific in their roles. Whatever happens, I believe it will advance Laurinitas ultimately revealing the guy he's been texting all the time is Vince McMahon and teaming up on the corporate level against CM Punk and possibly HHH as well at some point.

Score: 3 for 4

SWITCH!

5. Evan Bourne will be with WWE at the end of 2012.

Wes Kirk: FICTION. Bourne has had his moment in the sun and he did well for himself but the biggest mistake was taking his second chance and flushing it down the toilet almost as soon as he returned. The fact his second suspension for a Wellness violation took place so quickly after he returned from his first is a sign that he's likely not going to get pushed very well on his return and possibly not even returned to television, depending on how little faith the company has in him. Although he is a talented athlete, if he's going to rely on drugs to help him through he needs to be cut loose immediately as he'll be a danger to himself and others performing in the ring while on whatever he's on. Should he return and even look at somebody cross-eyed, he'll be on WWE.COM's page for a third time being wished well and frankly nobody should shed a tear for the guy because he's bringing it all on himself.

Ari Berenstein: FICTION. The way things are going I don't think Bourne will make it through the end of his sixty-day suspension still a part of WWE. I seem to recall WWE giving the pink slip recently to wrestlers who failed wellness a second time and not heading to rehab for it (as mandated on the second failure), so I guess if Bourne doesn't agree to that he'd be hoisted out on his own petard regardless. I don't know where things went wrong with Bourne—ok, yes I do know, it went wrong with weed and giving into personal whims rather than putting the focus on succeeding in his chosen profession. Still, Bourne is so talented and has so much potential to do more especially given that WWE has broadened its efforts to push smaller guys, but it was his mistake and he will have to pay the consequences for it. He is in hot water politically in WWE, it's his own fault and he knows it. Maybe being contrite about his mistakes is enough to save his job, but I'd doubt it. And well, if he's gone from WWE, then Ring of Honor (though more likely TNA) could hire him and fulfill that dangling carrot of a newswire storyline from last year about finding a ‘high flier" to add to their roster. Pun intended.

Score: 4 for 5

6. Bobby Roode is the most compelling world champion in pro wrestling today.

Wes Kirk: FACT. I'm a huge CM Punk fan and think he's awesome, I'm even a fan of Daniel Bryan in terms of his in-ring work, but when it comes down to it I think Bobby Roode is the top main event guy going right now. Roode is redefining the chicken heel role to a point even Honky Tonk Man is getting jealous of, and the best part is that Roode himself is enjoying it and going all out to make his character as hated as possible. No other heel champion in recent memory has been as selfish and vicious in the retention of his title as Roode, who has spit in the face of the company President and used her as a human shield, beaten on his former best friend after he was given a concussion and split wide open, attacked both men in a #1 contenders match so nobody got a shot at his title, and even purposely took a DQ, countout, or a draw to avoid having to do any real work. Roode is being built as the champion who simply always finds a way to retain the title, much like JBL was during his world title reign, but in this case the champion actually has talent. Whoever defeats Roode for the belt will get a huge reaction akin to the SummerSlam 1988 Honky/Warrior match as people seriously want this guy defeated!

Ari Berenstein: FICTION. It's funny, because both TNA and WWE are running with gimmicks involving their champions retaining the title cheaply and yet Daniel Bryan's escapes from inevitable doom are far more compelling and entertaining to me than what's been done with Roode. I don't even think its Roode's fault-as his charisma, personality and in-ring ability are definitely all there. It's just that TNA has done the interference and cheap heat main-event finishes for as long as they've existed and what they are doing with Roode in the matches against Styles and Jeff Hardy feels the same as it ever was. With Daniel Bryan, first of all, it's something that hasn't been done in WWE in quite a while. It is being presented as a part of this change in Bryan's behavior and it's a slow burn with both style and subtlety. Conversely, TNA is hitting us over the head with their finishes, like the overt cheating that cost Hardy his match at the last TNA Pay Per View.

Meanwhile, Bryan has a lot of panache (and until this week, plenty of plausible deniability) in his manipulation of the World Heavyweight Title situation, which becomes more intriguing by the week. I mean, maneuvering Big Show into knocking over AJ and then chewing him out over it while Show is crying over his mistake or getting lumberjacks to brawl uncontrollably and sneak away with the title in the chaos is just all sorts of insane genius booking for heel heat. Its finishes that one should be angry about because there's no decisiveness to it, but for weeks now it has just worked and I think Bryan is a huge part of that. I just find the way Daniel Bryan is cheating to be more compelling television compared to Roode, but that takes nothing away from Roode's talent.

Score: 4 for 6

7. You're excited to see Alex Shelley back in Impact Wrestling.

Wes Kirk: FACT. Alex Shelley has been consistently entertaining whether he competed in the X-Division as a singles wrestler or in the great series with Beer Money as one-half of the Motor City Machine Guns. Shelley is one of those rare athletes who has not only the ability to wrestle but also talk things up and get people interested in what he has to say or do, and that'll pay off in spades against Austin Aries since they are both gifted in wrestling and promo departments. Seeing Shelley take on Aries will be a great match in and of itself but after Thursday's Impact we can also predict the promos will have an entertaining slant as well, something cruiserweight sized wrestlers are often given a lot of flak about. In this case they can walk the walk and talk the talk and this should be a fun little feud to watch!

Ari Berenstein: FACT. I've always been a huge fan of Alex Shelley going back to his 2004 days in ROH with Generation Next and then his heel run with The Embassy. I wish TNA would have given him the ball long before the Motor City Machine Guns tag team. However, he made hay with it and both he and Sabin have been fantastic together and ultimately found success in TNA as a result. Both he and Sabin were sidelined with injuries and the timing hasn't been right to reform the Guns, which is unfortunate because the TNA tag team division desperately needs them right now. However, I am very excited to see that Shelley is back, foremost because it means he is healthy and likely back to ring-shape. I am also pumped for him to become involved with the X-Division and this time, he has a legitimate chance to shine in the spotlight. He and Austin Aries are no strangers to each other, both in ROH (where they co-led Gen Next and then feuded against each other) and in TNA where there was a brief pairing in the Papparazzi Productions angle when Aries was known as Austin Starr. There's lots of history both old and new to play off in further interactions between the two and chances are high that they are going to produce excellent matches in the ring.

Score: 5 for 7

8. ROH & CHIKARA should continue working together after their double-header in Chicago on April 28.

Wes Kirk: FACT. Nothing is more important for a business than to satisfy their customers as often as possible, and since McMahon refuses to ever have a promotion vs. promotion war as long as he lives without total control of everything, the only way people are going to get what they want is through this cross-promotion between the indy kings CHIKARA and ROH. Both groups have talented wrestlers and some great promo men as well, and the idea of having these high-profile matches and dream matches for the fans in attendance is only going to boost business for both companies. Competition makes companies better, but sometimes cooperation can do the same thing such as when Motorola, Google, and Verizon all joined together to make the Droid as a feasible opponent for the iPhone. The creative collaboration between both companies will likely have some excellent matches and entertaining segments that will leave them with happy fans and probably some new viewers as well once word goes around of the show. The real winners here are the fans of both companies and those of us who'd like to see the same from WWE and TNA are envious of it!

Ari Berenstein: FACT. Make no mistake, Ring of Honor has been of late lacking in the diversity department in terms of characters and style—especially with the downplaying of El Generico and the departure of Colt Cabana and The Kings of Wrestling (until Hero only recently returned, but just for a few shows for now). There is something to be said about having some fun mixed in with the serious wrestling and their in-ring style focused on competition. That is what CHIKARA brings to the table with this angle-a lot of fun—fun characters, entertaining promos and most importantly, something new, fresh and different in terms of what ROH is presenting on their shows. So while CHIKARA certainly gains in visibility from this new crossover that's happening as a built to the "Synergy" weekend in Chicago, it's not so far-fetched to state that ROH is actually gaining a lot more in this partnership.

There is an excitement and buzz that came from the CHIKARA angle with a base of fans from both promotions that cannot be replicated and just has to be taken advantage of for more than one weekend of shows. The likes of Quackenbush, Ultramantis Black and The Colony wrestling in ROH vs. CHIKARA matches presents so many great possibilities that can be booked for shows going way farther into 2012. So while the Chicago weekend is going to be great for fans of both promotions, what would be really terrific would be for the synergy between the two companies to continue past that one weekend and last throughout the better part of the next year, with crossover matches happening on events held by both promotions and then perhaps culminating in a major team vs. team battle like a Steel Cage Warfare (an ROH favorite) or Cibernetico elimination match (which is a CHIKARA tradition).

Final Score: 6 for 8

Fantastic stuff from Ari & Wes! Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did, and feel free to chime in with your opinions down in the comment section! Thanks to Ari & Wes for their contributions, and make sure to join us next week for more Fact or Fiction!

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Comments (70)

ugh that troll wes kirk did fact of fiction this week? lame.

Posted By: Guest#9083 (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:06 PM

of course Wes Kirk would say he aint interested in the RR PPV this sunday and call Robert Roode the most compelling World champion in wrestling. he a TNA mark..

Posted By: Guest#7910 (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:08 PM

i doubt orton wins the rumble. Jericho is gonna win the rumble match. and i doubt evan bourne will be fired.. Wes kirk tho really needs to stop being such a idiot.

Posted By: Guest#4548 (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:09 PM

only people that troll on this site are TNA marks like wes kirk.

Posted By: Guest#6335 (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:11 PM

Has anyone noticed how CALM Lauranitus looks in CM Punks Firemans carry/GTS? LMAO He could've sold A LITTLE FEAR for goodness sake.

Posted By: Kyle (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:16 PM

I HATE WES KIRK FOR NO REASON!!!

Posted By: Jonbear (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:38 PM

In the picture of Punk holding Laurinitas up for the GTS, Johnny boy has just about the most bored, uninterested facial expression I've ever seen. It looks like he could just as easily be waiting in line at the DMV or watching a piece of chicken reheat in a microwave.

Posted By: Guest#1077 (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:55 PM

Royal Rumble is awesome this year, every match of the show is great.

Posted By: Guest#7303 (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:57 PM

The Rumble will come down to either Orton or Jericho, unfortunately that outcome is so obvious that Vince is gonna swerve everyone and give the win to Mick Foley so he can challenge new champ Ziggler at Mania...we'll still get Punk vs Jericho, just without the title...also look for them to hot shot the title from Bryan to Barrett to make Orton vs Barrett at Mania a title match.

Posted By: Guest#2686 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:05 AM

i like this website but i hate Wes Kirk. CM Punk > Bobby roode. Wes krik = TNA mark.

Posted By: Guest#9625 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:08 AM

Once again Wes Kirk shows that he is one of the few writers at 411 capable of original thought.

And if you doubt that, email Csonka and ask him which columnist gets the most hits.

If WWE is superior to TNA because more eyes view their product, then clearly the fact that Wes Kirk has the most readers makes him the class of 411.

Posted By: WWE IS SHIT...BUT FRAME IS OK (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:11 AM

Wes Kirk being involved makes this the most epic FoF ever! Hey Cook, we need the ULITMATE FoF with Wes Kirk facing Ryan FN' Byers

Posted By: Jay Maleezy (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:16 AM

4) Look at John Laurinitas face. No expression as he's about to be dropped on his ass.

Posted By: Guest#3280 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:16 AM

...and Cook continues to laugh at everybody!

It really is becoming sad. Cook was such a good writer on 411 a few years. I was one of his biggest fans. Then he found Kirk and has flushed his entire goodwill down the toilet. I no longer blame Kirk for the stupidity going on this site.

He is a troll. Fine. That has been apparent since Day 1. My problem is Cook turning to the "troll" side as well. So much promise with him, and he doesn't even realize it. Now? All gone!

I gave up on the Sandwich months ago. Cook's Corner is getting one more click next week for me to say my peace, and until somebody new takes over Fact or Fiction, I am now done with another 411 column!

Posted By: Paul (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:25 AM

Man, I whipped WWE's ass as usual....didn't I?

Posted By: wes kirk (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:32 AM

The whole Evan Bourne thing is a work. They will make mention of his outside problems on TV and have him overcome his demons to be one of the next main eventer's. And it'll be easy to keep on the straight and narrow because he doesn't really have a problem at all.

Posted By: Andre the Midget (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:46 AM

Wes Kirk is so biased.

Posted By: Guest#7869 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:47 AM

Great week for wrestling.

Decent Raw, good TNA show, and for the first time in a long time I accidentally tuned in to NXT to find that every single segment was entertaining and the whole show is FILLED with talented performers.

NXT is now my favourite wrestling show.

Posted By: Guest#5847 (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:38 PM

good TNA show? TNA didn't even air yet.

Posted By: Guest#3717 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:51 AM

Once again Wes Kirk shows that he is one of the few writers at 411 capable of original thought.

And if you doubt that, email Csonka and ask him which columnist gets the most hits.

If WWE is superior to TNA because more eyes view their product, then clearly the fact that Wes Kirk has the most readers makes him the class of 411.

Posted By: WWE IS SHIT...BUT FRAME IS OK (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:11 AM

ur name on this site is stupid.

Posted By: Guest#6380 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:52 AM

I don't know who Wes Kirk is.
After the Jake Chambers fiasco, I don't bother learning the writers' names.

Posted By: Rex (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:53 AM

I HATE WES KIRK FOR NO REASON!!!

Posted By: Jonbear (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:38 PM

theres tons of reasons ppl hate kirk. where do i start?

Posted By: Guest#8893 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:57 AM

Man, I whipped WWE's ass as usual....didn't I?

Posted By: wes kirk (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:32 AM

Wes Kirk cant whip anyones ass..

Posted By: Guest#5094 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:01 AM

i like this website but i hate Wes Kirk. CM Punk > Bobby roode. Wes krik = TNA mark.

Posted By: Guest#9625 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:08 AM

Agreed

Posted By: Pete K (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:03 AM

i am a dumbass.

Posted By: TNA fan (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:29 AM

4) Look at John Laurinitas face. No expression as he's about to be dropped on his ass.

Posted By: Guest#3280 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:16 AM
--------------------------
I noticed that immediately while watching the show too...like he didn't have a care in the world, ha!

It needs to be said again, if THIS Wes Kirk wrote a weekend column, not "in character," there wouldn't be nearly the amount of hate on this site concerning him.

Posted By: Team J-Rod (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:42 AM

I gave up on the Sandwich months ago. Cook's Corner is getting one more click next week for me to say my peace, and until somebody new takes over Fact or Fiction, I am now done with another 411 column!

Posted By: Paul (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:25 AM

Cry much?

Posted By: Guest#3868 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:48 AM

That Punk/Ace picture of punk giving the GTS is such a bad shot. You can see ZERO emotion from Johnny Ace's face. He's not terrified of getting GTS'd, he's not angrily trying to fight out, he's not mildly annoyed that he's in a fireman's carry, he's just... there.

Posted By: Guest#7963 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:55 AM

jinder mahal would rule Ring ka King.

Posted By: Guest#0803 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:55 AM

no, didn't like this article.

Posted By: Guest#2193 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:55 AM

Kirk can troll, but i think people are harsh to say he's trolling with them answers, i think they seem fair enough.

Royal Rumble has been very, very poorly built this year, your going into it with very little storyline and very little interesting things going on, thus....your really only going to be interested if either your a WWE die-hard or a rumble die-hard, i am neither so i'm also uninterested.

and while i as such disagree with the sneaky chicken champion approach (I want to see a strong heel for once) Roode to me is still delivering more interesting promo's and storyline than Punk or Bryan at present.

Posted By: BigDaveJ (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 02:53 AM

I tend to dislike Wes Kirk. But I agree with him about the Royal Rumble... Sort of. His point about a veteran winning this year because there isn't a rising up and comer waiting in the wings is valid. Veterans winning the Royal Rumble have less excitement. Cena and Edge's worked because they were surprises. Undertaker's worked because he hadn't held the title in a while. But Jericho winning feels like a reward (which he deserves, but feels unnecessary) and Randy Orton has already won the Rumble and both titles multiple times in just the past few years. Even as a face, that's anticlimactic.

If a veteran must win, I'm hoping it's The Rock because it would be a great moment.

Anyway, I'm still excited for the Rumble.

Posted By: Guest#3861 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 03:27 AM

"Has anyone noticed how CALM Lauranitus looks in CM Punks Firemans carry/GTS? LMAO He could've sold A LITTLE FEAR for goodness sake."

Ha, yeah, Johnny was terrible there. Apparently Punk lifting him onto his shoulders tranquilised him somehow. But Punk could at least have kicked him in the gut first to make it a little more believable that he couldn't resist the GTS. Man, Johnny is terrible. But I like him.

"Like it or not, Miz has basically been depushed recently. Don't believe me?"

Er, yes Kirk, I do believe you. You're pointing out the blatantly obvious. You do realise that not every single thing you say is some amazing, iconoclastic, radical opinion?

Posted By: Barry Windham (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 03:28 AM

What a surprise Wes Kirk thinks that the Royal Rumble is bad, all WWEs decision are wrong but TNA is amazing.

It's just like he's a troll. Can you please keep this kid to his own little column so the rest of the site can be read without dealing with his stupid gimmick posting.

Posted By: rm (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 04:31 AM

Ari Berenstein: FACT. The only way that doesn't happen if Triple H somehow swerves us and goes heel in siding with Laurinaitis, but lord help us all if that happens, because that would be illogical, nonsensical given past history and stupid.
----------------------------

The whole thing is nonsensical and illogical to begin with. Trips got fired by the board of directors and replaced with Laurinaitus, so (by story line) Trips doesn't have the authority to remove him.

Posted By: Scott B (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 04:39 AM

The Rumble is always entertaining simply because the Rumble match itself is interesting. Theres a lot of fun in seeing who comes down next, what mini-battles are going to occur. The late 90s Rumble were easily the worst, but even they were kinda fun because of the surprise factor. Rumbles are awesome by default.

Posted By: Earl (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 05:50 AM

Roode is the more interesting champion right now. Like Wes and others have said said he's having a Flair like reign doing everything he can to keep his title consquences be damned and everything he does makes you want to see him get his in the end. They have given him the ball and he's running with it.

Plus Bully Ray has also improved leaps and bounds as well by associating with him and was the one of the biggest surprises of 2011. I can see VR being a fourway or a tag match between Roode, Ray, Hardy, and Storm and the Lockdown Double Main Event being Team Hardy vs Team Bully and Roode vs Storm for the title.

Posted By: Michael (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:27 PM

I like Daniel Bryan's better. Not only is he doing what Roode is doing, but he's also being more creative about it because he's facing two giants. It's making seem cowardly and smart. And as Ari said TNA main events end how Roodes end a lot, while WWE(who still do sometimes) run these finishes far less.

Posted By: Guest#5902 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 06:28 AM

i find it both sad and dumb concerning Bourne.

getting addicted to painkillers or hard drugs, fine. but weed? O_o what next? no more sleep-aid or aspirin? i know i'm being extreme, but to consider weed a wellness policy violation is laughable to me. (especially when WWE's golden boys can do no wrong/get pushed after wellness policy fails)

hell...RVD's high as a kite and can perform with no problem nor have i ever see him put anyone in danger/ruin a PPV/broadcast. same with Bourne.

unless i missed something on a PPV/house show. although i doubt it. hello politics.

Posted By: i8mypants (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 07:08 AM

"Hmmm, wonder what catering has made for supper....."

Posted By: Johnny Ace about to take GTS (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 07:11 AM

Wes Kirk FTW!

As much as I like DB, he is not the best heel champ. Whether you like TNA or not (I am hit or miss)BR is doing a great job as champ. No doubt WWE has an eye on this guy.

Posted By: Guest#0029 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 07:46 AM

hell...RVD's high as a kite and can perform with no problem nor have i ever see him put anyone in danger/ruin a PPV/broadcast.
Posted By: i8mypants (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 07:08 AM

So, you've never seen RVD botch a move or put another wrestler in danger?

Have you ever actually seen him wrestle?

Posted By: Guest#6965 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 08:56 AM

damn wes learn to smile buddy. you say ur bored with all the established super stars winning the rumble. tell me were you pissed when Austin won the rumbles later in his career.

bottom line is it doesn't matter if the rumble makes a new star, it matters that the rumble helps continue storylines to wrestlemania and kicks off a few new ones.

Posted By: stronelis (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 09:02 AM

"of course Wes Kirk would say he aint interested in the RR PPV this sunday and call Robert Roode the most compelling World champion in wrestling. he a TNA mark.."

Took the words right out of my mouth

Posted By: The Unit (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 09:27 AM

Anyone remember that it was Lauranitus that replaced HHH as the Raw general manager a short time ago because everyone walked out because WWE has become a hostile workplace under HHH's GM reign?

That's fine. I didn't remember either. A buddy of mine had to remind me.

Posted By: Comment Board Poster (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 09:56 AM

Matt Sydal probably did all he was going to do in the WWE anyway, so maybe its for the best. Granted I find the double-standard and the knee-jerk reaction funny, since as far as anyone knows these Wellness violation have been for weed (or some fake weed-like substance). I doubt he is the only one on that roster who partakes as far as in-ring performers go. The creative team is clearly on drugs though....

Posted By: Guest#1330 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 10:02 AM

"much like JBL was during his world title reign, but in this case the champion actually has talent"

Nope. JBL was more talented than Bobby Roode.

Posted By: Jin (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 10:24 AM

48 comments already. Do you people not understand that this is what keeps Wes around?

Posted By: Steve307 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 10:36 AM

I avoid the Wrestling Sandwich. Same stuff every week.

Posted By: Guest#6982 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 10:41 AM

Why does the Royal Rumble winner have to be an up-and-comer that's being elevated? This doesn't happen in the "real sports" world often so why should it on wrestling? Did the Lions and Bengals earn a shot in the SuperBowl? Sometimes the better more-established team wins the big game. The results in the RR should mirror that.

Besides I watch the RR to be entertained by the match, not to see who gets to carry the ball into WM. I wouldn't have a problem with a no-namer getting the fluke win and losing their shot due to injury or putting it up in a match.

Do yourselves a favor. Get 4 or 5 of your friends together to watch the Rumble. They don't even have to be wrestling fans. Throw in $20 each and put the numbers 1-30 in a hat. Draw evenly from that hat and you get whatever wrestlers come out on those numbers. Whoever has the winning number gets all the money. This will give you a chance to forget about the workrate and "who's being elevated" and what not and just cheer for your guys to win. And most importantly, you'll have fun for the evening. Especially if you win!

And Wes, R-Truth is definitely over as a face. Not sure what you're watching but people love him.

Evan Bourne is an idiot if smoking weed is more important than his current job. He could easily be replaced with Justin Gabriel and no one would notice.

Posted By: The Big Fat F*g (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 10:52 AM

Why does the Royal Rumble winner have to be an up-and-comer that's being elevated? This doesn't happen in the "real sports" world often so why should it on wrestling? Did the Lions and Bengals earn a shot in the SuperBowl? Sometimes the better more-established team wins the big game. The results in the RR should mirror that.

Besides I watch the RR to be entertained by the match, not to see who gets to carry the ball into WM. I wouldn't have a problem with a no-namer getting the fluke win and losing their shot due to injury or putting it up in a match.

Do yourselves a favor. Get 4 or 5 of your friends together to watch the Rumble. They don't even have to be wrestling fans. Throw in $20 each and put the numbers 1-30 in a hat. Draw evenly from that hat and you get whatever wrestlers come out on those numbers. Whoever has the winning number gets all the money. This will give you a chance to forget about the workrate and "who's being elevated" and what not and just cheer for your guys to win. And most importantly, you'll have fun for the evening. Especially if you win!

And Wes, R-Truth is definitely over as a face. Not sure what you're watching but people love him.

Evan Bourne is an idiot if smoking weed is more important than his current job. He could easily be replaced with Justin Gabriel and no one would notice.

Posted By: The Big Fat F*g (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 10:52 AM

Amen. Just have fun with it, and nothing makes it more fun that having a vested interest and watching it with some other people. Just enjoy don't worry bout "workrate"

Posted By: Guest#5107 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 11:39 AM

Great week for wrestling.

Decent Raw, good TNA show, and for the first time in a long time I accidentally tuned in to NXT to find that every single segment was entertaining and the whole show is FILLED with talented performers.

NXT is now my favourite wrestling show.

Posted By: Guest#5847 (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:38 PM

I became a huge Michael Cole fan because of his work on NXT Season 3. Seriously go on youtube and look up funny commentary from NXT season 3. Cole and Matthews are hilarious and make the show.

Posted By: Guest#8901 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 12:15 PM

Has anyone noticed how CALM Lauranitus looks in CM Punks Firemans carry/GTS? LMAO He could've sold A LITTLE FEAR for goodness sake.

Posted By: Kyle (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:16 PM

LOL, holy shit I went back and looked at that after reading this comment and OP is right on. He looks like he's just waiting in line at the grocery store!!! Its no surprise he hasn't gotten over in this role, or didn't get over as an actual wrestler. Hopefully Raw is the end of him on tv.....as long as it doesn't mean bringing back McMahon though.

BTW, does this make sense to anyone else though??? The "board" has HHH removed from GM of Raw, but now he's in charge of deciding if the man who was installed to replace him is doing a good enough job to keep the job????

Posted By: Guest#3679 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:05 PM

It's a fact that Orton will win the Royal Rumble? For sure? Where do you get your insider knowledge from? Are you allowed to give away the result for such a highly anticipated match days in advance?

Posted By: Uwe (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:12 PM

I love Laurinaitus selling while he's about to take the GTS. He has this fact that says, "I wonder what my wife wants me to pick up for dinner tommorow?"

Posted By: Guest#2091 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:16 PM

Jericho will be the last man standing eliminating a bunch of ppl with #30 still up, then comes out Punk (since every superstar can enter this year). Punk tosses Jericho out. Punk wins then challeges Jericho at WM.

Posted By: TDR (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:21 PM

Has anyone noticed how CALM Lauranitus looks in CM Punks Firemans carry/GTS? LMAO He could've sold A LITTLE FEAR for goodness sake.

Posted By: Kyle (Guest) on January 25, 2012 at 11:16 PM

Calm!? To me he looked bored. You're right he could have sold the fear better.

Posted By: Guest#1274 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:30 PM

I vote for Jericho to screw Punk out of the title whilst THE ROCK makes a surprise appearence and wins the Royal Rumble. Cena then wins the title from Ziggler in The Elimination Chamber and The Rock challenges Cena for the Gold at Mania.

Posted By: Baron Skinny (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:33 PM

the cowardly heel champ was done way better by the Miz than Bobby Roode, people are going to remember Miz's title reign more than Roodes. A win at Wrestlemania will mean more years from now than a win at whatever throw away ppv TNA does the week without a WWE ppv or an mma ppv. Miz has far more charisma than Roode and is much better on the mic. Bobby Roode is an even worse heel because everything seems so forced with him and no one is getting over because of him. Him beating Jeff Hardy was a suprise but Jeff Hardy is no John Cena. The most interesting thing about Bobby Roode is the fact that he has the belt, once he loses it what does he have, Miz at least put over Alex Riley and had a great tag team with R Truth and main evented a ppv against the Rock. These are all facts, Wes Kirk probably wont read this because he will be too busy tugging his dick watching another bland impact in a half filled arena in the UK.

Posted By: Guest#2284 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 01:51 PM

You know, if they really wanted to get this old-school heel Chris Jericho thing over big time, here's what they should do:

Have Chris Jericho come in at #30. Have two people left in the Rumble when Jericho walks down. Those two people eliminate themselves when Jericho is about to get into the ring. Jericho enters the ring and wins the Royal Rumble Match by not doing a damn thing and gets crazy heat from it.

Just a thought. And fuck Kirk.

Posted By: THE_MrWizard (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 02:51 PM

Wes Kirk has gotten better and i think some commenters are being a bit unfair or just formed a habit out of hating him. It doesn't seem like he's a contrarian asshole anymore, just a man with opinions. (please note: i don't read the wrestling sandwich)

Having said all that, Wes, They don't need the Royal Rumble to create new stars anymore. The Money in the Bank Ladder Match has made that idea obsolete. You can't just go around making 3 new main eventers every year. History has shown that this will not last. This is just going by my own history as a wrestling fan (which started in late 2003). Winners before Money in the Bank was invented: Chris Benoit & Batista. Which qualifies as the creation of new stars. After that, there's Rey Mysterio, with mixed results and then Alberto Del Rio...which didn't fuckin work at all. If it had worked, he wouldn't have had to win the Money in the Bank later that year. The other winners are people who have already held main championships for a respectable reign.

Money in the Bank Winners: Edge, Mr. Kennedy/Edge, CM Punk, CM Punk/Jeff Hardy, Jack Swagger, Kane, The Miz, Alberto Del Rio, Daniel Bryan. These are the new "main eventers" that MITB has created. I am counting Hardy, because it's so obvious he would have won had he not been in trouble. Of all these people, Edge and the Miz are the only one to turn his MITB cash in into anything resembling special and maintained the level of "main-eventer" (i honestly have no fucking idea what they're doing with Alberto, he has a Sid Vicious/Lex Luger feel about him).

Sorry i ramble so fucking much. Final Point though. Top 5 new stars that could be created by a Royal Rumble win: Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus (he's been champion, but he's never been "the guy"), and R-Truth. You could give them the Royal Rumble win, but that's a huge gamble. Or, you could give it to an established star with a ready made fan base, such as Jericho, Orton, Cena, The Undertaker, or even Kane. Somebody the fans are used to seeing as champion. With Money in the Bank, they're more than capable of taking a potential new main eventer for a summertime test drive, that it'd be foolish to give them a Royal Rumble win.

Posted By: mello yello enthusiast (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 03:15 PM

I'm hoping Jericho or atleast Sheamus wins the Rumble as first time winners; Orton doesn't need to win.

Roode isn't even close to Punk on the mic or Bryan in the ring. Why is Joe a jobber when this guy's champ? Shelley vs Aries should be gold though; two wrestlers that are infinitely more entertaining than Roode.

Oh - and John Laurinaitis sucks.

Posted By: Guest#1983 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 05:29 PM

Wes Kirk is the best part of this site. It is nice to have a fact or fiction where they both actually watch the product and have intelligent comments.

Posted By: Guest#4943 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 05:34 PM

48 comments already. Do you people not understand that this is what keeps Wes around?

Posted By: Steve307 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 10:36 AM

I've come to realize that Kirk is right about one thing: how utterly moronic the average reader on this site must be. If all the people who complain about how much he sucks would just do what I did and stop looking at and commenting on his columns, he'd eventually be gone. Hell, Cook even mentions whenever people bring up Kirk in his column that he's not going anywhere because of hits and comments. But, instead, they click and comment on anything with his name, which just keeps him around longer.

NEWSFLASH FOR YOU IDIOTS: You don't click on his column and you don't comment on it and he'll go away; you constantly do those things and he'll be around forever. Anyone whose brain works at a level better than FULL RETARD should be able to figure that out.

Posted By: overdrive (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 06:36 PM

I think it's really special that 411mania allowed a developmentally delayed reader to participate in this weeks "Fact or Fiction" column. And good on you Ari for going easy on the little guy!

Posted By: Guest#3313 (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 08:09 PM

Of course Wes doesn't care about the Rumble, he probably thought Victory Road was the ppv of the year last year

Posted By: Bill (Guest) on January 26, 2012 at 09:34 PM

Rock would be the surprise entry and will win the RR'12 to face John Cena at WM .....There I said it first

Posted By: Isaiditfirst (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 07:30 AM

I came to play!!!

Posted By: the miz (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 10:05 AM

Ari Berenstein:

your typical sob how can you say Daniel Bryan has been more enoyable than Booby Roode. Bobby is living the character and the most entertaining champion right now, your typical biased idiot. All WWE puts is gold for you and no matter what good TNA does it is shit

Posted By: Ahm (Guest) on January 27, 2012 at 10:43 AM