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411 PPV Preview: The Road to the Royal Rumble 2008

January 26, 2008 | Posted by Leonard Hayhurst

As a note, this will be my last WWE pay per view preview for 411. I’ve started a new job at newspapers as a reporter, film reviewer and data desk specialist.

RIC FLAIR VS. MVP IN A CAREER THREATENING MATCH FOR FLAIR

Background: On the November 26th RAW, Ric Flair returned to WWE. He announced that he would never, ever retire. Woo! Vince McMahon came out and said that he would allow Flair to do that…as long as he never lost a match. It didn’t matter how he won, just as long as he did. Over the weeks Flair racked up victories over the likes of Triple H, Randy Orton, William Regal and Umaga. On the January 4th Smackdown, MVP lost a beat the clock match for a title shot against Finlay. Porter talked with someone on the phone later. He promised to make his mark at the Rumble by doing something that not even Triple H could do, retire Ric Flair. MVP officially called Flair out the next week, but his challenge was interrupted by Batista for a match. On January 18th, Flair was the guest on the VIP Lounge. They showed mutual respect for each other, but Porter promised to retire Flair and Ric said no dice to that. Flair knocked MVP ass over teakettle to end the segment. On January 25th MVP showed doctored photos of him winning the World Title while Flair was playing golf and Porter going into the Hall of Fame while Flair is playing shuffleboard in an old folks home. Flair came out to get in Porter’s face. He vowed not to lose at the Rumble.

Match Up: MVP holds a win over Flair that he touted recently. This could make him overconfident heading into the bout. Flair is fighting for something greater than the US Title. He’s fighting for his career, for his life almost. Flair might not be able go like he used to, but he’s still the greatest ring general of all time. Flair has proven lately that he still knows how to let a match come to him and pick up a victory when it presents itself. If Porter gives Flair a slight opening, he will take it. MVP with his attitude will certainly give the Nature Boy something. Flair is smart enough to let Porter hang himself.

Outcome: It would be a big surprise to see Flair retired here. Most everyone thinks he’ll survive until Wrestlemania and go out big then. Flair has won so much by DQ and count out, that a clean win or even a typical ‘Flair win’ would do a lot to propel the angle on. MVP is just biding time until Matt Hardy can return and they can hopefully finally blow off their feud.

CHRIS JERICHO VS. JBL

Background: Chris Jericho faced Randy Orton for the WWE Title at Armageddon. During their match, they spilled to the floor. Orton threw Jericho into the Smackdown announce table where he landed on John Bradshaw Layfield. Jericho threw JBL to the side and went back on the attack. Layfield was upset by this event and attacked Jericho to draw the disqualification victory for him. Jericho called JBL out the next night on RAW. He appeared via the Titantron. He said that he brokered a deal with Vince McMahon that if Jericho attacked him on Smackdown that he would lose any title shots forever. Jericho goaded Layfield to come to RAW to face him. On the following Smackdown, Layfield announced that he was leaving the show as color man to return to the ring on RAW. On the New Year’s Eve RAW Layfield returned to the program with a lot of pomp and circumstance. Jericho interrupted the festivities to attack. The next episode was RAW Roulette. A handicap match was spun. JBL and Snitky were pitted against Jericho. Layfield took Jericho out with the ring bell in short order for the DQ. Layfield followed up by choking Jericho with a microphone cable and then dragging him around ringside. On January 14th Layfield announced that Jericho wasn’t at RAW because of what happened last week. He warned Jericho’s kids for their daddy’s safety. He was a coward that needed to be saved from him. Jericho returned the following week, but JBL was nowhere to be seen. Jericho said that Layfield made a big mistake in not finishing him off when he had a chance.

Match Up: This has become a blood feud quickly. Look for a brawl to start. This favors JBL. Jericho would best be served to rely on his mat wrestling background to befuddle Layfield and wear him down. He can also use his speed and agility to frustrate JBL in getting him to chase his own tail. When Layfield gets annoyed or mad, he gets sloppy. It comes down to if Jericho wants to beat Layfield up or if he understands that getting a victory over him would be most vexing to him and sweet revenge.

Outcome: After losing out to Orton after being thrown right into a title feud, Jericho would look like a joke if he was jobbed out to a color commentator recently out of retirement. JBL as a personality can sustain a number of losses and still be a viable and hated heel. He’s the new era Honky Tonk Man. JBL has enough pull to orchestrate a DQ or count out loss, but a clean job would be the most satisfactory.

EDGE VS. REY MYSTERIO FOR THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

Background: Edge won the World Heavyweight Title at Armageddon in a triple threat match with Batista and Undertaker. The former Major Brothers disguised to look like him assisted Edge. On the January 4th Smackdown, general manager Vickie Guerrero booked a beat the clock tournament to find Edge an opponent for the Royal Rumble. The final match of the night saw Rey Mysterio against Edge himself. Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder tried to interfere, but Batista took them out. Undertaker then distracted Edge and Mysterio picked up the win for a title shot. The next week, Vickie invited Mysterio to the ring to congratulate him on winning the beat the clock challenge. Rey took Vickie to task for her relationship with Edge. Edge came out to defend his woman. Chavo Guerrero then came out and also got on Vickie’s case for being with Edge. Vickie was hurt and booked Rey vs. Chavo. Mysterio won, but was jumped by the Edgeheads and the champ afterwards. On the following ECW on Sci-Fi Edge hosted ECW Champion CM Punk on the Cutting Edge. He attacked Punk and goaded him into taking a match against Chavo. Edge later helped Chavo beat Punk by count out to earn an ECW title shot. That Friday, Chavo seemed much more loving to Edge as his new ‘brother.’ Vickie booked the two against Mysterio and Punk. Edge used a chair for the DQ. Ryder and Hawkins helped with the post match beat down. On the next ECW, Edge speared Punk to allow Chavo to win the ECW title. On Smackdown for January 25th Mysterio was put in a handicap match with Ryder and Hawkins. They were DQ’ed for grabbing a chair, but Rey got it and chased them off. Mysterio then sat in on commentary as Edge faced Punk. Edge won, but Mysterio drove Edge and the Edgeheads off after the match.

Match Up: Rey Mysterio will not be fighting just Edge. He’ll have to against the Edgeheads, Vickie Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero on the outside. He might have one ally in CM Punk, but that might not be enough. Edge knows there is strength in numbers and having friends in high places. Edge has this match won before he even sits foot in the ring. Even if Rey scores the victory somehow, don’t think Vickie won’t think of someway to take it away from him fast. Edge is fast and agile, but he can’t keep up with Mysterio. That might be his biggest weapon in scoring a fast win over Edge before his backup can be a factor.

Outcome: Few give Mysterio much of a chance to win the belt here. Edge is still fresh into his latest run and has a strong stable forming around him. Mysterio is just filling the gap until they can build to a Wrestlemania program. Possibly against the Undertaker or Batista. Mysterio might be well served with a move to ECW to go after his old foe and new champ Chavo Guerrero.

RANDY ORTON VS. JEFF HARDY FOR THE WWE TITLE

Background: Randy Orton retained the WWE Title at Armageddon over Chris Jericho. Jeff Hardy won a number one contenders match over Triple H. The next night on RAW Hardy and Shawn Michaels won a tag match over Orton and Ken Kennedy when Hardy pinned Orton. Orton and Hardy exchanged words on the December 31st RAW. Orton tried for the RKO, but Hardy got the Twist of Fate on him instead. After that, Jeff spoke with his brother backstage. Matt was recovering from an appendectomy. Jeff later faced Santino Marella. During the match, Orton appeared on the Titantron. He had attacked the injured Matt. Jeff ran off from the match to save his brother. On the January 7th RAW, Jeff promised to get revenge on Orton. However, Jeff was put into a cage match against Umaga via RAW Roulette. Orton observed from ringside. Hardy defeated Umaga. On January 14th Jeff opened the show in the ring. Orton followed and challenged Jeff to a match for his Intercontinental title that night. Hardy accepted. In the main event, Orton low blowed Jeff right away for the DQ. He just wanted to beat him down. Hardy came back and back dropped Orton off the entrance stage. Hardy then climbed the nearby scaffolding and delivered a swanton from 30 feet in the air. On the January 21st RAW Vince McMahon ordered Hardy and Orton to shake hands with each other. McMahon sold the event to both men as a way to get a mental edge. The in ring confrontation saw Hardy telling Orton to wait in line to shake his hand. Hardy then shook the hand of several people in the audience. When he finally got to Orton, Hardy hit the Twist of Fate on him.

Match Up: Jeff Hardy has proven time and again that he will do whatever it takes to win a match. Randy Orton has learned this first already. Hardy has gotten the best of the champ in most encounters. Orton is not so much confident as he is overly cocky. That will cost him against a man that can take a licking and keep on ticking. The massive swanton might have been a wake up call to Orton and if so then Hardy will be in trouble. Orton has retained his title on a disqualification and he won’t be shy about doing so again if the opportunity arises. Hardy must attack Orton fast and hard with his unorthodox offense and blinding speed. Hardy must control the match and keep it in the ring. He can’t let Orton have a chance to take the cheap way out.

Outcome: If we look at the past as a precedent, Orton will retain by disqualification. Hardy is on the cusp of really breaking out as a main event star. A title win here would really vault him to the top and also get people talking. Remember the buzz when Edge cashed in his Money in the Bank title shot and beat John Cena. Hardy could win here just for a ratings bump and then drop the belt at No Way Out in the Elimination Chamber match. Hardy has already been tied to the match through rumors and pictures, but what if that match becomes for the title and not to crown a number one contender? Orton has been one of the weakest champions of recent memory thanks to the way he’s been booked. Even a strong, clean win over Hardy probably wouldn’t do much to solidify his reign because Hardy is still not considered a durable main eventer. If he wins this match, then he will be.

30 MAN ROYAL RUMBLE

Umaga was the first to qualify for the Rumble match by going over the first ever Rumble winner Hacksaw Jim Duggan on the New Year’s Eve RAW.

Hardcore Holly beat Trevor Murdoch on Heat for the first week of January.

Snitsky qualified over Drew McIntyre at a RAW house show on January 4th in White Plains, New York.

The Miz and John Morrison and Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore qualified by defeating each other in tag matches on consecutive WWE house shows the weekend of January 5th. Later, Moore and Yang were removed from the event.

Mick Foley and Hornswoggle defeated the Highlanders on the January 7th RAW. Vince McMahon then allowed Finlay in on the next Smackdown in order to watch after Hornswoggle.

Undertaker and Batista both joined the Rumble on the strength of being past winners. Undertaker won last year and Batista in 2005.

Kane was announced on WWE.com as a participant. Kane holds the record for eliminating the most men in one Rumble with 11.

Jamie Noble defeated Chuck Palumbo on the January 11th Smackdown.

Santino Marella and Carlito Caribbean Cool defeated DH Smith and Drew McIntyre at a RAW house show on January 11th. At the same show Cody Rhodes qualified by defeating William Regal.

Shelton Benjamin qualified over Tommy Dreamer at a house show in Jonesboro, Arkansas on January 12th.

Shawn Michaels defeated Trevor Murdoch on RAW on January 14th.

The Great Khali, Big Daddy V and Mark Henry were all announced to be in the Royal Rumble on the January 18th Smackdown.

Ken Kennedy was given a bye into the Rumble by William Regal on January 21st as announced on WWE.com

Triple H qualified for the Rumble on RAW on January 21st by defeating Snitsky, Mark Henry and William Regal in an over the top rope gauntlet match.

Tommy Dreamer was announced to be in the Rumble on WWE.com on January 22nd.

Chuck Palumbo was added to the Rumble via WWE.com on January 23rd.

Match Up: The Rumble might seem like an every man for himself hodgepodge, but experience in the match really helps. Past winners such Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Batista know the strategies it takes to win the match. You have to pick and choose your allies carefully and know when to turn on them. You have to keep one eye on the clock and the other on the man in front of you. You have to conserve your energy, but give it your all. Numbers don’t really matters. Several men have won from an early slot, yet number 27 has produced the most winners. Number 30 has only won once, last year in the Undertaker. Large men like the Great Khali, Big Daddy V and Mark Henry might seem to have an advantage, but the other men in the ring are usually smart enough to gang up on the mammoths and toss them. However, there are probably more behemoths in this year’s Rumble than any other. The experienced man with size that gets a good number will be the one with the best shot to win.

Outcome: Triple H looks to be the odds on favorite to win and go on to face Randy Orton at Wrestlemania. That main event had been rumored for a while. Undertaker, Batista and Shawn Michaels are also possible candidates. CM Punk could be entered into the match late and be a real dark horse. A win would really boost Punk and likewise Chavo Guerrero and the ECW title if that’s what he chooses to go after. It’s also possible he could challenge Edge with their recent altercations. Big Show and Ron Killings could also be surprised entrants. With the champions on all three brands being heels going into the event it would seem likely for a face to go over unless a title change would happen. The Rumble ppv overall will be very predictable or a complete surprise up and down.

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Leonard Hayhurst

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