Do the number 1 &2 Rumble Entrants do too well these days?

[fw91]

Listen, tonight was terrific for Gunther, Sheamus , Rhea, and Liv , but imo it’s not exactly a rareity anymore that at least on wrestler who draws 1 or 2 goes on to do very well in a rumble match and imo, that kind diminishes the whole “luck of the draw” narrative that used to be pretty consistent in rumbles. It seems like drawing number 2 or 2 is more of a blessing than a curse when it comes to lasting in the Match.

[RI Richmark]

Yeah it happens way too much. Edge won from #1 two years ago. I think they need to space out the marathon performances. Make them a big deal when they happen.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

I think they may be taking the moniker of the Rumble “ironmen” and “ironwomen” too literal and have it in their head that the workhorses they build the match around absolutely need to be pushing at least 40-ish minutes when realistically it can be like anyone from the first 10 spots

[Lizuka #BLM]

1, 2, and 30 all need to be eased off on for a long while.

[J is Justice]

That was my main issue with the Rumbles. Stop with the number 1, 2 and 30 entrants winning!!

And surely someone needs to look into some fixing going on with Cody's number? The most hyped entrant and favourite just happens to draw 30? He Ted Dibiase'd that shit.

[TOK Is the Target Demo]

Jan 29, 2023 1:12:39 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

1, 2, and 30 all need to be eased off on for a long while.

The issue is that they got high on their own supply and don't understand why they never actually gave anything to those spots

[theironyuppie]

The last few women's Rumbles have alternated between late and early entrants winning.

2020: Charlotte: (17)
2021: Bianca (3)
2022: Ronda (28)
2023: Rhea (1)

[Mozenrath]

Jan 29, 2023 6:31:23 GMT -5 theironyuppie said:

The last few women's Rumbles have alternated between late and early entrants winning.

2020: Charlotte: (17)
2021: Bianca (3)
2022: Ronda (28)
2023: Rhea (1)

Yeah, it's less of an issue with the women, in part since they have only had like 6 Rumbles, anyway.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Yes, they need to stop with it. It was special when Flair went from 3, it was fake special when Shawn went from 1 it's gone downhill from there.

They're also handcuffed by the winner gets a shot at Mania stipulation, that's another idea whose time has passed.

[polarbearpete]

I disagree. You have the perfect opportunity once a year to help “make” somebody and level them up using the Rumble as a tool for that. And they did just that tonight with Gunther, Liv and Rhea. They all come off better than they did before the show. A comparison to what happened in past years is not as important, in my opinion.

[Moppy]

Yeah the numberings were a little weird. At least Cody's win really felt 'earned' by the time the final sequence was over, but, yeah (and it's a very small nitpick) he didn't really need to be #30, especially as he was pre-announced.

Liv going from #1 to the final 2 would build her really well as an ironwoman. Not sure it was entirely necessary for Ripley or Gunther though.

[thecrusherwi]

Jan 29, 2023 6:40:11 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

Yes, they need to stop with it. It was special when Flair went from 3, it was fake special when Shawn went from 1 it's gone downhill from there.

They're also handcuffed by the winner gets a shot at Mania stipulation, that's another idea whose time has passed.

Your last sentence seems controversial, but I agree. I think it’s handcuffed their storytelling. This year is a prime example. Coming out of the main event fallout, who wants to see Cody vs Roman right now? It seems so forced.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I do think it's getting to a point of diminishing returns. I mean, we had both the men and women's time records broken tonight. That seems excessive and especially hurts those in the second Rumble. It's just hard to get as invested in another version of the same story you saw two hours ago.

[HMARK Center]

Jan 29, 2023 6:40:11 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

Yes, they need to stop with it. It was special when Flair went from 3, it was fake special when Shawn went from 1 it's gone downhill from there.

They're also handcuffed by the winner gets a shot at Mania stipulation, that's another idea whose time has passed.

Yeah, Michaels and Bulldog going the distance in ‘95 was mostly so they could mask the relative lack of depth in that Rumble, doing it more than once in a very, very rare while does hurt how special it can be.

[polarbearpete]

Jan 29, 2023 10:04:18 GMT -5 HMARK Center said:

Jan 29, 2023 6:40:11 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

Yes, they need to stop with it. It was special when Flair went from 3, it was fake special when Shawn went from 1 it's gone downhill from there.

They're also handcuffed by the winner gets a shot at Mania stipulation, that's another idea whose time has passed.

Yeah, Michaels and Bulldog going the distance in ‘95 was mostly so they could mask the relative lack of depth in that Rumble, doing it more than once in a very, very rare while does hurt how special it can be.

From a macro view as far as history goes I think that may be true, but as to the individual Rumble in the present, I think it still does a ton for the talent if booked right. Gunther, Liv and Rhea seem more credible/legitimate than they did prior to last night.

[Citizen Snips]

I didn’t mind too much with GUNTHER because he seemed to actually be working most of the match and even had a mini-match with Cody at the end. Didn’t really pay much attention to Liv but Rhea was doing a lot of corner-sitting during the first half of the Rumbke; that’s when it gets lame to me.

[fw91]

Jan 29, 2023 9:04:25 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

I disagree. You have the perfect opportunity once a year to help “make” somebody and level them up using the Rumble as a tool for that. And they did just that tonight with Gunther, Liv and Rhea. They all come off better than they did before the show. A comparison to what happened in past years is not as important, in my opinion.

You could spread it out a bit better. Number 1 and 2 are supposed to be unlucky. There really hasn’t been a rumble where at least one of them doesn’t have a decent run in quite some time.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Yeah, they should at least mix it up a bit where #4 or 5 goes on the Iron Man run or something. I have no problem with #30 winning a ton, because it really should. However, the first two entrants doing so well year after year after year would be an enormous statistical anomaly if wrestling were real.

[Bo Rida]

Yes! People seem to do better from those spots than 5-19, makes no sense. Even the worse the amount than have won it from there now.

It's only special if it's a rare achievement.